1
TF-CBT CERT EXAM ALL 50 QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES | NEWLY UPDATED
VERSION FOR 2025-2026 | A GRADED!!
Jody is a 6 year-old girl who was attacked by a dog and left with severe
scars all over her legs. Since the dog attack, Jody has experienced severe
PTSD symptoms and significant oppositional behavior problems. Her
mother has felt intense guilt as Jody almost died from the attack. She
now cannot say no to anything her daughter wants. The mother also
reported that Jody's behavior is extremely difficult to manage and the
mother just cannot take her anywhere. Jody has tantrums at the drop of a
pin and becomes fearful when there is any mention of a dog. -
ANSWER- . In the first TF-CBT session, the therapist would typically:
a) Give Jody the freedom to talk about anything she likes throughout the
session.
b) Provide psychoeducation and express optimism about her ability to
help mother and child in 12 to 16 sessions.
c) Explain to mother that Jody has serious PTSD symptoms and that
treatment will likely continue for 1-2 years.
d) Strongly encourage Jody to talk about the details of the dog attack, no
matter how much anxiety this strategy would cause.
8. In order to help the mother respond to Jody's behavior problems, it is
important to: - ANSWER- a) Engage in cognitive processing to
encourage mother to accept responsibility for the dog attack.
,2
b) Examine Jody's early childhood experiences to determine the source
of her oppositional behaviors.
c) Encourage mom to ignore Jody when she complies with mother's
requests and give Jody lots of attention when Jody whines and does not
get her way.
d) Remind mom that she is acting in Jody's best interest when she
spanks Jody for having temper tantrums.
e) Encourage mom to praise Jody for listening to mom, not pay attention
to Jody's whining, and give Jody consistent time outs for temper
tantrums.
9. Jody probably developed temper tantrums after the dog attack
because: - ANSWER- a) The dog attack caused her cortisol levels to
drop leading to anger.
b) Out of compassion for her daughter, the mother began to overindulge
Jody and not set appropriate limits.
c) Jody misses playing with dogs.
d) Jody is dissociative and her anger is expressed when she "zones out."
You have been working for about a month with Keisha, a 13-year-old
girl. She has a history of sexual abuse by both her paternal and maternal
uncles. Currently, she is living with her biological parents who are
estranged from their families of origin. According to Keisha, her parents
have a history of domestic violence; specifically, they are verbally
aggressive to one another and her father has hit her mother "once or
twice." Keisha has a lot of strengths; she is bright and sociable but has
withdrawn from her friends and done poorly at school since the sexual
abuse started (at age 11). She and her mother became quickly engaged in
, 3
treatment. Keisha learned and practiced the relaxation skills and
affective expression and modulation exercises. She also understands the
cognitive triangle and has been able to apply it to her struggles with her
friends. Your plan for the next session is to begin the trauma narrative
and pr - ANSWER- 10. Which of the following might be a dysfunctional
trauma-related thought for Keisha?
a) Some of the men in my family have a lot of problems.
b) The sexual abuse was my fault.
c) My parents should get a divorce.
d) Many girls are sexually abused.
11. Which of the following is not a cognitive processing intervention? -
ANSWER- a) Best friend role play.
b) Socratic questioning.
c) Presenting factual information inconsistent with the cognitive
distortion.
d) In vivo mastery.
Angel is a 12-year-old girl who has witnessed domestic violence for
many years between her biological parents, both of whom are alcoholics.
She was placed in foster care after a severe incident of abuse in which
her mom sustained serious injuries and her father was arrested. Angel
lives in a foster home with her two younger biological siblings. The
foster mom reports that Angel is withdrawn and sad and not paying
attention in school. When you meet with Angel, she minimizes the
violence in her family of origin and avoids talking about it. She
expresses feeling most distressed about being away from her mom. The
biological mother is in an inpatient detoxification program and will be
TF-CBT CERT EXAM ALL 50 QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES | NEWLY UPDATED
VERSION FOR 2025-2026 | A GRADED!!
Jody is a 6 year-old girl who was attacked by a dog and left with severe
scars all over her legs. Since the dog attack, Jody has experienced severe
PTSD symptoms and significant oppositional behavior problems. Her
mother has felt intense guilt as Jody almost died from the attack. She
now cannot say no to anything her daughter wants. The mother also
reported that Jody's behavior is extremely difficult to manage and the
mother just cannot take her anywhere. Jody has tantrums at the drop of a
pin and becomes fearful when there is any mention of a dog. -
ANSWER- . In the first TF-CBT session, the therapist would typically:
a) Give Jody the freedom to talk about anything she likes throughout the
session.
b) Provide psychoeducation and express optimism about her ability to
help mother and child in 12 to 16 sessions.
c) Explain to mother that Jody has serious PTSD symptoms and that
treatment will likely continue for 1-2 years.
d) Strongly encourage Jody to talk about the details of the dog attack, no
matter how much anxiety this strategy would cause.
8. In order to help the mother respond to Jody's behavior problems, it is
important to: - ANSWER- a) Engage in cognitive processing to
encourage mother to accept responsibility for the dog attack.
,2
b) Examine Jody's early childhood experiences to determine the source
of her oppositional behaviors.
c) Encourage mom to ignore Jody when she complies with mother's
requests and give Jody lots of attention when Jody whines and does not
get her way.
d) Remind mom that she is acting in Jody's best interest when she
spanks Jody for having temper tantrums.
e) Encourage mom to praise Jody for listening to mom, not pay attention
to Jody's whining, and give Jody consistent time outs for temper
tantrums.
9. Jody probably developed temper tantrums after the dog attack
because: - ANSWER- a) The dog attack caused her cortisol levels to
drop leading to anger.
b) Out of compassion for her daughter, the mother began to overindulge
Jody and not set appropriate limits.
c) Jody misses playing with dogs.
d) Jody is dissociative and her anger is expressed when she "zones out."
You have been working for about a month with Keisha, a 13-year-old
girl. She has a history of sexual abuse by both her paternal and maternal
uncles. Currently, she is living with her biological parents who are
estranged from their families of origin. According to Keisha, her parents
have a history of domestic violence; specifically, they are verbally
aggressive to one another and her father has hit her mother "once or
twice." Keisha has a lot of strengths; she is bright and sociable but has
withdrawn from her friends and done poorly at school since the sexual
abuse started (at age 11). She and her mother became quickly engaged in
, 3
treatment. Keisha learned and practiced the relaxation skills and
affective expression and modulation exercises. She also understands the
cognitive triangle and has been able to apply it to her struggles with her
friends. Your plan for the next session is to begin the trauma narrative
and pr - ANSWER- 10. Which of the following might be a dysfunctional
trauma-related thought for Keisha?
a) Some of the men in my family have a lot of problems.
b) The sexual abuse was my fault.
c) My parents should get a divorce.
d) Many girls are sexually abused.
11. Which of the following is not a cognitive processing intervention? -
ANSWER- a) Best friend role play.
b) Socratic questioning.
c) Presenting factual information inconsistent with the cognitive
distortion.
d) In vivo mastery.
Angel is a 12-year-old girl who has witnessed domestic violence for
many years between her biological parents, both of whom are alcoholics.
She was placed in foster care after a severe incident of abuse in which
her mom sustained serious injuries and her father was arrested. Angel
lives in a foster home with her two younger biological siblings. The
foster mom reports that Angel is withdrawn and sad and not paying
attention in school. When you meet with Angel, she minimizes the
violence in her family of origin and avoids talking about it. She
expresses feeling most distressed about being away from her mom. The
biological mother is in an inpatient detoxification program and will be
