MFT National Licensing Exam
Questions and Answers
All of the following are considered communication theorists EXCEPT:
A: Watzlawick
B: Satir
C: White
D: Haley - correct Answer-C: White
White focused on meaning where communication therapists focused on behavior.
During a session with a couple a husband states to the therapist that his wife often nags
and belittles him. The therapist's intervention is to give the wife homework in which she
is to only say positive things to her husband and abstain from any negative comments.
When she appears to be negative or belittling to her husband he is to put his hand up
and say "Stop". A feminist therapist would be critical of the above technique because it:
A: Gives the husband more power
B: Appears to be hierarchical
C: Is therapist driven
D: All of the above - correct Answer-D: All of the above
Feminists draw techniques from other schools of family therapy such as the Narrative
approach, with a sensitivity to those that are especially empowering and client driven. In
this case, the therapist would work together to question imbalances of power between
members and the effects these imbalances have on all family members. A feminist
therapist might then work with the couple to develop new stories using a collaborative
approach.
Jose and Maria bring their son, Joe, to counseling because of poor academic
performance and behavior.
A: externalize the problem
B: rearrange family members to imply alliance shifts.
C: use genogram construction to help the family identify family-of-origins patterns
consciously.
D: coach the family on improving its problem-solving skills - correct Answer-D: Coach
the family on improving its problem solving skills.
The strategic family therapist defines the focus of treatment as the family and its
interactive process, paying particular attention to the family's process of problem
solving.
During the process of treatment, Mr. Medieros recognizes how he was victimized by his
parents, and that past generations were also victimized by their parents. In recognizing
this he began to see his parents less as monsters and more as struggling human
,beings, themselves acting out invisible loyalties. Therefore, he was able to block the
trans-generational pattern of destructive entitlement and allowed the positive
transmission of relational resources. The process by which he earned entitlement by
dealing with his own issues with his own parents is called:
A: A family projection process
B: relational ethics
C: societal regression
D: exoneration - correct Answer-D: exoneration
Exoneration is a process by which the therapist attempts to help the client see the
positive intent and inter-generational loyalty issues that motivate the behavior of
members of previous generations.
Harmonious relationships are more difficult to achieve for gay and lesbian couples
because:
A: they are more inherently pathological than straight couples
B: of shame
C: our society presents them with far more obstacles
D: they have more individual problems. - correct Answer-C: our society presents them
with far more obstacles
Mary feels threatened by the arrival of her baby sister so she pouts and becomes
temperamental. When Mary acts out this way, her father thinks she is regressing and
tries to get her to act her age by punishing and criticizing her. Father's harshness
confirms Mary's belief that her sister is displacing her. The therapist suggests that when
Mary behaves this way, the father should ignore her. If this suggestion worked, it would
be a good example of:
A: positive feedback
B: first-order change
C: second-order change
D: negative feedback - correct Answer-B: first order change
when only the behaviors or interactions when a system change, this is first order
change, as opposed to second order change, where the rule governing the behavior
must change.
A couple comes to therapy because their three-year-old daughter is "out of control".
During the session the wife begins complaining that her husband is never homes and
she is left to deal with her daughter's behavior.
An initial goal that a Structural Family Therapist working with this family might set is to:
A: inquire about inter-generational themes.
B: help the couple function together as a cohesive executive subsystem
C: hypothesize as to why the daughter is so "out of control".
D: look for disabling international sequences. - correct Answer-B: help the couple
function together as a cohesive executive subsystem.
Minuchin believes that the most important of all the general goals for families is the
creation of an effective hierarchical structure. Inquiring about intergenerational themes
,is Trans-generational, look for disabling interactional sequences is Strategic, and
hypothesize as to why the daughter is so "out of control" is Milan systemic.
A Milan-Systemic therapist would define the purpose of circular questioning as:
A: Learning more about differences in family members' perceptions of their
relationships.
B: expanding on the notion of a reframe.
C: disrupting the multiple interactional sequences existing in the family.
D: an individualized prescription of an action or series of actions designed to alter the
family's roles. - correct Answer-A: Learning more about differences in family members'
perceptions of their relationships.
Circular questioning is a series of questions asked of one family member about another
or about the relationships within the family. Other answers can be eliminated as follows:
Disrupting the multiple interactional sequences - invariant prescription; Expanding on
the notion of a reframe - positive connotation; Individualized prescription of an action -
rituals.
According to the communication theorists, the content aspects of communication is
known as:
A: metacommunication.
B: report
C: request
D: an analogical message - correct Answer-C: report
All communications have a report and command elements. The report element refers to
the content, while the command element refers to the relationship between the sender
and receiver. Meta-communication is communication about communication. This term
usually refers to the covert, nonverbal message that gives additional meaning to an
overt, verbal message.
Examples of an analogical or symbolic message are certain behaviors that may have a
metaphoric meaning for the couple.
Some research has demonstrated that there are certain common factors in successful
psychotherapy. Which of the following statements is correct?
A: Common factors in couple and family therapy are valuable, but not as valuable as
selecting the best research supported treatment model.
B: A common factor of at least .65 is necessary before we can conclude that an element
of treatment is effective.
C: It has been demonstrated that the common factor of 'systemic/dyadic reformulation of
the presenting problem,' can be as important that ideal choice of treatment model.
D: Common factors have been validated for general psychotherapy, but not for couples
and family therapist as yet. - correct Answer-C: It has been demonstrated that the
common factor of 'systemic/dyadic reformulation of the presenting problem,' can be as
important that ideal choice of treatment model.
The common factor components of therapy can be as important or more important to
successful outcomes, than other components such as experience of the therapist or
choice of treatment model.
, Blended families present unique circumstances for a therapist. Which of the following
would be helpful to a family therapist in facilitating discussion:
A: offering clear rules around how each parent should parent their non-biological
children.
B: all of the above.
C: a reflecting team utilizing each family as a team in a fishbowl dialogue.
D: addressing the boundary ambiguity often found when merging families. - correct
Answer-D: addressing the boundary ambiguity often found when merging families.
Boundary ambiguity: Children have simultaneous membership in two families, which
can lead to loyalty conflicts and guilt, especially when the relationship between ex-
spouses is hostile. The couples need to establish clear executive subsystem
boundaries, which can be complicated by differences in the rules that each spouse
prefers and the movement of the stepparent from an outside position to inside the
family.
Solution Focused therapist hold the following to be a primary therapeutic goal:
A: Second order change
B: Helping clients believe in miracles
C: First order change
D: Perceptual shift from talking about problems to talking about solutions. - correct
Answer-D: Perceptual shift from talking about problems to talking about solutions.
While Second Order changes can certainly occur in Solution Focused therapies,
changing how the client system uses language, effects its ability to create reality.
Hence, this is the best answer.
Multiethinic and multiracial families often present with rich and complex histories and
dynamics. The best assessment tool for outlining the complexities of a multiracial family
is a:
A: Timber lawn Racial Dichotomy Scales. A genogram is useful for increasing
understanding of family relationships and dynamics. Further identifying and exploring
the multiracial heritages across the family generations can provide insight into isolation,
bonds, beliefs, roles, and societal micro aggression.
B: cultural genogram
C: FACES III: Diversity Matrix
D: DSM-5's GARF Ethnicity Relational Scales - correct Answer-B: Cultural genogram
A genogram is useful for increasing understanding of family relationships and dynamics.
Further identifying and exploring the multiracial heritages across the family generations
can provide insight into isolation, bonds, beliefs, roles and societal micro aggressions.
A family comes to therapy and during the first session, the therapist observes that the 7-
year-old daughter sits between her parents and looks toward her mother before
answering any questions. The father appears bored during the session and constantly
looks up towards the ceiling whenever the daughter looks toward the mother. The 5-
year-old son and 9 year-old daughter are sitting opposite the parents and appear
distracted and uninvolved.
Questions and Answers
All of the following are considered communication theorists EXCEPT:
A: Watzlawick
B: Satir
C: White
D: Haley - correct Answer-C: White
White focused on meaning where communication therapists focused on behavior.
During a session with a couple a husband states to the therapist that his wife often nags
and belittles him. The therapist's intervention is to give the wife homework in which she
is to only say positive things to her husband and abstain from any negative comments.
When she appears to be negative or belittling to her husband he is to put his hand up
and say "Stop". A feminist therapist would be critical of the above technique because it:
A: Gives the husband more power
B: Appears to be hierarchical
C: Is therapist driven
D: All of the above - correct Answer-D: All of the above
Feminists draw techniques from other schools of family therapy such as the Narrative
approach, with a sensitivity to those that are especially empowering and client driven. In
this case, the therapist would work together to question imbalances of power between
members and the effects these imbalances have on all family members. A feminist
therapist might then work with the couple to develop new stories using a collaborative
approach.
Jose and Maria bring their son, Joe, to counseling because of poor academic
performance and behavior.
A: externalize the problem
B: rearrange family members to imply alliance shifts.
C: use genogram construction to help the family identify family-of-origins patterns
consciously.
D: coach the family on improving its problem-solving skills - correct Answer-D: Coach
the family on improving its problem solving skills.
The strategic family therapist defines the focus of treatment as the family and its
interactive process, paying particular attention to the family's process of problem
solving.
During the process of treatment, Mr. Medieros recognizes how he was victimized by his
parents, and that past generations were also victimized by their parents. In recognizing
this he began to see his parents less as monsters and more as struggling human
,beings, themselves acting out invisible loyalties. Therefore, he was able to block the
trans-generational pattern of destructive entitlement and allowed the positive
transmission of relational resources. The process by which he earned entitlement by
dealing with his own issues with his own parents is called:
A: A family projection process
B: relational ethics
C: societal regression
D: exoneration - correct Answer-D: exoneration
Exoneration is a process by which the therapist attempts to help the client see the
positive intent and inter-generational loyalty issues that motivate the behavior of
members of previous generations.
Harmonious relationships are more difficult to achieve for gay and lesbian couples
because:
A: they are more inherently pathological than straight couples
B: of shame
C: our society presents them with far more obstacles
D: they have more individual problems. - correct Answer-C: our society presents them
with far more obstacles
Mary feels threatened by the arrival of her baby sister so she pouts and becomes
temperamental. When Mary acts out this way, her father thinks she is regressing and
tries to get her to act her age by punishing and criticizing her. Father's harshness
confirms Mary's belief that her sister is displacing her. The therapist suggests that when
Mary behaves this way, the father should ignore her. If this suggestion worked, it would
be a good example of:
A: positive feedback
B: first-order change
C: second-order change
D: negative feedback - correct Answer-B: first order change
when only the behaviors or interactions when a system change, this is first order
change, as opposed to second order change, where the rule governing the behavior
must change.
A couple comes to therapy because their three-year-old daughter is "out of control".
During the session the wife begins complaining that her husband is never homes and
she is left to deal with her daughter's behavior.
An initial goal that a Structural Family Therapist working with this family might set is to:
A: inquire about inter-generational themes.
B: help the couple function together as a cohesive executive subsystem
C: hypothesize as to why the daughter is so "out of control".
D: look for disabling international sequences. - correct Answer-B: help the couple
function together as a cohesive executive subsystem.
Minuchin believes that the most important of all the general goals for families is the
creation of an effective hierarchical structure. Inquiring about intergenerational themes
,is Trans-generational, look for disabling interactional sequences is Strategic, and
hypothesize as to why the daughter is so "out of control" is Milan systemic.
A Milan-Systemic therapist would define the purpose of circular questioning as:
A: Learning more about differences in family members' perceptions of their
relationships.
B: expanding on the notion of a reframe.
C: disrupting the multiple interactional sequences existing in the family.
D: an individualized prescription of an action or series of actions designed to alter the
family's roles. - correct Answer-A: Learning more about differences in family members'
perceptions of their relationships.
Circular questioning is a series of questions asked of one family member about another
or about the relationships within the family. Other answers can be eliminated as follows:
Disrupting the multiple interactional sequences - invariant prescription; Expanding on
the notion of a reframe - positive connotation; Individualized prescription of an action -
rituals.
According to the communication theorists, the content aspects of communication is
known as:
A: metacommunication.
B: report
C: request
D: an analogical message - correct Answer-C: report
All communications have a report and command elements. The report element refers to
the content, while the command element refers to the relationship between the sender
and receiver. Meta-communication is communication about communication. This term
usually refers to the covert, nonverbal message that gives additional meaning to an
overt, verbal message.
Examples of an analogical or symbolic message are certain behaviors that may have a
metaphoric meaning for the couple.
Some research has demonstrated that there are certain common factors in successful
psychotherapy. Which of the following statements is correct?
A: Common factors in couple and family therapy are valuable, but not as valuable as
selecting the best research supported treatment model.
B: A common factor of at least .65 is necessary before we can conclude that an element
of treatment is effective.
C: It has been demonstrated that the common factor of 'systemic/dyadic reformulation of
the presenting problem,' can be as important that ideal choice of treatment model.
D: Common factors have been validated for general psychotherapy, but not for couples
and family therapist as yet. - correct Answer-C: It has been demonstrated that the
common factor of 'systemic/dyadic reformulation of the presenting problem,' can be as
important that ideal choice of treatment model.
The common factor components of therapy can be as important or more important to
successful outcomes, than other components such as experience of the therapist or
choice of treatment model.
, Blended families present unique circumstances for a therapist. Which of the following
would be helpful to a family therapist in facilitating discussion:
A: offering clear rules around how each parent should parent their non-biological
children.
B: all of the above.
C: a reflecting team utilizing each family as a team in a fishbowl dialogue.
D: addressing the boundary ambiguity often found when merging families. - correct
Answer-D: addressing the boundary ambiguity often found when merging families.
Boundary ambiguity: Children have simultaneous membership in two families, which
can lead to loyalty conflicts and guilt, especially when the relationship between ex-
spouses is hostile. The couples need to establish clear executive subsystem
boundaries, which can be complicated by differences in the rules that each spouse
prefers and the movement of the stepparent from an outside position to inside the
family.
Solution Focused therapist hold the following to be a primary therapeutic goal:
A: Second order change
B: Helping clients believe in miracles
C: First order change
D: Perceptual shift from talking about problems to talking about solutions. - correct
Answer-D: Perceptual shift from talking about problems to talking about solutions.
While Second Order changes can certainly occur in Solution Focused therapies,
changing how the client system uses language, effects its ability to create reality.
Hence, this is the best answer.
Multiethinic and multiracial families often present with rich and complex histories and
dynamics. The best assessment tool for outlining the complexities of a multiracial family
is a:
A: Timber lawn Racial Dichotomy Scales. A genogram is useful for increasing
understanding of family relationships and dynamics. Further identifying and exploring
the multiracial heritages across the family generations can provide insight into isolation,
bonds, beliefs, roles, and societal micro aggression.
B: cultural genogram
C: FACES III: Diversity Matrix
D: DSM-5's GARF Ethnicity Relational Scales - correct Answer-B: Cultural genogram
A genogram is useful for increasing understanding of family relationships and dynamics.
Further identifying and exploring the multiracial heritages across the family generations
can provide insight into isolation, bonds, beliefs, roles and societal micro aggressions.
A family comes to therapy and during the first session, the therapist observes that the 7-
year-old daughter sits between her parents and looks toward her mother before
answering any questions. The father appears bored during the session and constantly
looks up towards the ceiling whenever the daughter looks toward the mother. The 5-
year-old son and 9 year-old daughter are sitting opposite the parents and appear
distracted and uninvolved.
