MFT National Exam: Sample Questions
Out of earshot of Dad, Mom points out one of his parenting inadequacies to
the children. From a Contextual Family Therapy perspective, Mom’s actions
are evidence for
(Ans- split filial loyalty
Bob (45) and Marianne (38) argue about what is the proper age for their
daughter Jill (14) to begin dating. Jill hears the fighting and enters the
room. Marianne draws Jill into the argument to side with her against Bob.
From a Bowen Systems perspective, what has occurred?
(Ans- triangulation
Creation of a sufficient holding environment is a critical part of which
theoretical approach?
(Ans- Object Relations
Which theory believes that relative birth order is significant in determining
specific characteristics?
(Ans- Bowen Systems
Bill (50) and Alexandria (43) present for therapy because their son Ralph
(13) has developed school phobia. The phobia emerged after a trial
separation between Bill and Alexandria. Bill moved back into the home
when it became apparent that the only way to get Ralph to attend school
was with both parents working together to help him. From BozormenyiNagy’s perspective, this is an example of
(Ans- invisible loyalties
Jonathan (47) and Samantha (46) present for help with their daughter
Michelle (12) who has a history of depression. The family has also recently
moved and Michelle will be entering a new high school this fall. The family
spends some time animatedly describing recent events in their lives that
they believe deepened Michelle’s depression. The conversation begins to
wind down. An Object Relations therapist would be most likely to
(Ans- request details of their earlier histories
The following therapist is most associated with multigenerational process of
psychopathology
(Ans- Bowen
Introjection can only be detected by
(Ans- trained therapists
Anita (23) has had a conflictual relationship with her mother, Sarah (43)
throughout her teens. She was rebellious and angry with her mother much
of the time. Sarah is a single mother and very anxious about her daughter,
so much so that she frequently screamed and used inappropriate
punishments in an attempt to get her daughter to “behave”. After Anita left
home for college, she rarely wrote or called home and only visited on
holidays. Now that she has graduated, she took a job several states away
from her hometown and continues her pattern of not phoning or calling. A
Bowenian therapist would say that Anita is engaged in
(Ans- emotional cutoff
In object relations theory, the latent meaning behind attitudes, behaviors, or
feelings that is detected by therapists through analyzing personal reactions
to session materials is knows as
(Ans- derivatives
Sandy’s parents divorced when she was 10 years old, and her mother went
through a depression. Consequently, Sandy often was responsible for the
care of her 7 year old brother as well as seeing to family meals and other
household chores. Her mother often confided in her about her feelings and