lOMoARcPSD| 54339004
MFT LICENSURE EXAM STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS |RATIONALISED LATEST
UPDATED 2025/2026 GUARANTEED
SUCCESS!!!
Genogram 1
1. Who is the identified client in this three generation genogram?
, lOMoARcPSD| 54339004
Correct answer: Keith
Explanation: An enclosure such as the one that is drawn around Keith is typically the symbol
that is used to indicate who the identified client is.
2. Which relationship in this family or family history indicates an abusive relationship?
Correct answer: Sally towards Mark
Explanation: A zig-zag line with an arrow typically indicates an abusive relationship, with the
arrow pointed in the direction of the victim, in this case Mark. The arrow is outlined, which
means emotional abuse rather than a shaded arrow which would indicate physical abuse.
3. Which transgenerational pattern is most notable in this genogram?
Correct answer: The distant relationship among mothers and daughters
Explanation: The distant relationship among mothers and daughters is seen in the relationship
between Fiona and her daughter Sue, and then later with Sue and her daughter Maggie.
4. What does the dotted line around Brian Sr. indicate?
Correct answer: He may be distant and/or disengaged from the rest of the family
Explanation: A dotted line drawn completely around an individual usually indicates distance,
disengagement, or cutoffs from the rest of the family.
5. Which two individuals have a close and healthy relationship, as indicated by this genogram?
Correct answer: Brian Jr. and Keith
Explanation: Two solid lines that are drawn, as opposed to three solid lines, indicate a close
relationship that is not fused or enmeshed.
6. If you were Keith's counselor, what transgenerational issues would you want him to be aware
of in order to begin developing treatment goals?
Correct answer: The family pattern of alcohol and other drug use
Explanation: The horizontal shading in the boxes indicates that Keith, his father, two uncles,
and grandfather all struggled with substance use issues. Keith would benefit initially from
psychoeducation regarding family history of substance abuse as a risk factor.
7. What insight could be gained regarding Sue's relationship with men?
Correct answer: Sue might have some co-dependency issues.
Explanation: The genogram indicates that Sue has married and divorced twice, both to partners
with substance use; the counselor would want to be aware of the possibility that Sue might
benefit from education regarding co-dependency in relationships.
8. Which of the following is NOT a transgenerational pattern for this three generational family?
, lOMoARcPSD| 54339004
Correct answer: Abuse
Explanation: While there is some evidence of conflict among a couple marital partners, there is
only one indication of abuse, that of Sally to Mark. This would be an example of a
transgenerational pattern in the identified client's family.
9. Which is an example of a fused or enmeshed relationship?
Correct answer: Sue and Keith
Explanation: Enmeshed or fused relationships are unhealthy close relationships, and are
indicated by drawing three solid lines.
10. Which symbol in this genogram indicates that a miscarriage occurred?
Correct answer: A triangle with an 'x' in it.
Explanation: Typically, a miscarriage is drawn as a triangle with an 'x' in it. Miscarriages and
stillbirths are important to a genogram as they may represent significant losses in a family and
could help paint a picture as to how a family might have learned to grieve.
Genogram 2
1. What kind of relationship does Natalie have with her daughter Maria?
, lOMoARcPSD| 54339004
Correct answer: Fused-Hostile
Explanation: A fused-hostile relationship is symbolized by a jagged line within three parallel
lines. This dynamic exists for two individuals who maintain an unhealthy enmeshed relationship
who are often engaged in conflict with each other.
2. Which of the following best explains the fused relationship Isabella had with Natalie?
Correct answer: The distant or poor relationship Isabella had with her husband. Explanation:
From a system's perspective, Isabella most likely turned to her daughter for comfort as a result
of the poor marital relationship she had with her husband.
3. Who in this genogram is most likely the product of triangulation?
Correct answer: Maria
Explanation: Murray Bowen conceptualized a triangle as a relationship system consisting of
three people where two members (usually the parental subsystem) who are experiencing an
uncomfortable amount of stress in their relationship draw in a third member (usually a child) to
help release emotional tension. In this case, Maria's parents have a history of conflict and appear
to project their conflict onto her.
4. If you were Natalie's therapist, which family event is least likely to explain her recent
depressed mood?
Correct answer: Her father-in-law's suicide
Explanation: Natalie was enmeshed with her mother and would likely have a difficult time with
her death. This would be compounded by the fact that her only daughter may be attempting to
move more towards independence. It would be important for Natalie to express any feelings of
loss, including the divorce as well as difficulties about her brother's cancer, whom she is close to.
5. Who is the identified client in this family?
Correct answer: Natalie
Explanation: While a family therapist might typically classify "the family" as the identified
client, drawing a circle around an individual pinpoints a selected member to work with. It is
likely that Natalie sought out counseling for herself or her family.
6. What members of this family have experienced cutoffs?
Correct answer: Adam and Natalie
Explanation: The only cutoff that is seen in this genogram is the divorce between Adam and
Natalie. Adam and Maria have a distant or poor relationship, but there is no indication that either
has decided to cut themselves off emotionally from the other.
7. Which Bowenian concept best explains the close relationship Adam had with his parents?
MFT LICENSURE EXAM STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS |RATIONALISED LATEST
UPDATED 2025/2026 GUARANTEED
SUCCESS!!!
Genogram 1
1. Who is the identified client in this three generation genogram?
, lOMoARcPSD| 54339004
Correct answer: Keith
Explanation: An enclosure such as the one that is drawn around Keith is typically the symbol
that is used to indicate who the identified client is.
2. Which relationship in this family or family history indicates an abusive relationship?
Correct answer: Sally towards Mark
Explanation: A zig-zag line with an arrow typically indicates an abusive relationship, with the
arrow pointed in the direction of the victim, in this case Mark. The arrow is outlined, which
means emotional abuse rather than a shaded arrow which would indicate physical abuse.
3. Which transgenerational pattern is most notable in this genogram?
Correct answer: The distant relationship among mothers and daughters
Explanation: The distant relationship among mothers and daughters is seen in the relationship
between Fiona and her daughter Sue, and then later with Sue and her daughter Maggie.
4. What does the dotted line around Brian Sr. indicate?
Correct answer: He may be distant and/or disengaged from the rest of the family
Explanation: A dotted line drawn completely around an individual usually indicates distance,
disengagement, or cutoffs from the rest of the family.
5. Which two individuals have a close and healthy relationship, as indicated by this genogram?
Correct answer: Brian Jr. and Keith
Explanation: Two solid lines that are drawn, as opposed to three solid lines, indicate a close
relationship that is not fused or enmeshed.
6. If you were Keith's counselor, what transgenerational issues would you want him to be aware
of in order to begin developing treatment goals?
Correct answer: The family pattern of alcohol and other drug use
Explanation: The horizontal shading in the boxes indicates that Keith, his father, two uncles,
and grandfather all struggled with substance use issues. Keith would benefit initially from
psychoeducation regarding family history of substance abuse as a risk factor.
7. What insight could be gained regarding Sue's relationship with men?
Correct answer: Sue might have some co-dependency issues.
Explanation: The genogram indicates that Sue has married and divorced twice, both to partners
with substance use; the counselor would want to be aware of the possibility that Sue might
benefit from education regarding co-dependency in relationships.
8. Which of the following is NOT a transgenerational pattern for this three generational family?
, lOMoARcPSD| 54339004
Correct answer: Abuse
Explanation: While there is some evidence of conflict among a couple marital partners, there is
only one indication of abuse, that of Sally to Mark. This would be an example of a
transgenerational pattern in the identified client's family.
9. Which is an example of a fused or enmeshed relationship?
Correct answer: Sue and Keith
Explanation: Enmeshed or fused relationships are unhealthy close relationships, and are
indicated by drawing three solid lines.
10. Which symbol in this genogram indicates that a miscarriage occurred?
Correct answer: A triangle with an 'x' in it.
Explanation: Typically, a miscarriage is drawn as a triangle with an 'x' in it. Miscarriages and
stillbirths are important to a genogram as they may represent significant losses in a family and
could help paint a picture as to how a family might have learned to grieve.
Genogram 2
1. What kind of relationship does Natalie have with her daughter Maria?
, lOMoARcPSD| 54339004
Correct answer: Fused-Hostile
Explanation: A fused-hostile relationship is symbolized by a jagged line within three parallel
lines. This dynamic exists for two individuals who maintain an unhealthy enmeshed relationship
who are often engaged in conflict with each other.
2. Which of the following best explains the fused relationship Isabella had with Natalie?
Correct answer: The distant or poor relationship Isabella had with her husband. Explanation:
From a system's perspective, Isabella most likely turned to her daughter for comfort as a result
of the poor marital relationship she had with her husband.
3. Who in this genogram is most likely the product of triangulation?
Correct answer: Maria
Explanation: Murray Bowen conceptualized a triangle as a relationship system consisting of
three people where two members (usually the parental subsystem) who are experiencing an
uncomfortable amount of stress in their relationship draw in a third member (usually a child) to
help release emotional tension. In this case, Maria's parents have a history of conflict and appear
to project their conflict onto her.
4. If you were Natalie's therapist, which family event is least likely to explain her recent
depressed mood?
Correct answer: Her father-in-law's suicide
Explanation: Natalie was enmeshed with her mother and would likely have a difficult time with
her death. This would be compounded by the fact that her only daughter may be attempting to
move more towards independence. It would be important for Natalie to express any feelings of
loss, including the divorce as well as difficulties about her brother's cancer, whom she is close to.
5. Who is the identified client in this family?
Correct answer: Natalie
Explanation: While a family therapist might typically classify "the family" as the identified
client, drawing a circle around an individual pinpoints a selected member to work with. It is
likely that Natalie sought out counseling for herself or her family.
6. What members of this family have experienced cutoffs?
Correct answer: Adam and Natalie
Explanation: The only cutoff that is seen in this genogram is the divorce between Adam and
Natalie. Adam and Maria have a distant or poor relationship, but there is no indication that either
has decided to cut themselves off emotionally from the other.
7. Which Bowenian concept best explains the close relationship Adam had with his parents?
