MFT LICENSING EXAM FINAL PAPER 2026
TESTED QUESTIONS WITH FULL SOLUTION
GRADED A+
◉ Computer. Answer: SATIR-EXPERIENTIAL: one of the five
communication styles. The computer is rational, but often attempts
to sway others by referring to outside "authorities." (Other 4 are
blamer, placater, distracter, leveler).
◉ SATIR's 5 Communication Styles. Answer: Blamer. Blamer
behavior finds fault — never accepting responsibility themselves,
always blaming someone or something else. The Blamer hides a
feeling of alienation and loneliness behind a tough and complacent
mask. Blamers are more likely to initiate conflict.
Placater (Non-assertive). Placaters are out to please, non-assertive,
never disagreeing, and always seeking approval. They avoid conflict.
Their main concern is how other people perceive them.
Computer - Computer behavior is very correct and proper but
displaying no emotion, masking a feeling of vulnerability. They often
appear cold or unfeeling. A computer can be a firework of emotions
inside while appearing very calm and super-rational on the outside.
They often say things that are value judgments without indicating
,who could have made the judgment, which implies that everyone
would agree.
Distractor. Distractors seek attention to compensate for their
feelings of loneliness or inadequacy. Rather than positive action,
Distractors use a range of emotions from anger to guilt to either
avoid an issue or manipulate how others feel. Distractors use a range
of behavior from Blamer, Computer and Distractor.
Leveller (Assertive) - Levelers have emotional balance and can relate
to all kinds of people. They are assertive. The goal of leveling is
mutual problem solving. Levelers have few threats to their self-
esteem. Words, voice tone, body movements and facial expressions
all give the same message.
The Leveler communication category of behavior can be used
resolve conflict and bring people together. The distinction of the
leveler is that the leveler has real-time, congruent responses. All the
other responses are the result of negative internal feelings causing
words and actions to be incongruent.
◉ Concurrent Couples Therapy. Answer: Couples therapy in which
one therapist works with both spouses at different times (other
types are Collaborative (Each seen by own therapist) and Conjoint
(involves 2 or more family members).
,◉ Conductor. Answer: Therapeutic stance to be aggressive,
confrontational, and charming. (other type is reactor which is stance
when therapist would be more likely to respond than to direct
them).
◉ Conjoint Therapy. Answer: MRI JACKSON -Therapy that involves
two or more family members, introduced by MRI psychiatrist,
Jackson in 1959 to describe marital therapy in which the spouses
were seen together (other 2 types are Collaborative (each seen by
own therapist) and Concurrent (therapist works with both spouses
at different times).
◉ Conjoint Marital Therapy. Answer: SATIR-both partners are seen
together by one, or two therapists. The treatment is designed for
married couples w/o children & in which one or both of the partners
has either a psychiatric disorder or a social diagnosis e.g.,
(alcoholism, gambling, extramarital affair).
◉ Constitutionalist Self. Answer: NARRATIVE-the view of self is
plastic & continuously deconstructed & reconstructed through
interactions. The sense of self derives from experiences that fit into
the dominant narrative. The therapist-client co-construct a new self
that is more congruent with the client's preferred outcome.
◉ Constructivist Family Therapy. Answer: A variety of therapeutic
models based on postmodern philosophy, which emphasizes the
concept that a person's knowledge of the world is based on his/her
, perception and internal construction of the "truth" and the belief
that reality can never really be known (one example model is Social
Constructivist Family therapy).
◉ Content vs. Process. Answer: Content is the therapeutic term that
describes the topics/words people use and process describes the
dynamics of the system which, often is in contrast to the content.
The process includes the interactional patterns, feelings, and
meanings that may not be spoken. In therapy, it is important to pay
attention to the process.
◉ Contextual Family Therapy. Answer: Developed by Boszormenyi-
Nagy: based on the ethical dimension of family relationships. The
family maintains invisible, intergenerational loyalties, which
members hold in their personal ledgers. Problems in relationships
are thought to result either from an attempt to maintain or change
the balance sheet of what members owe to one another.
◉ Contingency Contract. Answer: BEHAVIORAL FAMILY
THERAPY:an agreement between two or more family members
aimed at increasing mutually rewarding behaviors. The contract,
which is usually written, specifies the desired behaviors each will do
and under what circumstances.
◉ Craziness. Answer: WHITAKER-EXPERIENTIAL: a concept in
which healthy functioning for both therapists and families includes a
high proportion of non-rational, creative, right-brain activity.
TESTED QUESTIONS WITH FULL SOLUTION
GRADED A+
◉ Computer. Answer: SATIR-EXPERIENTIAL: one of the five
communication styles. The computer is rational, but often attempts
to sway others by referring to outside "authorities." (Other 4 are
blamer, placater, distracter, leveler).
◉ SATIR's 5 Communication Styles. Answer: Blamer. Blamer
behavior finds fault — never accepting responsibility themselves,
always blaming someone or something else. The Blamer hides a
feeling of alienation and loneliness behind a tough and complacent
mask. Blamers are more likely to initiate conflict.
Placater (Non-assertive). Placaters are out to please, non-assertive,
never disagreeing, and always seeking approval. They avoid conflict.
Their main concern is how other people perceive them.
Computer - Computer behavior is very correct and proper but
displaying no emotion, masking a feeling of vulnerability. They often
appear cold or unfeeling. A computer can be a firework of emotions
inside while appearing very calm and super-rational on the outside.
They often say things that are value judgments without indicating
,who could have made the judgment, which implies that everyone
would agree.
Distractor. Distractors seek attention to compensate for their
feelings of loneliness or inadequacy. Rather than positive action,
Distractors use a range of emotions from anger to guilt to either
avoid an issue or manipulate how others feel. Distractors use a range
of behavior from Blamer, Computer and Distractor.
Leveller (Assertive) - Levelers have emotional balance and can relate
to all kinds of people. They are assertive. The goal of leveling is
mutual problem solving. Levelers have few threats to their self-
esteem. Words, voice tone, body movements and facial expressions
all give the same message.
The Leveler communication category of behavior can be used
resolve conflict and bring people together. The distinction of the
leveler is that the leveler has real-time, congruent responses. All the
other responses are the result of negative internal feelings causing
words and actions to be incongruent.
◉ Concurrent Couples Therapy. Answer: Couples therapy in which
one therapist works with both spouses at different times (other
types are Collaborative (Each seen by own therapist) and Conjoint
(involves 2 or more family members).
,◉ Conductor. Answer: Therapeutic stance to be aggressive,
confrontational, and charming. (other type is reactor which is stance
when therapist would be more likely to respond than to direct
them).
◉ Conjoint Therapy. Answer: MRI JACKSON -Therapy that involves
two or more family members, introduced by MRI psychiatrist,
Jackson in 1959 to describe marital therapy in which the spouses
were seen together (other 2 types are Collaborative (each seen by
own therapist) and Concurrent (therapist works with both spouses
at different times).
◉ Conjoint Marital Therapy. Answer: SATIR-both partners are seen
together by one, or two therapists. The treatment is designed for
married couples w/o children & in which one or both of the partners
has either a psychiatric disorder or a social diagnosis e.g.,
(alcoholism, gambling, extramarital affair).
◉ Constitutionalist Self. Answer: NARRATIVE-the view of self is
plastic & continuously deconstructed & reconstructed through
interactions. The sense of self derives from experiences that fit into
the dominant narrative. The therapist-client co-construct a new self
that is more congruent with the client's preferred outcome.
◉ Constructivist Family Therapy. Answer: A variety of therapeutic
models based on postmodern philosophy, which emphasizes the
concept that a person's knowledge of the world is based on his/her
, perception and internal construction of the "truth" and the belief
that reality can never really be known (one example model is Social
Constructivist Family therapy).
◉ Content vs. Process. Answer: Content is the therapeutic term that
describes the topics/words people use and process describes the
dynamics of the system which, often is in contrast to the content.
The process includes the interactional patterns, feelings, and
meanings that may not be spoken. In therapy, it is important to pay
attention to the process.
◉ Contextual Family Therapy. Answer: Developed by Boszormenyi-
Nagy: based on the ethical dimension of family relationships. The
family maintains invisible, intergenerational loyalties, which
members hold in their personal ledgers. Problems in relationships
are thought to result either from an attempt to maintain or change
the balance sheet of what members owe to one another.
◉ Contingency Contract. Answer: BEHAVIORAL FAMILY
THERAPY:an agreement between two or more family members
aimed at increasing mutually rewarding behaviors. The contract,
which is usually written, specifies the desired behaviors each will do
and under what circumstances.
◉ Craziness. Answer: WHITAKER-EXPERIENTIAL: a concept in
which healthy functioning for both therapists and families includes a
high proportion of non-rational, creative, right-brain activity.
