Marital and Family Therapy Flashcards
7 cards from real MFT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Marital and Family Therapy flashcards as text
In Strategic Family Therapy, 'paradoxical directives' are used primarily to:
Answer: Reinforce existing problematic patterns until clients choose to change
Paradoxical directives (e.g., prescribing the symptom) are designed to create change by making the problem behavior feel controlled or absurd.
A genogram is best described as:
Answer: A multigenerational family map depicting relationships and patterns
A genogram is a pictorial diagram of a family's multigenerational relationships, patterns, and significant events used in assessment.
When an adolescent client discloses in individual session that they are using marijuana occasionally, the MFT should first:
Answer: Assess for level of risk and review what was agreed in informed consent
The therapist should assess the risk level and refer to what was outlined in the informed consent agreement before deciding how to proceed.
The concept of 'triangulation' in Bowen theory describes:
Answer: The involvement of a third person to reduce tension in a two-person relationship
Triangulation occurs when a dyad under stress pulls in a third person to reduce anxiety, stabilizing the relationship at the expense of the third party.
A key feature of the Gottman Method in couples therapy is assessing the couple's ratio of positive to negative interactions, also called:
Answer: The Five-to-One ratio
Gottman's research found that stable relationships maintain a roughly 5:1 ratio of positive to negative interactions during conflict.
A solution-focused brief therapist would most likely open a first session by asking:
Answer: What would be different if this problem were solved?
SFBT focuses on preferred futures, so therapists open with questions like the 'miracle question' to orient clients toward solutions rather than problems.
Under HIPAA, when a client requests access to their own therapy records, the MFT must generally:
Answer: Provide access within 30 days of the request
HIPAA grants clients the right to access their protected health information, and covered entities must respond within 30 days.