Marriage and Family Therapy
AAMFT/AATBS Exam-Graded A
A Learning Process - ANS-Milan Family Therapists viewed the use of interventions as
nothing more than a learning process in which the therapist tests hypotheses and
interventions through trial and error as they learn about the family.
A System - ANS-A unit bounded by a set of interrelated elements and which exhibits
coherent behaviors.
Activating Constructive Anxiety - ANS-A Symbolic-Experiential Therapist's effort to
reframe symptoms as efforts toward building competence by focusing on the positive
attributes of anxiety as a means toward self-growth.
Affective Confrontation - ANS-The therapist's intentional confrontation with the family
where he or she will directly and openly share his or her subjective emotional
experience of working with the family.
Affective Intensity - ANS-Increasing the emotional intensity of the system to encourage
structural change.
Aligning with Parental Generation - ANS-A technique directed at strengthening the
parental hierarchy and reinforcing that parents are in charge of the children. The
therapist will break neutrality and intentionally align with the parental subsystem.
Amplifying/Positive Feedback Loops - ANS-These increase change in a family's
homeostasis (morphogenesis). They attempt to change these systems from its steady
state to a new steady state or balance.
Analogic Communication - ANS-Has little structure, but is rich in content such as a
child's kinetic family drawing.
Analogical Message - ANS-A metaphorical or symbolic message (process).
Attachment - ANS-The individual's basic need for trust and security, significantly
influenced and developed throughout infancy and early childhood per the child's relation
to his or her primary caregiver. It influences relationship styles from early childhood
throughout adulthood.
Attenuating/Negative Feedback Loops - ANS-These reduce change in an existing
homeostasis
, Battle for Initiative - ANS-After the therapist wins the battle for structure, the family must
win this - that is, realize and demonstrate that they are responsible for change, not the
therapist.
Battle for Structure - ANS-Whitaker stated that the therapist must first win this if therapy
is to be effective - this entails determining who attends the session, what time sessions
are, how frequently sessions occur, and for how long. If the family is not willing to meet
these expectations set by the therapist, then they are not prepared to invest in the
growth process and change would be unlikely.
Beginner's Mind - ANS-This concept refers to the therapist's stance in Solution-Focused
Therapy. It is important that the therapist maintains an open mind which lends itself to
possibilities, while being careful not to exert expertise which limits possibilities.
Bilateral Pseudo-Therapy - ANS-Occurs when family members attempt to play therapist
to one another - this is avoided.
Bilateral Transference - ANS-A therapist's intentional maneuver to adapt to the
language, accent, rhythm, or posture of the family.
Blamers - ANS-One of Satir's four dysfunctional communication styles. Often disagree
with others and hold others responsible for things not going their way. This style often
feel insecure and powerless, and feel that they must go to extreme measures - verbal
and/or physical aggression - for anyone to really listen to them. Here, the self and the
context are acknowledged, while the other is not.
Body, Mind, and Feelings - ANS-Satir's belief that the mind, body, and feelings interact
and influence communication processes at both the verbal and nonverbal level.
Craziness - ANS-Falls into three categories of being driven crazy, going crazy, or acting
crazy. Different orientations of craziness as exhibited in dysfunctional families.
Customer - ANS-One of the three types of clients in Solution-Focused Therapy.
Customers acknowledge that there is a problem, are willing to accept their role in it, and
are engaged in putting forth effort toward change.
Debts or Filial Responsibility - ANS-As an account for the child's experience of the
degrees of fairness and ethical consideration from their parents toward them, there will
either be debts (resulting in destructive entitlement) or filial responsibility (resulting in
loyalty).
Deconstruction Questions - ANS-These questions help individuals to unravel their
stories and see them from different perspectives, creating an opportunity for them to
decide whether or not they choose to continue identifying with it.
AAMFT/AATBS Exam-Graded A
A Learning Process - ANS-Milan Family Therapists viewed the use of interventions as
nothing more than a learning process in which the therapist tests hypotheses and
interventions through trial and error as they learn about the family.
A System - ANS-A unit bounded by a set of interrelated elements and which exhibits
coherent behaviors.
Activating Constructive Anxiety - ANS-A Symbolic-Experiential Therapist's effort to
reframe symptoms as efforts toward building competence by focusing on the positive
attributes of anxiety as a means toward self-growth.
Affective Confrontation - ANS-The therapist's intentional confrontation with the family
where he or she will directly and openly share his or her subjective emotional
experience of working with the family.
Affective Intensity - ANS-Increasing the emotional intensity of the system to encourage
structural change.
Aligning with Parental Generation - ANS-A technique directed at strengthening the
parental hierarchy and reinforcing that parents are in charge of the children. The
therapist will break neutrality and intentionally align with the parental subsystem.
Amplifying/Positive Feedback Loops - ANS-These increase change in a family's
homeostasis (morphogenesis). They attempt to change these systems from its steady
state to a new steady state or balance.
Analogic Communication - ANS-Has little structure, but is rich in content such as a
child's kinetic family drawing.
Analogical Message - ANS-A metaphorical or symbolic message (process).
Attachment - ANS-The individual's basic need for trust and security, significantly
influenced and developed throughout infancy and early childhood per the child's relation
to his or her primary caregiver. It influences relationship styles from early childhood
throughout adulthood.
Attenuating/Negative Feedback Loops - ANS-These reduce change in an existing
homeostasis
, Battle for Initiative - ANS-After the therapist wins the battle for structure, the family must
win this - that is, realize and demonstrate that they are responsible for change, not the
therapist.
Battle for Structure - ANS-Whitaker stated that the therapist must first win this if therapy
is to be effective - this entails determining who attends the session, what time sessions
are, how frequently sessions occur, and for how long. If the family is not willing to meet
these expectations set by the therapist, then they are not prepared to invest in the
growth process and change would be unlikely.
Beginner's Mind - ANS-This concept refers to the therapist's stance in Solution-Focused
Therapy. It is important that the therapist maintains an open mind which lends itself to
possibilities, while being careful not to exert expertise which limits possibilities.
Bilateral Pseudo-Therapy - ANS-Occurs when family members attempt to play therapist
to one another - this is avoided.
Bilateral Transference - ANS-A therapist's intentional maneuver to adapt to the
language, accent, rhythm, or posture of the family.
Blamers - ANS-One of Satir's four dysfunctional communication styles. Often disagree
with others and hold others responsible for things not going their way. This style often
feel insecure and powerless, and feel that they must go to extreme measures - verbal
and/or physical aggression - for anyone to really listen to them. Here, the self and the
context are acknowledged, while the other is not.
Body, Mind, and Feelings - ANS-Satir's belief that the mind, body, and feelings interact
and influence communication processes at both the verbal and nonverbal level.
Craziness - ANS-Falls into three categories of being driven crazy, going crazy, or acting
crazy. Different orientations of craziness as exhibited in dysfunctional families.
Customer - ANS-One of the three types of clients in Solution-Focused Therapy.
Customers acknowledge that there is a problem, are willing to accept their role in it, and
are engaged in putting forth effort toward change.
Debts or Filial Responsibility - ANS-As an account for the child's experience of the
degrees of fairness and ethical consideration from their parents toward them, there will
either be debts (resulting in destructive entitlement) or filial responsibility (resulting in
loyalty).
Deconstruction Questions - ANS-These questions help individuals to unravel their
stories and see them from different perspectives, creating an opportunity for them to
decide whether or not they choose to continue identifying with it.
