MFT National Exam – Models –
Questions with Answers
Major concepts of the Intergenerational / Bowen model - -Anxiety.
Differentiation. Emotional Cuttoff. Emotional System. Family Projection
Process. Functional Level of Differentiation. Fusion. Multigenerational
Transmission Process. Nuclear Family Emotional System. Sibling Position.
Societal Regression. Triangulation
- Theorist(s) of the Intergenerational / Bowen model - -Bowen, Fogarty,
Guerin
- Theory of Dysfunction in the Intergenerational / Bowen model - -
Undifferentiation results in marital conflict, dysfunction in a spouse, or
symptoms of dysfunction in one or more children.
- Theory of Change in the Intergenerational / Bowen model - -To find an
intellectual/emotional balance by increasing the ability to distinguish
between thinking and feeling within the self and others; learning to use that
ability to direct one's life and solve problems.
- Stages of Therapy in the Intergenerational / Bowen model - -1) Emphasis
on the extended family, presence of entire family not required.
2) Creation of a genogram through questioning designed to tease out
patterns of relationships.
3) Reduce anxiety levels and increase differentiation.
4) Open currently closed communication, and resolve triangles in the
extended family.
- Stance of Therapist in the Intergenerational / Bowenian model - -Neutral
and objective. Coach
- Methods/Techniques of the Intergenerational / Bowen model - -Focus on
process not content. Genogram (extensive history taking). "I" position.
Detriangulate. Create therapy triangle. Therapy is often long-term.
- Diagnosis/Assessment of the Intergenerational / Bowen model - -Extensive
self-report data on family history. Level of differentiation of family members.
Degree of cutt-off. Level of family anxiety and emotional reactivity.
Triangles. Differentiation Scale.
- Major Concepts of the Contextual model - -Destructive entitlement.
Entitlement. Exoneration. Justice/Fairness. Ledger. Legacy. Loyalty (filial and
,invisible). Merit. Multidirectional partiality. Parentification. Relational
Determinants (Facts, Individual Psychology, Behavioral Transactions,
Relational Ethics). Revolving Slate. Trustworthiness.
- Theory of Dysfunction in the Contextual model - -The trustworthiness of
relationships breaks down because fairness, caring, and accountability are
absent.
- Theory of Change in the Contextual model - -A preventative plan for
current and future generations.
To restore people's capacity to give through fair relating and trust.
- Stages of Change in the Contextual model - -1) Unit of treatment is
decided by the therapist.
2) Engagement.
3) Focus on cognitive exploration of historic factors that are having an
impact on current relationships.
4) Alter perceptions of family and individuals.
5) Facilitate problem solving.
6) Encourage family members to increase their options by expanding the
trust-basis of their own relationships. 7) Therapy is often long-term.
- Theorist(s) of the Contexual model - -Boszormenyi-Nagy
- Stance of Therapist in the Contextual Model - -Active, personal
engagement. Co-therapy is encouraged. Raise issues of relational balances.
A catalyst of resources. Advocate for all within the basic relational context,
that is, the multigenerational extended family, including deceased family
members.
- Methods/Techniques of the Contextual model - -Multidirectional partiality.
Listening. Observing. Responding to unconscious material. The decision of
whom to see belongs to the therapist and is based on information shared by
the family. Couple treatment is not considered a separate modality.
- Diagnosis/Assessment of the Contextual model - -Family resources are the
main focus of assessment, they are seen as potentially self-validating.
Observations of family relationships includes all four dimensions. Assessment
is an on-going process. The therapist understands the convictions of people
as deriving from both the stage of development and the effect of family and
other group loyalties. Triangles are assessed.
- Theorist(s) of the Object Relations model - -Dicks, Fairbairn, Framo, Scharf
& Scharf
, - Major Concepts of the Objects Relations model - -Projection of internalized,
repressed ego objects. Internal objects such as mental images of self and
other, and self in relation to others, built from experience and expectation.
Interpersonal view of individual development and family development.
Negative aspects of the introjected object. People relate to people in the
present partly on the basis of expectations formed by early experience.
Subsystem of societal norms and values, unconscious forces, and personal
values. Unresolved family of origin issues.
- Theory of Dysfunction in the Objects Relations model - -Negative aspects
of repressed, introjected early "objects" (primarily parents) are projected
onto the spouse or children.
- Theory of Change in the Objects Relations model - -Expression of
repressed objects, Resolution of negative aspects of repressed objects,
Individuation of family members, Detachment and differentiation from the
"bad" object.
- Stages of Therapy in the Objects Relations model - -1) Engagement stage.
2) Projective Identification Stage.
3) Confrontation Stage.
4) Termination.
5) Therapy is often long-term.
- Stance of Therapist in the Object Relations model - -Non-directive,
observer, foster insight and understanding
- Methods/Techniques of the Object Relations model - -Listening, Observing,
Responding to unconscious material, Interpreting, Developing insight
- Diagnosis/Assessment of the Object Relations model - -Self-report, Family
of origin history, Analyzing the defensive system of the family, Degree of
family member individuation, Analysis of intrapsychic material
- Theorist(s) of the Mental Research Institute (MRI) Brief Treatment - -
Watzlawick, Weakland, Fisch, Jackson, Sluzki
- Major Concepts of the MRI model - -Communication theory; levels, rules,
and congruence. Find the most motivated person in the system. First- and
second-order change. Incorporates the cybernetic concept of the positive
feedback loop. Life cycle transition of individual/family. Problematic behavior
is a function of interaction with other people; therefore, the primary
determinant of a person's behavior is other people's behavior. Role of larger,
social context. The client's complaint is the problem, not a symptom of
something else. Therapist determines goals. Understanding the world-view of
the family. Unit of therapy can be one person.
Questions with Answers
Major concepts of the Intergenerational / Bowen model - -Anxiety.
Differentiation. Emotional Cuttoff. Emotional System. Family Projection
Process. Functional Level of Differentiation. Fusion. Multigenerational
Transmission Process. Nuclear Family Emotional System. Sibling Position.
Societal Regression. Triangulation
- Theorist(s) of the Intergenerational / Bowen model - -Bowen, Fogarty,
Guerin
- Theory of Dysfunction in the Intergenerational / Bowen model - -
Undifferentiation results in marital conflict, dysfunction in a spouse, or
symptoms of dysfunction in one or more children.
- Theory of Change in the Intergenerational / Bowen model - -To find an
intellectual/emotional balance by increasing the ability to distinguish
between thinking and feeling within the self and others; learning to use that
ability to direct one's life and solve problems.
- Stages of Therapy in the Intergenerational / Bowen model - -1) Emphasis
on the extended family, presence of entire family not required.
2) Creation of a genogram through questioning designed to tease out
patterns of relationships.
3) Reduce anxiety levels and increase differentiation.
4) Open currently closed communication, and resolve triangles in the
extended family.
- Stance of Therapist in the Intergenerational / Bowenian model - -Neutral
and objective. Coach
- Methods/Techniques of the Intergenerational / Bowen model - -Focus on
process not content. Genogram (extensive history taking). "I" position.
Detriangulate. Create therapy triangle. Therapy is often long-term.
- Diagnosis/Assessment of the Intergenerational / Bowen model - -Extensive
self-report data on family history. Level of differentiation of family members.
Degree of cutt-off. Level of family anxiety and emotional reactivity.
Triangles. Differentiation Scale.
- Major Concepts of the Contextual model - -Destructive entitlement.
Entitlement. Exoneration. Justice/Fairness. Ledger. Legacy. Loyalty (filial and
,invisible). Merit. Multidirectional partiality. Parentification. Relational
Determinants (Facts, Individual Psychology, Behavioral Transactions,
Relational Ethics). Revolving Slate. Trustworthiness.
- Theory of Dysfunction in the Contextual model - -The trustworthiness of
relationships breaks down because fairness, caring, and accountability are
absent.
- Theory of Change in the Contextual model - -A preventative plan for
current and future generations.
To restore people's capacity to give through fair relating and trust.
- Stages of Change in the Contextual model - -1) Unit of treatment is
decided by the therapist.
2) Engagement.
3) Focus on cognitive exploration of historic factors that are having an
impact on current relationships.
4) Alter perceptions of family and individuals.
5) Facilitate problem solving.
6) Encourage family members to increase their options by expanding the
trust-basis of their own relationships. 7) Therapy is often long-term.
- Theorist(s) of the Contexual model - -Boszormenyi-Nagy
- Stance of Therapist in the Contextual Model - -Active, personal
engagement. Co-therapy is encouraged. Raise issues of relational balances.
A catalyst of resources. Advocate for all within the basic relational context,
that is, the multigenerational extended family, including deceased family
members.
- Methods/Techniques of the Contextual model - -Multidirectional partiality.
Listening. Observing. Responding to unconscious material. The decision of
whom to see belongs to the therapist and is based on information shared by
the family. Couple treatment is not considered a separate modality.
- Diagnosis/Assessment of the Contextual model - -Family resources are the
main focus of assessment, they are seen as potentially self-validating.
Observations of family relationships includes all four dimensions. Assessment
is an on-going process. The therapist understands the convictions of people
as deriving from both the stage of development and the effect of family and
other group loyalties. Triangles are assessed.
- Theorist(s) of the Object Relations model - -Dicks, Fairbairn, Framo, Scharf
& Scharf
, - Major Concepts of the Objects Relations model - -Projection of internalized,
repressed ego objects. Internal objects such as mental images of self and
other, and self in relation to others, built from experience and expectation.
Interpersonal view of individual development and family development.
Negative aspects of the introjected object. People relate to people in the
present partly on the basis of expectations formed by early experience.
Subsystem of societal norms and values, unconscious forces, and personal
values. Unresolved family of origin issues.
- Theory of Dysfunction in the Objects Relations model - -Negative aspects
of repressed, introjected early "objects" (primarily parents) are projected
onto the spouse or children.
- Theory of Change in the Objects Relations model - -Expression of
repressed objects, Resolution of negative aspects of repressed objects,
Individuation of family members, Detachment and differentiation from the
"bad" object.
- Stages of Therapy in the Objects Relations model - -1) Engagement stage.
2) Projective Identification Stage.
3) Confrontation Stage.
4) Termination.
5) Therapy is often long-term.
- Stance of Therapist in the Object Relations model - -Non-directive,
observer, foster insight and understanding
- Methods/Techniques of the Object Relations model - -Listening, Observing,
Responding to unconscious material, Interpreting, Developing insight
- Diagnosis/Assessment of the Object Relations model - -Self-report, Family
of origin history, Analyzing the defensive system of the family, Degree of
family member individuation, Analysis of intrapsychic material
- Theorist(s) of the Mental Research Institute (MRI) Brief Treatment - -
Watzlawick, Weakland, Fisch, Jackson, Sluzki
- Major Concepts of the MRI model - -Communication theory; levels, rules,
and congruence. Find the most motivated person in the system. First- and
second-order change. Incorporates the cybernetic concept of the positive
feedback loop. Life cycle transition of individual/family. Problematic behavior
is a function of interaction with other people; therefore, the primary
determinant of a person's behavior is other people's behavior. Role of larger,
social context. The client's complaint is the problem, not a symptom of
something else. Therapist determines goals. Understanding the world-view of
the family. Unit of therapy can be one person.
