MFT National Comprehensive Exam Study
Guide
Who is the founder of Bowenian therapy? - ANS-Murray Bowen & James Framo
(follower, although some argue he is more object-relations, he feels he is
transgenerational)
Which theory focuses on ledgers and balances? - ANS-Contextual therapy
Who created the rubber fence theory? - ANS-Wynn
Who created the term garage mechanic? - ANS-Carl Whitaker
What is the emphasis in Bowenian therapy? - ANS-Differentiation of self
What is Bowen's differentiation of self defined? - ANS-refers to the autonomy of
function which results in being less reactive to family systems dynamics and other
members emotional states; the extent to which they have learned to manage
emotionality.
what is the core problem in Bowenian theory? - ANS-triangles and emotional
reactivity
what are Bowenian's key techniques? - ANS-genogram and process questions
who are the founders of experiential therapy? - ANS-Virginia Satir & Carl Whitaker
What is the emphasis in experiential therapy? - ANS-authenticity and self-
actualization
what is the core problem in experiential therapy? - ANS-emotional suppression and
mystification
what are key techniques used in experiential therapy? - ANS-confrontation and
structured exercises
who are the founders of solution-focused therapy? - ANS-Steve de Shazer and
Insoo Kim Berg
What is the emphasis in solution-focused therapy? - ANS-language creates reality
What is the core problem in solution-focused therapy? - ANS-problem talk
what are key techniques used in solution-focused therapy? - ANS-focusing on
solutions and identifying exceptions
who are the founders of strategic therapy? - ANS-Don Jackson and Jay Haley
,What is the emphasis in strategic therapy? - ANS-homeostasis and feedback loops
what is the core problem in strategic therapy? - ANS-more-of-the-same solutions
what are key techniques used in strategic therapy? - ANS-reframing directives
who are the founders of psychodynamic therapy? - ANS-Nathan Ackerman, Henry
Dicks, and Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy
What is the emphasis in psychodynamic therapy? - ANS-drives
self objects
internal objects
what are the core problems in psychodynamic therapy? - ANS-conflict
projective identification
fixation and regression
what are the key techniques used in psychodynamic therapy? - ANS-silence and
interpretation
who are the founders of narrative therapy? - ANS-Michael White & David Epston
what is the emphasis in narrative therapy? - ANS-Narrative theory & social
constructionism
what is the core problem in narrative therapy? - ANS-problem-saturated stories
What are key techniques used in narrative therapy? - ANS-externalization,
identifying unique outcomes, & creating audiences of support
who are the founders of structural therapy? - ANS-Salvador Minuchin
what is the emphasis in structural therapy? - ANS-subsystems and boundaries
what is the core problem in structural therapy? - ANS-enmeshment and
disengagement
what are key techniques used in structural therapy? - ANS-enactments and
boundary making
who are the founders of cognitive behavioral therapy? - ANS-Gerald Patterson,
Robert Liberman, and Richard Stuart
what is the emphasis in cognitive behavioral therapy? - ANS-reinforcement,
extinction, and schemas
what is the core problem in cognitive behavioral therapy? - ANS-inadvertent
, reinforcement and aversive control
what are key techniques used in cognitive behavioral therapy? - ANS-functional
analysis and teaching positive control
what theory emphasizes negative-feedback loops or cycles? - ANS-Structural
what theory emphasizes positive-feedback cycles? - ANS-strategic
what theory emphasizes the importance of structure in dysfunction? - ANS-
structural
what theory emphasizes the importance of maladaptive behavioral sequences in
dysfunction? - ANS-strategic
what theory is straight-forward and confrontive? - ANS-structural
what theory is indirect and nonconfrontive? - ANS-strategic
in what theory does the therapist generally work with the whole family? - ANS-
structural
in what theory does the therapist often work with only 1 or 2 members of a family
system? - ANS-strategic
what theory focuses on immediate in-session behaviors? - ANS-structural
what theory retrospectively focuses on out-of-session behavioral sequences? - ANS-
strategic
what theory focuses on behavioral sequences? - ANS-strategic
what theory focuses on in-session enactment? - ANS-structural
what theory emphasizes out-of-session directives? - ANS-strategic
what is ambivalence in couples therapy? - ANS-one or both partners may be
unwilling to forgive past behaviors
how would assessment and therapy initiation be conducted in a structural
approach? - ANS-the therapist would work with the family to help them realize how
their actions or behaviors might be contributing to the problem
who is the founder of MRI Brief Therapy? - ANS-Paul Watzlawick
What are examples of mandated reporting? - ANS-Tarasoff, child abuse, dependent
adult abuse, and elder abuse
Guide
Who is the founder of Bowenian therapy? - ANS-Murray Bowen & James Framo
(follower, although some argue he is more object-relations, he feels he is
transgenerational)
Which theory focuses on ledgers and balances? - ANS-Contextual therapy
Who created the rubber fence theory? - ANS-Wynn
Who created the term garage mechanic? - ANS-Carl Whitaker
What is the emphasis in Bowenian therapy? - ANS-Differentiation of self
What is Bowen's differentiation of self defined? - ANS-refers to the autonomy of
function which results in being less reactive to family systems dynamics and other
members emotional states; the extent to which they have learned to manage
emotionality.
what is the core problem in Bowenian theory? - ANS-triangles and emotional
reactivity
what are Bowenian's key techniques? - ANS-genogram and process questions
who are the founders of experiential therapy? - ANS-Virginia Satir & Carl Whitaker
What is the emphasis in experiential therapy? - ANS-authenticity and self-
actualization
what is the core problem in experiential therapy? - ANS-emotional suppression and
mystification
what are key techniques used in experiential therapy? - ANS-confrontation and
structured exercises
who are the founders of solution-focused therapy? - ANS-Steve de Shazer and
Insoo Kim Berg
What is the emphasis in solution-focused therapy? - ANS-language creates reality
What is the core problem in solution-focused therapy? - ANS-problem talk
what are key techniques used in solution-focused therapy? - ANS-focusing on
solutions and identifying exceptions
who are the founders of strategic therapy? - ANS-Don Jackson and Jay Haley
,What is the emphasis in strategic therapy? - ANS-homeostasis and feedback loops
what is the core problem in strategic therapy? - ANS-more-of-the-same solutions
what are key techniques used in strategic therapy? - ANS-reframing directives
who are the founders of psychodynamic therapy? - ANS-Nathan Ackerman, Henry
Dicks, and Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy
What is the emphasis in psychodynamic therapy? - ANS-drives
self objects
internal objects
what are the core problems in psychodynamic therapy? - ANS-conflict
projective identification
fixation and regression
what are the key techniques used in psychodynamic therapy? - ANS-silence and
interpretation
who are the founders of narrative therapy? - ANS-Michael White & David Epston
what is the emphasis in narrative therapy? - ANS-Narrative theory & social
constructionism
what is the core problem in narrative therapy? - ANS-problem-saturated stories
What are key techniques used in narrative therapy? - ANS-externalization,
identifying unique outcomes, & creating audiences of support
who are the founders of structural therapy? - ANS-Salvador Minuchin
what is the emphasis in structural therapy? - ANS-subsystems and boundaries
what is the core problem in structural therapy? - ANS-enmeshment and
disengagement
what are key techniques used in structural therapy? - ANS-enactments and
boundary making
who are the founders of cognitive behavioral therapy? - ANS-Gerald Patterson,
Robert Liberman, and Richard Stuart
what is the emphasis in cognitive behavioral therapy? - ANS-reinforcement,
extinction, and schemas
what is the core problem in cognitive behavioral therapy? - ANS-inadvertent
, reinforcement and aversive control
what are key techniques used in cognitive behavioral therapy? - ANS-functional
analysis and teaching positive control
what theory emphasizes negative-feedback loops or cycles? - ANS-Structural
what theory emphasizes positive-feedback cycles? - ANS-strategic
what theory emphasizes the importance of structure in dysfunction? - ANS-
structural
what theory emphasizes the importance of maladaptive behavioral sequences in
dysfunction? - ANS-strategic
what theory is straight-forward and confrontive? - ANS-structural
what theory is indirect and nonconfrontive? - ANS-strategic
in what theory does the therapist generally work with the whole family? - ANS-
structural
in what theory does the therapist often work with only 1 or 2 members of a family
system? - ANS-strategic
what theory focuses on immediate in-session behaviors? - ANS-structural
what theory retrospectively focuses on out-of-session behavioral sequences? - ANS-
strategic
what theory focuses on behavioral sequences? - ANS-strategic
what theory focuses on in-session enactment? - ANS-structural
what theory emphasizes out-of-session directives? - ANS-strategic
what is ambivalence in couples therapy? - ANS-one or both partners may be
unwilling to forgive past behaviors
how would assessment and therapy initiation be conducted in a structural
approach? - ANS-the therapist would work with the family to help them realize how
their actions or behaviors might be contributing to the problem
who is the founder of MRI Brief Therapy? - ANS-Paul Watzlawick
What are examples of mandated reporting? - ANS-Tarasoff, child abuse, dependent
adult abuse, and elder abuse
