MFT Practice Questions with Complete Reliable
Solutions
According to recent research, the prognosis for couples to work on infidelity issues is much better for
which of the following couples? - Answer Younger couples. They tend to exhibit more flexibility in their
couple relationships, whereas older and middle age couples can often be locked into more rigid
structures that do not allow for forgiveness.
A strategic therapist response to a woman whose spouse has had multiple affairs but wants to stay
married would be: - Answer I understand why you want to stay with him. A strategic technique is
restraining change through therapeutic paradox.
Which one of the following therapists would emphasize that difficulties are turned into chronic
problems by the persistence of misguided attempted solutions, forming positive feedback escalation? -
Answer Watzlawick. Among the strategic and systemic models there are three basic explanations for the
way problems develop. The first, described earlier, is cybernetic: difficulties are turned into chronic
problems by the persistence of misguided attempted solutions, forming positive feedback escalations
(Watzlawick, Weakland, and Fisch). The second is structural: problems are the result of flaws in a
family's hierarchy or boundaries. The third is functional: problems result when people try to protect or
control one another indirectly, such that their problems come to serve a function for the system. The
MRI group limits itself to the first explanation, while the other strategic or systemic models embrace all
three, although each model emphasizes one explanation over the others.
According to the communication theorists the content aspect of communication is known as: - Answer
Report. All communications have a report and command elements. The report element refers to the
content, while the command element refers to the relationship between the sender and receiver.
Metacommunication is communication about communication. This term usually refers to the covert,
nonverbal message (e.g., tone of voice, inflection, body language) that gives additional meaning to an
overt, verbal message.
Research has demonstrated that children with autism have improved child-parent interactions and
improved diversity of play activities when: - Answer Parent-mediated interventions are used, compared
to professionally delivered interventions alone.
In working with a divorced couple, the focus of attention should be: - Answer The couple. Since there is
research evidence that children's post-divorce adjustment is directly related to the parents' own
adjustment, a therapist may gain leverage to encourage partners to continue working on their own
, emotional issues by informing them of the benefits for the children. The form of intervention most
directly related to restructuring is divorce mediation.
A couple is seen by a Behavioral therapist for sexual problems. He instructs the couple to engage in a
series of progressively more intimate encounters, avoiding all thoughts about erection or orgasm. This
technique is referred to as: - Answer Systematic desensitization is a step-wise and gradual behavioral
procedure, utilizing a hierarchy of anxiety provoking situations to be overcome, one at a time. Other
answers can be eliminated as follows: Orgasmic reconditioning - a process in which therapists direct
clients' fantasies in connection with masturbation in order to modify the types of stimuli that are
associated with arousal (Leiblum & Roen, 1989, Piercy & Sprenkle, 2nd. ed.). It has been used to treat
fetishes and used to enhance attraction in heterosexual relations (e.g. thinking about one's partner prior
to orgasm). A classical conditioning paradigm is often used to explain the results. Problem solving &
teasing technique are too general and not relevant answers.
After completing an intake with a new client family, the MFT searches a variety of resources to
determine if there is research available to help guide her decision making. The family has a 16 year old
boy who has not been to school in over 3 weeks. The MFT's search turns up a study from the American
Psychologist stating that a combination of supportive therapy and anti-depressant medication has been
demonstrated to be efficacious in the treatment of adolescents who are "school refusers." The study
was a double blind design with a sample size of 55 with a correlation of .68 and 92% confidence level. A
correct statement about this research is: - Answer The independent and dependent variables tend to
occur together about 68% of the time. This is greater then what we'd expect by chance, so it seems
likely that there is a causal relationship between the two. However, the mechanism linking the two
variables still needs to be understood by the MFT before she would implement the study findings.
"John, we are impressed with your selfless gifts to your family and are inclined to suggest no changes at
this time. Your soiled pants give your father a reason to be involved in your family." This message might
be one given by: - Answer Watzlawick from the MRI school would emphasize 2nd order change and this
reframe is an example of such. This is not a positive connotation (Palazzoli), as only one member of the
family systems behavior is being reframed. Andersen would likely use a reflecting team, Madanes an
ordeal or hierarchy-fixing intervention.
Originated by postmodern Chilean biologist, Maturana, systems that are self-organizing and self-
maintaining, such as biological and human systems. Autopoietic Systems can be described by: - Answer
2nd order cybernetics. This is a classic definition for an an autopoietic system which can often be
described by second order cybernetics.
Blended families present unique circumstances for a therapist. Which of the following would be helpful
to a family therapist in facilitating discussion: - Answer Addressing the boundary ambiguity often found
Solutions
According to recent research, the prognosis for couples to work on infidelity issues is much better for
which of the following couples? - Answer Younger couples. They tend to exhibit more flexibility in their
couple relationships, whereas older and middle age couples can often be locked into more rigid
structures that do not allow for forgiveness.
A strategic therapist response to a woman whose spouse has had multiple affairs but wants to stay
married would be: - Answer I understand why you want to stay with him. A strategic technique is
restraining change through therapeutic paradox.
Which one of the following therapists would emphasize that difficulties are turned into chronic
problems by the persistence of misguided attempted solutions, forming positive feedback escalation? -
Answer Watzlawick. Among the strategic and systemic models there are three basic explanations for the
way problems develop. The first, described earlier, is cybernetic: difficulties are turned into chronic
problems by the persistence of misguided attempted solutions, forming positive feedback escalations
(Watzlawick, Weakland, and Fisch). The second is structural: problems are the result of flaws in a
family's hierarchy or boundaries. The third is functional: problems result when people try to protect or
control one another indirectly, such that their problems come to serve a function for the system. The
MRI group limits itself to the first explanation, while the other strategic or systemic models embrace all
three, although each model emphasizes one explanation over the others.
According to the communication theorists the content aspect of communication is known as: - Answer
Report. All communications have a report and command elements. The report element refers to the
content, while the command element refers to the relationship between the sender and receiver.
Metacommunication is communication about communication. This term usually refers to the covert,
nonverbal message (e.g., tone of voice, inflection, body language) that gives additional meaning to an
overt, verbal message.
Research has demonstrated that children with autism have improved child-parent interactions and
improved diversity of play activities when: - Answer Parent-mediated interventions are used, compared
to professionally delivered interventions alone.
In working with a divorced couple, the focus of attention should be: - Answer The couple. Since there is
research evidence that children's post-divorce adjustment is directly related to the parents' own
adjustment, a therapist may gain leverage to encourage partners to continue working on their own
, emotional issues by informing them of the benefits for the children. The form of intervention most
directly related to restructuring is divorce mediation.
A couple is seen by a Behavioral therapist for sexual problems. He instructs the couple to engage in a
series of progressively more intimate encounters, avoiding all thoughts about erection or orgasm. This
technique is referred to as: - Answer Systematic desensitization is a step-wise and gradual behavioral
procedure, utilizing a hierarchy of anxiety provoking situations to be overcome, one at a time. Other
answers can be eliminated as follows: Orgasmic reconditioning - a process in which therapists direct
clients' fantasies in connection with masturbation in order to modify the types of stimuli that are
associated with arousal (Leiblum & Roen, 1989, Piercy & Sprenkle, 2nd. ed.). It has been used to treat
fetishes and used to enhance attraction in heterosexual relations (e.g. thinking about one's partner prior
to orgasm). A classical conditioning paradigm is often used to explain the results. Problem solving &
teasing technique are too general and not relevant answers.
After completing an intake with a new client family, the MFT searches a variety of resources to
determine if there is research available to help guide her decision making. The family has a 16 year old
boy who has not been to school in over 3 weeks. The MFT's search turns up a study from the American
Psychologist stating that a combination of supportive therapy and anti-depressant medication has been
demonstrated to be efficacious in the treatment of adolescents who are "school refusers." The study
was a double blind design with a sample size of 55 with a correlation of .68 and 92% confidence level. A
correct statement about this research is: - Answer The independent and dependent variables tend to
occur together about 68% of the time. This is greater then what we'd expect by chance, so it seems
likely that there is a causal relationship between the two. However, the mechanism linking the two
variables still needs to be understood by the MFT before she would implement the study findings.
"John, we are impressed with your selfless gifts to your family and are inclined to suggest no changes at
this time. Your soiled pants give your father a reason to be involved in your family." This message might
be one given by: - Answer Watzlawick from the MRI school would emphasize 2nd order change and this
reframe is an example of such. This is not a positive connotation (Palazzoli), as only one member of the
family systems behavior is being reframed. Andersen would likely use a reflecting team, Madanes an
ordeal or hierarchy-fixing intervention.
Originated by postmodern Chilean biologist, Maturana, systems that are self-organizing and self-
maintaining, such as biological and human systems. Autopoietic Systems can be described by: - Answer
2nd order cybernetics. This is a classic definition for an an autopoietic system which can often be
described by second order cybernetics.
Blended families present unique circumstances for a therapist. Which of the following would be helpful
to a family therapist in facilitating discussion: - Answer Addressing the boundary ambiguity often found
