MFT Review Practice Test.
Detouring - CORRECT ANSWER From structural family therapy, when two family members attempt to
preserve their relationship by defining their conflict as a disagreement about a third person, keeping the
focus on that person rather than themselves and their problem.
Circular Questioning - CORRECT ANSWER A technique for interviewing and hypothesis validation
designed by the Milan systemic group, based on Bateson's idea that people learn by perceiving
differences. In this technique, each family member comments on the behavior and interactions of two
other members. It is hoped that beliefs will become less rigid when members are exposed to different
perspectives.
learning more about differences in family members' perceptions of their relationships.
Haley - CORRECT ANSWER Strategic Therapy: developing of a specific strategy to treat a specific
problem; use of directives; the therapist takes responsibility for directly influencing clients
Prescribing the symptom - CORRECT ANSWER A paradoxical intervention that forces a client to either
give up a symptom or admit that it is under his/her control. The intervention - e.g., telling an
overprotective father to keep a closer eye on his child - is believed to unbalance the system so that a
client or family becomes more open to change.
Changing the meaning of a situation by the way it is perceived.
Transactional Analysis - CORRECT ANSWER treatment that focuses on patterns of interaction with
others, especially patterns that indicate personal problems
Circular Causality - CORRECT ANSWER The view that causality is nonlinear, occurring instead within a
relationship context and through a network of interacting loops; any cause is thus seen as an effect of a
prior cause, as in the interactions within families.
The Narrative Construction of Reality - CORRECT ANSWER Jerome Bruner
,Tickling the Defenses - CORRECT ANSWER Ackerman's phrase to provoke people to open up and say
what's really on their minds. intended to increase anxiety.
Olson's Circumplex Model - CORRECT ANSWER - Family cohesion = emotional bonding
- (Ranging from: disengaged, separated, connected, enmeshed)
- Family adaptability = ability to be flexible and change
- (Ranging from: chaotic, flexible, structured, rigid)
Rosa's Law - CORRECT ANSWER changed "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability"
Communication Theory - CORRECT ANSWER Originated by the MRI group, the study of the process by
which verbal and non-verbal information is exchanged within a relationship. Communication can be
analogic which has little structure, but is rich in content, or digital which is verbal communication
perceived and interpreted based on meaning. (see various types of communications: Haptic; Kinesthetic;
Paralinguistic; and Streptic).
analogic communication - CORRECT ANSWER combination of nonverbal communication and context.
Who developed double bind theory? - CORRECT ANSWER Bateson
Bertalanffy's general systems theory - CORRECT ANSWER Any theoretical system of interest to more
than one discipline; based on awareness of the essential interrelatedness and inter-dependence of ALL
phenomena - physical, biological, psychological, social and cultural. (It transcends orthodox disciplinary
and conceptual boundaries.)
some concepts: process, structure and isomorphism
school of thought has recently emerged placing a renewed emphasis on language and meaning, rather
than a strict adherence to the more common theories of family therapy. This school of thought is more
pluralistic, crossing disciplinary boundaries while breaking free of old paradigms. It views the therapist
as part of the therapy process, rather than as an expert. - CORRECT ANSWER Postmodernism
, Premature ejaculation treatment (5) - CORRECT ANSWER Behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy,
educational approach, psychodynamic therapy, squeeze technique
Family Therapists who believe that, if left alone, people will tend towards self-actualization are primarily
working from the - CORRECT ANSWER EFT perspective (because of humanistic roots)
In brief prescriptive therapy, termination occurs - CORRECT ANSWER when the agreed upon number of
sessions is up
Psychotherapy notes - CORRECT ANSWER Behavioral health notes recorded by a mental health
professional that document or analyze the content and impressions of conversations that are part of
private counseling sessions; they are not part of the health record and do not contain information such
as diagnosis, prescriptions, treatment modalities, and test results. No PHI, so not covered by privacy and
security rules.
Sparkling Events - CORRECT ANSWER From narrative therapy, those events that exemplify the client's
preferred outcome rather than his/her problem saturated stories.
Feminist critique of circular causality - CORRECT ANSWER feminist main critique of the cybernetic
concept of circular causality is that it makes everyone responsible for everything and possibly, no one
accountable for anything. Neutrality position of the therapist can add further to an already unbalanced
system. (Goldner, 1988) by the implied acceptance of status-quo.
least likely advice a therapist would give to a man about to become a step-parent to his fiancee's kids
when he hasn't had kids before - CORRECT ANSWER assume parenting role immediately
content aspect of communication - CORRECT ANSWER report
Haley believed that normal family functioning includes all of the following - CORRECT ANSWER flexibility,
clear rules for governing hierarchy, a large repertoire for handling problem resolution, NOT
connectedness.
Research found one year following divorce to be the peak of maximum negative behaviors for children.
Such behaviors were "most likely" sustained in - CORRECT ANSWER boys than girls
