MFT LICENSURE COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
◉ Beth and Paul come to counseling because Beth feels that after two
years of marriage she and Paul have nothing in common. She complains
that for the past six months she has been complaining to Paul that there
are problems with their relationship. Paul states that he doesn't feel there
are problems. He feels his wife is just over reacting. A solution focused
therapist asks the wife, "How did you survive long enough to get here?"
This is an example of a:
A. Scaling
B. Exception
C. Coping question
D. Miracle question. Answer: C. Coping question
◉ A woman who was just raped calls you in crisis and then comes to
your office that day. She tells you that she does not want to press
charges. You should first
A. Ask her for details about the rape
B. Suggest a doctor's examination
C. Maintain her confidence and deal with the issues therapeutically
,D. Report the rape to the police. Answer: B. Suggest a doctor's
examination
◉ Beth and Paul come to counseling because Beth feels that after two
years of marriage she and Paul have nothing in common. She complains
that for the past six months she has been complaining to Paul that there
are problems with their relationship. Paul states that he doesn't feel there
are problems. He feels his wife is just over reacting. The therapist asks,
"How does over-reaction affect the relationship?" This type of question
is a good example of getting the couple to:
A. Identify a disabling structure
B. Assess who really has the problem
C. Externalize the problem
D. Chart the relative influence of the couple. Answer: C. Externalize the
problem
◉ Mr. & Mrs. Doherty present for family therapy complaining that their
son Jon will not listen to them and is acting out. Which of the following
would be a response by a Milan Systemic therapist?
A. "Observe Jon listening and being cooperative and respond with
positive feedback at those times."
B. "As a child, what was your relationship with your parents?"
C. "Who in the family is most upset when Jon acts out?"
,D. "When has this acting out behavior not been a problem?". Answer: C.
"Who in the family is most upset when Jon acts out?"
◉ Mr. & Mrs. Doherty present for family therapy complaining that their
son Jon will not listen to them and is acting out. A Bowenian family
therapist would:
A. Instruct Jon to sit next to the therapist and have the parents sit
together on the couch.
B. Ask the parents if they acted out when they were younger and if so,
how their parents responded.
C. Have the mother face Jon and tell him how his acting out makes her
feel.
D. Congratulate Jon for his role in reducing tension between his parents..
Answer: B. Ask the parents if they acted out when they were younger
and if so, how their parents responded
◉ Jose and Maria bring their son Joe to counseling because of poor
academic performance and behavior. A Strategic (Haley) therapist
would:
A. Re-arrange family members to imply alliance shifts.
B. Use genogram construction to help the family identify family of
origin patterns consciously.
C. Externalize the problem.
, D. Coach the family on improving problem-solving skills.. Answer: D.
Coach the family on improving problem-solving skills
◉ Jose and Maria bring their son Joe to counseling because of poor
academic performance and behavior. A structural family therapist would:
A. Reframe the motives of the interactional patterns as an attempt to
make the structure more functional
B. Give assignments to the parents to begin changing the interaction
patterns within the family of origin to adult-adult interactions.
C. Join effectively before beginning approaches to facilitate
restructuring.
D. Reduce anxiety about change by giving "go slow" directions..
Answer: C. Join effectively before beginning approaches to facilitate
restructuring
◉ In a therapy session a husband implies that his wife appears to get her
own way most of the time. The therapist then suggests that the husband
say "no" to the wife, once during the following week. This Strategic
technique is called a:
A. Description
B. Paradox.
C. Reframe.
D. Prescription.. Answer: D. Prescription
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
◉ Beth and Paul come to counseling because Beth feels that after two
years of marriage she and Paul have nothing in common. She complains
that for the past six months she has been complaining to Paul that there
are problems with their relationship. Paul states that he doesn't feel there
are problems. He feels his wife is just over reacting. A solution focused
therapist asks the wife, "How did you survive long enough to get here?"
This is an example of a:
A. Scaling
B. Exception
C. Coping question
D. Miracle question. Answer: C. Coping question
◉ A woman who was just raped calls you in crisis and then comes to
your office that day. She tells you that she does not want to press
charges. You should first
A. Ask her for details about the rape
B. Suggest a doctor's examination
C. Maintain her confidence and deal with the issues therapeutically
,D. Report the rape to the police. Answer: B. Suggest a doctor's
examination
◉ Beth and Paul come to counseling because Beth feels that after two
years of marriage she and Paul have nothing in common. She complains
that for the past six months she has been complaining to Paul that there
are problems with their relationship. Paul states that he doesn't feel there
are problems. He feels his wife is just over reacting. The therapist asks,
"How does over-reaction affect the relationship?" This type of question
is a good example of getting the couple to:
A. Identify a disabling structure
B. Assess who really has the problem
C. Externalize the problem
D. Chart the relative influence of the couple. Answer: C. Externalize the
problem
◉ Mr. & Mrs. Doherty present for family therapy complaining that their
son Jon will not listen to them and is acting out. Which of the following
would be a response by a Milan Systemic therapist?
A. "Observe Jon listening and being cooperative and respond with
positive feedback at those times."
B. "As a child, what was your relationship with your parents?"
C. "Who in the family is most upset when Jon acts out?"
,D. "When has this acting out behavior not been a problem?". Answer: C.
"Who in the family is most upset when Jon acts out?"
◉ Mr. & Mrs. Doherty present for family therapy complaining that their
son Jon will not listen to them and is acting out. A Bowenian family
therapist would:
A. Instruct Jon to sit next to the therapist and have the parents sit
together on the couch.
B. Ask the parents if they acted out when they were younger and if so,
how their parents responded.
C. Have the mother face Jon and tell him how his acting out makes her
feel.
D. Congratulate Jon for his role in reducing tension between his parents..
Answer: B. Ask the parents if they acted out when they were younger
and if so, how their parents responded
◉ Jose and Maria bring their son Joe to counseling because of poor
academic performance and behavior. A Strategic (Haley) therapist
would:
A. Re-arrange family members to imply alliance shifts.
B. Use genogram construction to help the family identify family of
origin patterns consciously.
C. Externalize the problem.
, D. Coach the family on improving problem-solving skills.. Answer: D.
Coach the family on improving problem-solving skills
◉ Jose and Maria bring their son Joe to counseling because of poor
academic performance and behavior. A structural family therapist would:
A. Reframe the motives of the interactional patterns as an attempt to
make the structure more functional
B. Give assignments to the parents to begin changing the interaction
patterns within the family of origin to adult-adult interactions.
C. Join effectively before beginning approaches to facilitate
restructuring.
D. Reduce anxiety about change by giving "go slow" directions..
Answer: C. Join effectively before beginning approaches to facilitate
restructuring
◉ In a therapy session a husband implies that his wife appears to get her
own way most of the time. The therapist then suggests that the husband
say "no" to the wife, once during the following week. This Strategic
technique is called a:
A. Description
B. Paradox.
C. Reframe.
D. Prescription.. Answer: D. Prescription
