MFT NATIONAL 2026 CORE EXAM SET QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔what is change? - ✔✔the process by which structural elements of a system are
transformed to new states or levels of organization
✔✔what is circular questioning? - ✔✔a method of interviewing and hypothesis
validation. Each family member comments on the behavior and interaction of two other
members
✔✔Who introduced co-therapy? - ✔✔Carl Whitaker
✔✔What are coalitions? - ✔✔two family members joined together against a third.
Usually formed across generational boundaries. Described by Minuchin's structural
model
✔✔What is cybernetics? - ✔✔the study of how systems are controlled and how
information feedback loops work
✔✔What is differentiation of self? - ✔✔The autonomy of functioning which results in
being less reactive to family system dynamics and other members' emotional states.
✔✔What are diffuse boundaries? - ✔✔boundaries that are not clearly defined or
maintained. Allows for blurring of generational roles and responsibilities. Can lead to
enmeshed relationships.
✔✔What is discontinuous change? - ✔✔sudden change in family system organization
usually brought on by a crisis which effects the perception of a problem.
✔✔What is disengagement? - ✔✔loose internal emotional bonds and rigid boundaries,
combined with diffuse boundaries with external systems, such as spouses with families
or origin
✔✔What is a dyad? - ✔✔a system based on interactions between two people
✔✔What is egosyntonic? - ✔✔phenomena or experiences which are consistent with the
perceived needs or ideals of an individual
✔✔what is emotional cutoff? - ✔✔a rigid boundary which prevents emotional interaction
between individuals who otherwise have strong bonds. Often intended to avoid the pain
of unresolved emtional conflicts.
✔✔what therapy is emotional cutoff associated with? - ✔✔transgenerational or
Bowenian
,✔✔what is entropy? - ✔✔the tendency of a system to become disordered and random,
unless controlled by outside forces
✔✔What is the emphasis of the strategic model? - ✔✔positive-feedback cycles,
maladaptive behavioral sequence of dysfunction
✔✔Did Jay Haley feel symptoms were meaningful to solve problems? - ✔✔yes
✔✔What is the stance of the therapist in strategic therapy? - ✔✔active, deliberate, joins
with the family, responsible for therapy, focuses on presenting problem, uses language
of the family, and observer
✔✔How is diagnosis & assessment achieved in strategic therapy? - ✔✔non-historic,
family life cycle, transition points, data from self report, observing family interactions
✔✔Is object relations associated with the objects or the fantasies of the objects? -
✔✔fantasies of the objects in the psyche
✔✔What is the stance of the therapist in object relations therapy? - ✔✔non-directive,
observer, and fosters insight and understanding
✔✔Of Bowen's transgenerational model, the contextual model and object relations
which is the least directive? - ✔✔Object relations
✔✔What are some methods and techniques of object relations therapy? - ✔✔listening,
observing, responding to unconscious material, interpreting, developing insight, and
encouraging expression of repressed impulses
✔✔Who are the founders of psycho educational therapy? - ✔✔Carol Anderson and
Hogerty
✔✔Is psycho educational therapy brief or long term? - ✔✔brief
✔✔What type of therapeutic setting is psycho educational therapy generally used in? -
✔✔hospital settings
✔✔What is the most comprehensive theory in family therapy? - ✔✔Bowen
Transgenerational Theory
✔✔Who is known as the feminist Bowenian therapist? - ✔✔Betty Carter
, ✔✔Bowen was an exception in that he was more committed to systems theory as a way
of thinking than as a set of interventions (true or false) - ✔✔true
✔✔According to Bowenian transgenerational theory, the past generations have a
powerful influence on the present. (true or false) - ✔✔true
✔✔Does Bowenian therapy belive that the best way to treat a child is to treat the
parent? - ✔✔yes
✔✔Differentian of self 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 two counterbalancing forces drive human relationships according to Bowenian
theory? - ✔✔1. Individuality: independence &
2. Togetherness: companionship
✔✔Does Bowenian theory believe that family is with us everywhere we go? - ✔✔yes
✔✔Name the 6 interlocking concepts of Bowenian or transgenerational theory? - ✔✔1.
Differentiation of self
2. Triangulation
3. Nuclear family emotional process
4. Family projection process
5. Transgenerational (or multigenerational) projection process
6. Sibling position
✔✔What 2 two concepts were added to Bowen's 6 interlocking concepts in the 1970s? -
✔✔1. Emotional Cutoff: the way people manage anxiety between generations
2. Societal emotional process: sexism, class, ethnic prejudice, gender
✔✔Define Bowen's emotional cutoff. - ✔✔the way people manage anxiety between
generations. The greater emotional fusion between parents and children, the greater the
likelihood of cutoff.
✔✔Describe an example of emotional cutoff. - ✔✔Some people seek distance by
moving away, others seek distance emotionally by avoiding personal conversations or
insulating themselves with the presence of third parties.
✔✔What is the scale used to determmine differentiation of self? - ✔✔good to poor
✔✔Describe some key concepts with differentiation of self (the cornerstone to Bowen's
theory). - ✔✔The capacity to think and reflect, the ability to be flexible and act wisely,
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔what is change? - ✔✔the process by which structural elements of a system are
transformed to new states or levels of organization
✔✔what is circular questioning? - ✔✔a method of interviewing and hypothesis
validation. Each family member comments on the behavior and interaction of two other
members
✔✔Who introduced co-therapy? - ✔✔Carl Whitaker
✔✔What are coalitions? - ✔✔two family members joined together against a third.
Usually formed across generational boundaries. Described by Minuchin's structural
model
✔✔What is cybernetics? - ✔✔the study of how systems are controlled and how
information feedback loops work
✔✔What is differentiation of self? - ✔✔The autonomy of functioning which results in
being less reactive to family system dynamics and other members' emotional states.
✔✔What are diffuse boundaries? - ✔✔boundaries that are not clearly defined or
maintained. Allows for blurring of generational roles and responsibilities. Can lead to
enmeshed relationships.
✔✔What is discontinuous change? - ✔✔sudden change in family system organization
usually brought on by a crisis which effects the perception of a problem.
✔✔What is disengagement? - ✔✔loose internal emotional bonds and rigid boundaries,
combined with diffuse boundaries with external systems, such as spouses with families
or origin
✔✔What is a dyad? - ✔✔a system based on interactions between two people
✔✔What is egosyntonic? - ✔✔phenomena or experiences which are consistent with the
perceived needs or ideals of an individual
✔✔what is emotional cutoff? - ✔✔a rigid boundary which prevents emotional interaction
between individuals who otherwise have strong bonds. Often intended to avoid the pain
of unresolved emtional conflicts.
✔✔what therapy is emotional cutoff associated with? - ✔✔transgenerational or
Bowenian
,✔✔what is entropy? - ✔✔the tendency of a system to become disordered and random,
unless controlled by outside forces
✔✔What is the emphasis of the strategic model? - ✔✔positive-feedback cycles,
maladaptive behavioral sequence of dysfunction
✔✔Did Jay Haley feel symptoms were meaningful to solve problems? - ✔✔yes
✔✔What is the stance of the therapist in strategic therapy? - ✔✔active, deliberate, joins
with the family, responsible for therapy, focuses on presenting problem, uses language
of the family, and observer
✔✔How is diagnosis & assessment achieved in strategic therapy? - ✔✔non-historic,
family life cycle, transition points, data from self report, observing family interactions
✔✔Is object relations associated with the objects or the fantasies of the objects? -
✔✔fantasies of the objects in the psyche
✔✔What is the stance of the therapist in object relations therapy? - ✔✔non-directive,
observer, and fosters insight and understanding
✔✔Of Bowen's transgenerational model, the contextual model and object relations
which is the least directive? - ✔✔Object relations
✔✔What are some methods and techniques of object relations therapy? - ✔✔listening,
observing, responding to unconscious material, interpreting, developing insight, and
encouraging expression of repressed impulses
✔✔Who are the founders of psycho educational therapy? - ✔✔Carol Anderson and
Hogerty
✔✔Is psycho educational therapy brief or long term? - ✔✔brief
✔✔What type of therapeutic setting is psycho educational therapy generally used in? -
✔✔hospital settings
✔✔What is the most comprehensive theory in family therapy? - ✔✔Bowen
Transgenerational Theory
✔✔Who is known as the feminist Bowenian therapist? - ✔✔Betty Carter
, ✔✔Bowen was an exception in that he was more committed to systems theory as a way
of thinking than as a set of interventions (true or false) - ✔✔true
✔✔According to Bowenian transgenerational theory, the past generations have a
powerful influence on the present. (true or false) - ✔✔true
✔✔Does Bowenian therapy belive that the best way to treat a child is to treat the
parent? - ✔✔yes
✔✔Differentian of self 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 two counterbalancing forces drive human relationships according to Bowenian
theory? - ✔✔1. Individuality: independence &
2. Togetherness: companionship
✔✔Does Bowenian theory believe that family is with us everywhere we go? - ✔✔yes
✔✔Name the 6 interlocking concepts of Bowenian or transgenerational theory? - ✔✔1.
Differentiation of self
2. Triangulation
3. Nuclear family emotional process
4. Family projection process
5. Transgenerational (or multigenerational) projection process
6. Sibling position
✔✔What 2 two concepts were added to Bowen's 6 interlocking concepts in the 1970s? -
✔✔1. Emotional Cutoff: the way people manage anxiety between generations
2. Societal emotional process: sexism, class, ethnic prejudice, gender
✔✔Define Bowen's emotional cutoff. - ✔✔the way people manage anxiety between
generations. The greater emotional fusion between parents and children, the greater the
likelihood of cutoff.
✔✔Describe an example of emotional cutoff. - ✔✔Some people seek distance by
moving away, others seek distance emotionally by avoiding personal conversations or
insulating themselves with the presence of third parties.
✔✔What is the scale used to determmine differentiation of self? - ✔✔good to poor
✔✔Describe some key concepts with differentiation of self (the cornerstone to Bowen's
theory). - ✔✔The capacity to think and reflect, the ability to be flexible and act wisely,
