MFT National Exam Study Guide 2022 with complete
solution
Who is the founder of Bowenian therapy?
Murray Bowen & James Framo (follower, although some argue he is more object-
relations, he feels he is transgenerational)
Which theory focuses on ledgers and balances?
Contextual therapy
Who created the rubber fence theory?
Wynn
Who created the term garage mechanic?
Carl Whitaker
What is the emphasis in Bowenian therapy?
Differentiation of self
What is Bowen's differentiation of self defined?
refers to the autonomy of function which results in being less reactive to family systems
dynamics and other members emotional states; the extent to which they have learned to
manage emotionality.
what is the core problem in Bowenian theory?
triangles and emotional reactivity
what are Bowenian's key techniques?
genogram and process questions
who are the founders of experiential therapy?
Virginia Satir & Carl Whitaker
What is the emphasis in experiential therapy?
authenticity and self-actualization
what is the core problem in experiential therapy?
emotional suppression and mystification
what are key techniques used in experiential therapy?
confrontation and structured exercises
who are the founders of solution-focused therapy?
Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg
What is the emphasis in solution-focused therapy?
language creates reality
What is the core problem in solution-focused therapy?
problem talk
what are key techniques used in solution-focused therapy?
focusing on solutions and identifying exceptions
who are the founders of strategic therapy?
Don Jackson and Jay Haley
What is the emphasis in strategic therapy?
homeostasis and feedback loops
what is the core problem in strategic therapy?
more-of-the-same solutions
what are key techniques used in strategic therapy?
,reframing directives
who are the founders of psychodynamic therapy?
Nathan Ackerman, Henry Dicks, and Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy
What is the emphasis in psychodynamic therapy?
drives
self objects
internal objects
what are the core problems in psychodynamic therapy?
conflict
projective identification
fixation and regression
what are the key techniques used in psychodynamic therapy?
silence and interpretation
who are the founders of narrative therapy?
Michael White & David Epston
what is the emphasis in narrative therapy?
Narrative theory & social constructionism
what is the core problem in narrative therapy?
problem-saturated stories
What are key techniques used in narrative therapy?
externalization, identifying unique outcomes, & creating audiences of support
who are the founders of structural therapy?
Salvador Minuchin
what is the emphasis in structural therapy?
subsystems and boundaries
what is the core problem in structural therapy?
enmeshment and disengagement
what are key techniques used in structural therapy?
enactments and boundary making
who are the founders of cognitive behavioral therapy?
Gerald Patterson, Robert Liberman, and Richard Stuart
what is the emphasis in cognitive behavioral therapy?
reinforcement, extinction, and schemas
what is the core problem in cognitive behavioral therapy?
inadvertent reinforcement and aversive control
what are key techniques used in cognitive behavioral therapy?
functional analysis and teaching positive control
what theory emphasizes negative-feedback loops or cycles?
Structural
what theory emphasizes positive-feedback cycles?
strategic
what theory emphasizes the importance of structure in dysfunction?
structural
what theory emphasizes the importance of maladaptive behavioral sequences in
dysfunction?
strategic
, what theory is straight-forward and confrontive?
structural
what theory is indirect and nonconfrontive?
strategic
in what theory does the therapist generally work with the whole family?
structural
in what theory does the therapist often work with only 1 or 2 members of a family
system?
strategic
what theory focuses on immediate in-session behaviors?
structural
what theory retrospectively focuses on out-of-session behavioral sequences?
strategic
what theory focuses on behavioral sequences?
strategic
what theory focuses on in-session enactment?
structural
what theory emphasizes out-of-session directives?
strategic
what is ambivalence in couples therapy?
one or both partners may be unwilling to forgive past behaviors
how would assessment and therapy initiation be conducted in a structural
approach?
the therapist would work with the family to help them realize how their actions or
behaviors might be contributing to the problem
who is the founder of MRI Brief Therapy?
Paul Watzlawick
What are examples of mandated reporting?
Tarasoff, child abuse, dependent adult abuse, and elder abuse
what is enmeshment?
inappropriate rigid boundaries (in a family system everyone is thinking and feeling alike)
what is redefining?
putting a positive connotation on behavior that is usually considered to be undesirable
who is the founder of collaborative therapy?
MC Bateson
Why did the Milan associates interview families about their history?
to find evidence of how the children's symtpoms became necessary for the system
what is accommodation in the structural process?
the process by which a couple transitions from courtship and adjusts to a partnership
Solution-focused family therapists prefer to focus the treatment time on the past,
here and now, future, or present?
future, where problems can be solved
What is the main goal of the Bowenian model?
differentiation of self
What is fair exchange?
the process by whereby members of a system act upon each other and the system
solution
Who is the founder of Bowenian therapy?
Murray Bowen & James Framo (follower, although some argue he is more object-
relations, he feels he is transgenerational)
Which theory focuses on ledgers and balances?
Contextual therapy
Who created the rubber fence theory?
Wynn
Who created the term garage mechanic?
Carl Whitaker
What is the emphasis in Bowenian therapy?
Differentiation of self
What is Bowen's differentiation of self defined?
refers to the autonomy of function which results in being less reactive to family systems
dynamics and other members emotional states; the extent to which they have learned to
manage emotionality.
what is the core problem in Bowenian theory?
triangles and emotional reactivity
what are Bowenian's key techniques?
genogram and process questions
who are the founders of experiential therapy?
Virginia Satir & Carl Whitaker
What is the emphasis in experiential therapy?
authenticity and self-actualization
what is the core problem in experiential therapy?
emotional suppression and mystification
what are key techniques used in experiential therapy?
confrontation and structured exercises
who are the founders of solution-focused therapy?
Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg
What is the emphasis in solution-focused therapy?
language creates reality
What is the core problem in solution-focused therapy?
problem talk
what are key techniques used in solution-focused therapy?
focusing on solutions and identifying exceptions
who are the founders of strategic therapy?
Don Jackson and Jay Haley
What is the emphasis in strategic therapy?
homeostasis and feedback loops
what is the core problem in strategic therapy?
more-of-the-same solutions
what are key techniques used in strategic therapy?
,reframing directives
who are the founders of psychodynamic therapy?
Nathan Ackerman, Henry Dicks, and Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy
What is the emphasis in psychodynamic therapy?
drives
self objects
internal objects
what are the core problems in psychodynamic therapy?
conflict
projective identification
fixation and regression
what are the key techniques used in psychodynamic therapy?
silence and interpretation
who are the founders of narrative therapy?
Michael White & David Epston
what is the emphasis in narrative therapy?
Narrative theory & social constructionism
what is the core problem in narrative therapy?
problem-saturated stories
What are key techniques used in narrative therapy?
externalization, identifying unique outcomes, & creating audiences of support
who are the founders of structural therapy?
Salvador Minuchin
what is the emphasis in structural therapy?
subsystems and boundaries
what is the core problem in structural therapy?
enmeshment and disengagement
what are key techniques used in structural therapy?
enactments and boundary making
who are the founders of cognitive behavioral therapy?
Gerald Patterson, Robert Liberman, and Richard Stuart
what is the emphasis in cognitive behavioral therapy?
reinforcement, extinction, and schemas
what is the core problem in cognitive behavioral therapy?
inadvertent reinforcement and aversive control
what are key techniques used in cognitive behavioral therapy?
functional analysis and teaching positive control
what theory emphasizes negative-feedback loops or cycles?
Structural
what theory emphasizes positive-feedback cycles?
strategic
what theory emphasizes the importance of structure in dysfunction?
structural
what theory emphasizes the importance of maladaptive behavioral sequences in
dysfunction?
strategic
, what theory is straight-forward and confrontive?
structural
what theory is indirect and nonconfrontive?
strategic
in what theory does the therapist generally work with the whole family?
structural
in what theory does the therapist often work with only 1 or 2 members of a family
system?
strategic
what theory focuses on immediate in-session behaviors?
structural
what theory retrospectively focuses on out-of-session behavioral sequences?
strategic
what theory focuses on behavioral sequences?
strategic
what theory focuses on in-session enactment?
structural
what theory emphasizes out-of-session directives?
strategic
what is ambivalence in couples therapy?
one or both partners may be unwilling to forgive past behaviors
how would assessment and therapy initiation be conducted in a structural
approach?
the therapist would work with the family to help them realize how their actions or
behaviors might be contributing to the problem
who is the founder of MRI Brief Therapy?
Paul Watzlawick
What are examples of mandated reporting?
Tarasoff, child abuse, dependent adult abuse, and elder abuse
what is enmeshment?
inappropriate rigid boundaries (in a family system everyone is thinking and feeling alike)
what is redefining?
putting a positive connotation on behavior that is usually considered to be undesirable
who is the founder of collaborative therapy?
MC Bateson
Why did the Milan associates interview families about their history?
to find evidence of how the children's symtpoms became necessary for the system
what is accommodation in the structural process?
the process by which a couple transitions from courtship and adjusts to a partnership
Solution-focused family therapists prefer to focus the treatment time on the past,
here and now, future, or present?
future, where problems can be solved
What is the main goal of the Bowenian model?
differentiation of self
What is fair exchange?
the process by whereby members of a system act upon each other and the system
