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Ultimate 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 Ultimate Marital and Family Therapy flashcards as text

  1. In structural family therapy, what term describes the invisible rules that govern how family members interact with one another?

    Answer: Boundaries

    Boundaries are the invisible rules in structural family therapy that define who participates in interactions and how, shaping family organization.

  2. A couple argues that their therapist is 'taking sides' after the therapist empathizes with the wife's perspective. This reaction most likely reflects which therapeutic concept?

    Answer: Therapist neutrality challenge

    Couples frequently test therapist neutrality; when one partner perceives empathy toward the other as bias, it represents a neutrality challenge the therapist must address.

  3. Which theorist developed the concept of 'differentiation of self' as central to healthy family functioning?

    Answer: Murray Bowen

    Murray Bowen developed differentiation of self, describing the ability to maintain one's identity and emotional autonomy while staying connected to the family.

  4. A therapist notices that every time the parents in therapy discuss their conflict, the adolescent son begins acting out. This is best described as:

    Answer: Triangulation

    Triangulation occurs when a third person (the son) is pulled into a dyadic conflict to reduce tension between the original pair.

  5. In emotionally focused therapy (EFT) for couples, the primary goal of Stage 1 is to:

    Answer: Restructure negative interaction cycles

    Stage 1 of EFT focuses on de-escalating the negative interaction cycle by helping partners recognize and interrupt their destructive patterns.

  6. An MFT is working with a family where the grandmother insists on attending all sessions. The therapist should first:

    Answer: Explore the family's cultural norms around extended family involvement

    Cultural competence requires the therapist to explore whether extended family inclusion reflects normative and culturally valued patterns before making structural decisions.

  7. Which technique involves the therapist joining the family by temporarily adopting their communication style and pace to reduce resistance?

    Answer: Mimesis

    Mimesis, used in structural family therapy, involves the therapist mirroring the family's tone, posture, and style to build rapport and reduce defensiveness.