California LMFT Exam UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
5 Strategies - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Fuel up and take a break. Bring a snack for 10
minutes before test, eat same snack while studying. Take a 5 minute break half way thru the test,
go to the bathroom.
2. Be present, read questions word by word.
3. Imagine you are with the client when reading the question. Try to knock out any answers that
you know to be illegal or unethical.
4. Rule out wrong answers
5.
Reportable Physical Abuse - CORRECT ANSWER - Think/imagine you are calling DCFS
and wonder if you are truly REASONABLY suspicious. What specific reasons are you giving for
the report. Asses further, break up family if in family session.
Sexual Abuse - CORRECT ANSWER - A significant change in child's behavior. Sexually
advanced play in child therapy.
Child Neglect - CORRECT ANSWER - Homelessness is not a reportable reason to report
child abuse. Child neglect needs absence of basic needs. or medical neglect that is potentially life
threatening (unless religious things)
What is reportable? - CORRECT ANSWER - if neighbors child is in danger. If client is a
minor. Not if they are an adult and they became legal. Reasonable suspicion that abuse is still
happening/perpetrator has access to children and abusing them.
Timeline for abuse reporting - CORRECT ANSWER - Report it immediately, follow up
with written report in 36 hours. In the test, you would hypothetically stop session and file it.
Processing with the family is an important intervention.
,If I go to the mall and witness abuse, do I have to report it? - CORRECT ANSWER - Nope
- If you're not in the professional role, the reporting is optional.
Child pornography - CORRECT ANSWER - If in possession of child pornography -
mandated child abuse report. If pictures are being shared of naked minors, needs to be reported.
Age differences - CORRECT ANSWER - Report where there is significant differences in
age (3-4 years) of age is reportable.
Sex- consensual sex between minors depends on the age spread
Parental drug use and child neglect reporting - CORRECT ANSWER - Drug use by itself
is not reportable, but if it has a negative/detrimental impact - it is reportable
Physical, neglect (including self-neglect), financial, abuse of elderly, Isolation, or abduction (65
or older)
Dependents (18 older who cannot take care of themselves) - CORRECT ANSWER -
Elderly or dependent is reportable, child abduction is not. if two elders get in a fight and one is
injured, it is reportable.
Abuse at a nursing home - CORRECT ANSWER - You would call the police not APS, and
then the ombudsman agency.
Domestic Violence + Signs of Abuse - CORRECT ANSWER - Signs - reports of jealousy,
threats, feeling fearful, controlling partners, a startle response, isolating not letting see friends.
Cycle- Tension building period to incident to honeymoon phase
Singular acts of violence are not the same as a repeated pattern of violence
You do not do couples therapy when there is domestic violence
Separate members of family or couple, especially if there are indicators of fear of one another
, When is DV reportable ? - CORRECT ANSWER - Only when there is detrimental harm to
child. Such as repeated exposure of child to DV. DV is not being reported, child abuse is what is
being reported.
If the client is a minor, there is child abuse report being made
Suicide and Self Harm - CORRECT ANSWER - Risk factors- Hopelessness,. depression,
Mental Status Exam - CORRECT ANSWER - Pay attention to cues.. Clinical
considerations to follow up on... like smells, facial expression, mood, affect, speech, thoughts...
Consider diagnosis in context of MSE. IE: content of thoughts like delusions may indicate X
Mood Vs Affect - CORRECT ANSWER - Mood- How person reports feeling
Affect- How they present
Olfactory hallucination indicates what? - CORRECT ANSWER - Go to MD. Can be a
brain tumor
Biological Factors - CORRECT ANSWER - First thing is to always rule out biological
component and medical and psychological family history. Family history, family history of
alcohol, genetic issues,
Psychological Factors in assessment - CORRECT ANSWER - Includes coping
mechanisms, insight, mood, empathy, etc.
Social Factors in assessment - CORRECT ANSWER - Social reports, and external factors
such as SES, employment, life stressors, recent stressors, gender identity, religious
considerations
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
5 Strategies - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Fuel up and take a break. Bring a snack for 10
minutes before test, eat same snack while studying. Take a 5 minute break half way thru the test,
go to the bathroom.
2. Be present, read questions word by word.
3. Imagine you are with the client when reading the question. Try to knock out any answers that
you know to be illegal or unethical.
4. Rule out wrong answers
5.
Reportable Physical Abuse - CORRECT ANSWER - Think/imagine you are calling DCFS
and wonder if you are truly REASONABLY suspicious. What specific reasons are you giving for
the report. Asses further, break up family if in family session.
Sexual Abuse - CORRECT ANSWER - A significant change in child's behavior. Sexually
advanced play in child therapy.
Child Neglect - CORRECT ANSWER - Homelessness is not a reportable reason to report
child abuse. Child neglect needs absence of basic needs. or medical neglect that is potentially life
threatening (unless religious things)
What is reportable? - CORRECT ANSWER - if neighbors child is in danger. If client is a
minor. Not if they are an adult and they became legal. Reasonable suspicion that abuse is still
happening/perpetrator has access to children and abusing them.
Timeline for abuse reporting - CORRECT ANSWER - Report it immediately, follow up
with written report in 36 hours. In the test, you would hypothetically stop session and file it.
Processing with the family is an important intervention.
,If I go to the mall and witness abuse, do I have to report it? - CORRECT ANSWER - Nope
- If you're not in the professional role, the reporting is optional.
Child pornography - CORRECT ANSWER - If in possession of child pornography -
mandated child abuse report. If pictures are being shared of naked minors, needs to be reported.
Age differences - CORRECT ANSWER - Report where there is significant differences in
age (3-4 years) of age is reportable.
Sex- consensual sex between minors depends on the age spread
Parental drug use and child neglect reporting - CORRECT ANSWER - Drug use by itself
is not reportable, but if it has a negative/detrimental impact - it is reportable
Physical, neglect (including self-neglect), financial, abuse of elderly, Isolation, or abduction (65
or older)
Dependents (18 older who cannot take care of themselves) - CORRECT ANSWER -
Elderly or dependent is reportable, child abduction is not. if two elders get in a fight and one is
injured, it is reportable.
Abuse at a nursing home - CORRECT ANSWER - You would call the police not APS, and
then the ombudsman agency.
Domestic Violence + Signs of Abuse - CORRECT ANSWER - Signs - reports of jealousy,
threats, feeling fearful, controlling partners, a startle response, isolating not letting see friends.
Cycle- Tension building period to incident to honeymoon phase
Singular acts of violence are not the same as a repeated pattern of violence
You do not do couples therapy when there is domestic violence
Separate members of family or couple, especially if there are indicators of fear of one another
, When is DV reportable ? - CORRECT ANSWER - Only when there is detrimental harm to
child. Such as repeated exposure of child to DV. DV is not being reported, child abuse is what is
being reported.
If the client is a minor, there is child abuse report being made
Suicide and Self Harm - CORRECT ANSWER - Risk factors- Hopelessness,. depression,
Mental Status Exam - CORRECT ANSWER - Pay attention to cues.. Clinical
considerations to follow up on... like smells, facial expression, mood, affect, speech, thoughts...
Consider diagnosis in context of MSE. IE: content of thoughts like delusions may indicate X
Mood Vs Affect - CORRECT ANSWER - Mood- How person reports feeling
Affect- How they present
Olfactory hallucination indicates what? - CORRECT ANSWER - Go to MD. Can be a
brain tumor
Biological Factors - CORRECT ANSWER - First thing is to always rule out biological
component and medical and psychological family history. Family history, family history of
alcohol, genetic issues,
Psychological Factors in assessment - CORRECT ANSWER - Includes coping
mechanisms, insight, mood, empathy, etc.
Social Factors in assessment - CORRECT ANSWER - Social reports, and external factors
such as SES, employment, life stressors, recent stressors, gender identity, religious
considerations
