MFT LICENSING EXAM: STUDY GUIDE:A+ Guide
Solution
Alliance - ANSWER1. In the structural and strategic models, a bond or affiliation
between two or more family members. Alliances differ from coalitions in that they
are generally within a subsystem and not hidden.2. In the domestic violence
literature, refers to the redemptive phase of the abuse cycle, in which the
perpetrator promises never to act violently again and the victim agrees to participate
in that goal.
Allopoietic Systems - ANSWEROriginated by postmodern Chilean biologist,
Maturana: systems that can be controlled from the outside, such as machines.
Accommodation - ANSWERDescribes a variety of engagement techniques, such as
joining, used principally by structural family therapists in which the therapist adapts
him/herself to the family's style of interacting.
Adaptability - ANSWERFrom Olson's Circumplex Model, a measure of the family's
ability to respond and adapt to changes in their lives. Also called "flexibility." Families
are rated at four levels: rigid, structured, flexible, and chaotic.
Antilibidinal Ego - ANSWERFrom object relations theory, that part of the ego that is
formed from interactions with the rejecting object.
As If Structure - ANSWERFrom symbolic-experiential therapy, family members are
encouraged to freely experiment as if they were in the role of the other, so long as
they understand that the role-play is symbolic. The process allows family members
to alternately experiment and return to their secure roles.
Autopoietic Systems - ANSWEROriginated by postmodern Chilean biologist,
Maturana, systems that are self-organizing and self-maintaining, such as biological
and human systems. Autopoietic Systems can be described by second-order
cybernetics.
Avoider - ANSWERFrom Satir's Experiential Family Therapy model, one of five
communication styles. The avoider tends to distract others from potential conflict by
acting helpless, weak, and lacking an understanding.
Battle for Initiative - ANSWERFormulated by Whitaker (symbolic-experiential
therapy), the Battle for Initiative follows the battle for structure. In this second
battle, the family takes back from the therapist its authority to make choices about
what is discussed and about decisions that affect their lives.
Battle for Structure - ANSWERDescribed by Whitaker as the therapist's demand that
the family capitulate to his/her way of conducting the therapy, particularly during
the initial stages. It is followed by the battle for initiative
, Beavers - Timberlawn Model - ANSWERAn assessment tool used to rate the
dimensions of competence and style in a family's functioning. Competence
dimensions are: adequate, optimal, midrange, borderline, and severely
dysfunctional. Stylistic dimensions are: centripetal, centrifugal, and mixed.
Behavioral Exchange Theory - ANSWERFrom behavioral family therapy, a way of
describing relationships in terms of costs and benefits. Functional relationships have
plentiful access to rewards and relatively few costs, while distressed relationships
have a scarcity of rewards relative to costs.
Bi-Modal Feedback Mechanism - ANSWERFrom Ashby, the rule-bound mechanism
by which a system remains unchanged so long as the internal or external
environment is stable, but when the fluctuation exceeds the range of stability the
system must respond in some new way. The system either breaks down or it makes a
leap into new levels of functioning. The change results in a new set of patterns
which, like the old pattern, is also bound by rules, and it, too, remains unchanged, so
long as the environment is stable.
Bilateral Pseudo-Therapy - ANSWERFrom symbolic-experiential therapy, the
tendency in some families for family members to be therapists to one another.
Therapists demand that the therapy be turned over to them, asserting that the
family has failed in its efforts at self-therapy (See Battle for Structure and Battle for
Initiative).
Bilateral Transference - ANSWERA therapeutic stance in symbolic-experiential
therapy in which the therapist adopts the language, accent, rhythm, or posture of
the family.
Minuchin - ANSWERStructural
Satir - ANSWERexperiential family therapy
Bowenian Family Therapy - ANSWERBowen's theory and therapeutic model is based
on the family's emotional system, the differentiation of self within one's family, and
the multi-generational transmission of emotions and family patterns.
Brief Family Therapy - ANSWERA model of problem-focused and time-limited
therapy developed by the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, CA. Milton Erickson
and others.
Case-Specific Symptom Prescription - ANSWERA therapeutic technique of the
strategic model, in which symptomatic or other undesirable behaviors are
paradoxically encouraged in order to lessen such behavior or bring it under
conscious control.
Solution
Alliance - ANSWER1. In the structural and strategic models, a bond or affiliation
between two or more family members. Alliances differ from coalitions in that they
are generally within a subsystem and not hidden.2. In the domestic violence
literature, refers to the redemptive phase of the abuse cycle, in which the
perpetrator promises never to act violently again and the victim agrees to participate
in that goal.
Allopoietic Systems - ANSWEROriginated by postmodern Chilean biologist,
Maturana: systems that can be controlled from the outside, such as machines.
Accommodation - ANSWERDescribes a variety of engagement techniques, such as
joining, used principally by structural family therapists in which the therapist adapts
him/herself to the family's style of interacting.
Adaptability - ANSWERFrom Olson's Circumplex Model, a measure of the family's
ability to respond and adapt to changes in their lives. Also called "flexibility." Families
are rated at four levels: rigid, structured, flexible, and chaotic.
Antilibidinal Ego - ANSWERFrom object relations theory, that part of the ego that is
formed from interactions with the rejecting object.
As If Structure - ANSWERFrom symbolic-experiential therapy, family members are
encouraged to freely experiment as if they were in the role of the other, so long as
they understand that the role-play is symbolic. The process allows family members
to alternately experiment and return to their secure roles.
Autopoietic Systems - ANSWEROriginated by postmodern Chilean biologist,
Maturana, systems that are self-organizing and self-maintaining, such as biological
and human systems. Autopoietic Systems can be described by second-order
cybernetics.
Avoider - ANSWERFrom Satir's Experiential Family Therapy model, one of five
communication styles. The avoider tends to distract others from potential conflict by
acting helpless, weak, and lacking an understanding.
Battle for Initiative - ANSWERFormulated by Whitaker (symbolic-experiential
therapy), the Battle for Initiative follows the battle for structure. In this second
battle, the family takes back from the therapist its authority to make choices about
what is discussed and about decisions that affect their lives.
Battle for Structure - ANSWERDescribed by Whitaker as the therapist's demand that
the family capitulate to his/her way of conducting the therapy, particularly during
the initial stages. It is followed by the battle for initiative
, Beavers - Timberlawn Model - ANSWERAn assessment tool used to rate the
dimensions of competence and style in a family's functioning. Competence
dimensions are: adequate, optimal, midrange, borderline, and severely
dysfunctional. Stylistic dimensions are: centripetal, centrifugal, and mixed.
Behavioral Exchange Theory - ANSWERFrom behavioral family therapy, a way of
describing relationships in terms of costs and benefits. Functional relationships have
plentiful access to rewards and relatively few costs, while distressed relationships
have a scarcity of rewards relative to costs.
Bi-Modal Feedback Mechanism - ANSWERFrom Ashby, the rule-bound mechanism
by which a system remains unchanged so long as the internal or external
environment is stable, but when the fluctuation exceeds the range of stability the
system must respond in some new way. The system either breaks down or it makes a
leap into new levels of functioning. The change results in a new set of patterns
which, like the old pattern, is also bound by rules, and it, too, remains unchanged, so
long as the environment is stable.
Bilateral Pseudo-Therapy - ANSWERFrom symbolic-experiential therapy, the
tendency in some families for family members to be therapists to one another.
Therapists demand that the therapy be turned over to them, asserting that the
family has failed in its efforts at self-therapy (See Battle for Structure and Battle for
Initiative).
Bilateral Transference - ANSWERA therapeutic stance in symbolic-experiential
therapy in which the therapist adopts the language, accent, rhythm, or posture of
the family.
Minuchin - ANSWERStructural
Satir - ANSWERexperiential family therapy
Bowenian Family Therapy - ANSWERBowen's theory and therapeutic model is based
on the family's emotional system, the differentiation of self within one's family, and
the multi-generational transmission of emotions and family patterns.
Brief Family Therapy - ANSWERA model of problem-focused and time-limited
therapy developed by the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, CA. Milton Erickson
and others.
Case-Specific Symptom Prescription - ANSWERA therapeutic technique of the
strategic model, in which symptomatic or other undesirable behaviors are
paradoxically encouraged in order to lessen such behavior or bring it under
conscious control.
