MFT NATIONAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM SCRIPT WITH
CORRECT Q&A AND FULL SOLUTION
⩥ Which model will sometimes use ordeals to alter symptom
expression? Answer: Strategic
⩥ According to MRI, all communication contains which of the
following two levels of functions? Answer: report and command
⩥ A symptom carrier for family dysfunction or pathology is often
referred to as Answer: the scapegoat
⩥ In the MRI version of brief therapy, it is essential to Answer: identify
the disabling sequence of which the symptom is a vital part
⩥ Which theorist assumes that all problems presented to therapy result
from the dilemma between love and violence? Answer: Chloe Madanas
⩥ Which of the following is NOT one of the five stages of the initial
interview? Social Stage, Engagement Stage, Problem Stage, Interaction
Stage Answer: engagement stage
,⩥ Dr. J is seeing a family in which the husband and wife frequently
argue in the bedroom. In fact, the two argue while preparing for bed
almost every night. Dr. J does not ask the couple to attempt to stop their
arguments, but directs them to only argue in the kitchen. If an argument
starts in the bedroom, they have to move to the kitchen to compete it. Dr.
J is using what technique? Answer: manipulating the symptom
⩥ In addition, Dr J exaggerates the couple's arguments, calling the
"battles" and relationship threatening. He relates to the family is fears
that these "battles" are headed straight for the divorce court. Dr. J is most
likely practicing from which theorist's model? Answer: Haley
⩥ Quid pro quo refers to a family or couple's tendency to take which
stance? Answer: If you do X, I will do Y
⩥ Jane is struggling with insomnia. She's seeing a therapist who has
instructed her that, if she is not asleep with 30 minutes of going to bed,
she must get up and mop and wax her kitchen floor. This technique is
known as Answer: ordeal therapy
⩥ Jane doesn't like that intervention and goes to another therapist. This
therapist tells Jane she must attempt to stay awake at least three hours
each night when she goes to bed. This therapist is Answer: targeting the
attempted solution
,⩥ The Smith family comes into therapy with Dr S and presents with
behavioral problems with their 10 and 9 year olds. At the end of the
session, Dr S directs them to spend time together this week away from
the children. Dr S, in fact, gives this directive to all the families she sees
that are experiencing problems with children. Dr S is using _____
associated with _____ Therapy. Answer: invariant prescription/Milan
Systemic
⩥ The Milan approach is characterized by the following techniques:
Answer: circular questioning and hypothesizing
⩥ Most strategic tasks have a common characteristic -- they try to
manipulate Answer: the symptom
⩥ An MRI-based therapist working with a client with stage fright is
most likely to tell the client Answer: to identify the disadvantages of
improvement
⩥ The first clinical director of the Mental Research Institute in Palo
Alto, CA. Answer: Don Jackson
⩥ Mara Selvini Palazzoli, Juigi Boscolo, Gianfranco Cecchin and
Guilana Prata were strategic therapists who based their approach on the
work of Gregory Bateson. What is the name of their approach to family
therapy? Answer: Milan Systemic Therapy
, ⩥ The non-verbal aspect of a communication, which defines the
relationship between the participants is called what? Answer: analogic
communication
⩥ The double bind theory is a hypothesis about the cause of what?
Answer: schizophrenia
⩥ Applying more of the same attempted solution, only to provoke an
escalation of the problem is an example of what? Answer: negative
feedback loop
⩥ Communicating about communicating is known as what? Answer:
metacommunications
⩥ Sarah's 15 year old daughter, Rebecca, has a 9 pm bedtime isn't
allowed to go to the mall with her friends unless an adult is along. Sarah
expresses her fears and concerns that something bad might happen to
Rebecca and believes that close monitoring is the only way to keep her
safe. Rebecca began to rebel against the rules of the household and
Sarah moved her bedtime up to 8:30 and grounded her from going
anywhere with friend. The two are now at each other's throats and
Rebecca has become increasingly rebellious. Sarah's family therapist
suggested that, although close monitoring worked well with Rebecca
while she was a pre-schooler and school-aged, that Rebecca is now a
teenager. She suggested that Sarah discus with other parents of teenagers
might think were reasonable rules. Sarah's therapist is attempting to
engender what type of change? Answer: second order change
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM SCRIPT WITH
CORRECT Q&A AND FULL SOLUTION
⩥ Which model will sometimes use ordeals to alter symptom
expression? Answer: Strategic
⩥ According to MRI, all communication contains which of the
following two levels of functions? Answer: report and command
⩥ A symptom carrier for family dysfunction or pathology is often
referred to as Answer: the scapegoat
⩥ In the MRI version of brief therapy, it is essential to Answer: identify
the disabling sequence of which the symptom is a vital part
⩥ Which theorist assumes that all problems presented to therapy result
from the dilemma between love and violence? Answer: Chloe Madanas
⩥ Which of the following is NOT one of the five stages of the initial
interview? Social Stage, Engagement Stage, Problem Stage, Interaction
Stage Answer: engagement stage
,⩥ Dr. J is seeing a family in which the husband and wife frequently
argue in the bedroom. In fact, the two argue while preparing for bed
almost every night. Dr. J does not ask the couple to attempt to stop their
arguments, but directs them to only argue in the kitchen. If an argument
starts in the bedroom, they have to move to the kitchen to compete it. Dr.
J is using what technique? Answer: manipulating the symptom
⩥ In addition, Dr J exaggerates the couple's arguments, calling the
"battles" and relationship threatening. He relates to the family is fears
that these "battles" are headed straight for the divorce court. Dr. J is most
likely practicing from which theorist's model? Answer: Haley
⩥ Quid pro quo refers to a family or couple's tendency to take which
stance? Answer: If you do X, I will do Y
⩥ Jane is struggling with insomnia. She's seeing a therapist who has
instructed her that, if she is not asleep with 30 minutes of going to bed,
she must get up and mop and wax her kitchen floor. This technique is
known as Answer: ordeal therapy
⩥ Jane doesn't like that intervention and goes to another therapist. This
therapist tells Jane she must attempt to stay awake at least three hours
each night when she goes to bed. This therapist is Answer: targeting the
attempted solution
,⩥ The Smith family comes into therapy with Dr S and presents with
behavioral problems with their 10 and 9 year olds. At the end of the
session, Dr S directs them to spend time together this week away from
the children. Dr S, in fact, gives this directive to all the families she sees
that are experiencing problems with children. Dr S is using _____
associated with _____ Therapy. Answer: invariant prescription/Milan
Systemic
⩥ The Milan approach is characterized by the following techniques:
Answer: circular questioning and hypothesizing
⩥ Most strategic tasks have a common characteristic -- they try to
manipulate Answer: the symptom
⩥ An MRI-based therapist working with a client with stage fright is
most likely to tell the client Answer: to identify the disadvantages of
improvement
⩥ The first clinical director of the Mental Research Institute in Palo
Alto, CA. Answer: Don Jackson
⩥ Mara Selvini Palazzoli, Juigi Boscolo, Gianfranco Cecchin and
Guilana Prata were strategic therapists who based their approach on the
work of Gregory Bateson. What is the name of their approach to family
therapy? Answer: Milan Systemic Therapy
, ⩥ The non-verbal aspect of a communication, which defines the
relationship between the participants is called what? Answer: analogic
communication
⩥ The double bind theory is a hypothesis about the cause of what?
Answer: schizophrenia
⩥ Applying more of the same attempted solution, only to provoke an
escalation of the problem is an example of what? Answer: negative
feedback loop
⩥ Communicating about communicating is known as what? Answer:
metacommunications
⩥ Sarah's 15 year old daughter, Rebecca, has a 9 pm bedtime isn't
allowed to go to the mall with her friends unless an adult is along. Sarah
expresses her fears and concerns that something bad might happen to
Rebecca and believes that close monitoring is the only way to keep her
safe. Rebecca began to rebel against the rules of the household and
Sarah moved her bedtime up to 8:30 and grounded her from going
anywhere with friend. The two are now at each other's throats and
Rebecca has become increasingly rebellious. Sarah's family therapist
suggested that, although close monitoring worked well with Rebecca
while she was a pre-schooler and school-aged, that Rebecca is now a
teenager. She suggested that Sarah discus with other parents of teenagers
might think were reasonable rules. Sarah's therapist is attempting to
engender what type of change? Answer: second order change
