PMHNP CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026 FINAL PAPER EXAM Q&A
STUDY GUIDE WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
◉ meds that can cause false positives for methadone or PCP. Answer:
OTC cough meds (Nyquil) dextromethorphan
◉ psychoanalytic therapy. Answer: Freud
promotes change by development of greater insight and awareness
of maladaptive defenses
◉ Cognitive therapy. Answer: Aaron Beck
goal is to change clients irrational beliefs, faulty conceptions, and
negative cognitive distortions
◉ behavioral therapy. Answer: Arnold Lazarus
focus on changing maladaptive bx by participating in active bx
techniques such as exposure, relaxation, problem solving, and role
playing
◉ Dialectical behavior therapy. Answer: Marsha Linehan
,focuses on emotional regulation, tolerance for distress, self
management skills, interpersonal effectiveness, mindfulness, with an
emphasis on treating therapy-interfering bx
◉ goals of DBT. Answer: decrease suicidal bx
decreased therapy interfering bx
decrease emotional reactivity
decrease self invalidation
decrease crisis-generating bx
decrease passivity
increase realistic decision making
increase accurate communication of emotions and competencies
◉ existential therpay. Answer: viktor frankl
goal to live authentically and to focus on the present and on personal
responsibility
◉ humanistic therpay. Answer: carl rogers
person-centered therapy
self directed growth and self actualization
people are born with capacity to direct themselves toward self
actualization
,◉ interpersonal therapy. Answer: Gerald klerman and myrna
Weissman
evidence based therapy focus on interpersonal issues creating
distress
time limited, active, focus on the present and on interpersonal
distress
◉ eye movement desensitization and reprocessing EMDR. Answer:
Francine shapiro
behavioral and exposure therapy
PTSD
goal to achieve adaptive resolution
◉ 3 phases of EMDR. Answer: desensitization phase
installation phase
body scan
◉ group phases. Answer: pregroup phase
forming phase
storming phase
norming phase
performing phase
adjourning phase
, ◉ family systems therapy. Answer: Murray Brown
focus on chronic anxiety within families
tx goal to increase familys awareness of each members function
within the family and to incrase levels of self determination
◉ structural family therapy. Answer: Salvador minuchin
main tx goal to produce structural change in the family organization
to more effectively manage problems
changing transactional patterns and family structure
◉ experiential therapy. Answer: virginia satir
focus on being authentic, freedom of choice, human validation, and
experiencing the moment
tx goals to develop authentic, nurturing communication and
increased self worth of each family member
overall goal is growth rather than symptom reduction alone
does not focus on particular techniques
◉ strategic therapy. Answer: jay haley
tx goal to help family embers behave in ways that will not
perpetuate the problem bx
interventions are problem focused
AND ANSWERS 2026 FINAL PAPER EXAM Q&A
STUDY GUIDE WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
◉ meds that can cause false positives for methadone or PCP. Answer:
OTC cough meds (Nyquil) dextromethorphan
◉ psychoanalytic therapy. Answer: Freud
promotes change by development of greater insight and awareness
of maladaptive defenses
◉ Cognitive therapy. Answer: Aaron Beck
goal is to change clients irrational beliefs, faulty conceptions, and
negative cognitive distortions
◉ behavioral therapy. Answer: Arnold Lazarus
focus on changing maladaptive bx by participating in active bx
techniques such as exposure, relaxation, problem solving, and role
playing
◉ Dialectical behavior therapy. Answer: Marsha Linehan
,focuses on emotional regulation, tolerance for distress, self
management skills, interpersonal effectiveness, mindfulness, with an
emphasis on treating therapy-interfering bx
◉ goals of DBT. Answer: decrease suicidal bx
decreased therapy interfering bx
decrease emotional reactivity
decrease self invalidation
decrease crisis-generating bx
decrease passivity
increase realistic decision making
increase accurate communication of emotions and competencies
◉ existential therpay. Answer: viktor frankl
goal to live authentically and to focus on the present and on personal
responsibility
◉ humanistic therpay. Answer: carl rogers
person-centered therapy
self directed growth and self actualization
people are born with capacity to direct themselves toward self
actualization
,◉ interpersonal therapy. Answer: Gerald klerman and myrna
Weissman
evidence based therapy focus on interpersonal issues creating
distress
time limited, active, focus on the present and on interpersonal
distress
◉ eye movement desensitization and reprocessing EMDR. Answer:
Francine shapiro
behavioral and exposure therapy
PTSD
goal to achieve adaptive resolution
◉ 3 phases of EMDR. Answer: desensitization phase
installation phase
body scan
◉ group phases. Answer: pregroup phase
forming phase
storming phase
norming phase
performing phase
adjourning phase
, ◉ family systems therapy. Answer: Murray Brown
focus on chronic anxiety within families
tx goal to increase familys awareness of each members function
within the family and to incrase levels of self determination
◉ structural family therapy. Answer: Salvador minuchin
main tx goal to produce structural change in the family organization
to more effectively manage problems
changing transactional patterns and family structure
◉ experiential therapy. Answer: virginia satir
focus on being authentic, freedom of choice, human validation, and
experiencing the moment
tx goals to develop authentic, nurturing communication and
increased self worth of each family member
overall goal is growth rather than symptom reduction alone
does not focus on particular techniques
◉ strategic therapy. Answer: jay haley
tx goal to help family embers behave in ways that will not
perpetuate the problem bx
interventions are problem focused
