Ultimate Marital and Family Therapy Flashcards

A therapist working with a blended family discovers the stepfather has no authority over the children due to the mother's protective stance. This boundary issue is best described as:

Answer: Cross-generational coalition

A cross-generational coalition forms when a parent and child align against a third party (here the stepfather), undermining the parental subsystem.

In solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT), the 'miracle question' is primarily used to:

Answer: Help clients envision a future without the problem

The miracle question invites clients to imagine how life would look if the problem were solved overnight, helping define therapeutic goals.

Which ethical principle is most directly at stake when an MFT must decide whether to share information disclosed by one spouse in an individual session with the other spouse in conjoint therapy?

Answer: Confidentiality

Confidentiality governs how information disclosed by individuals in a multi-client context is handled, making it the primary ethical concern in this scenario.

According to Bowen theory, during periods of high anxiety a family will most likely:

Answer: Increase triangulation

Bowen theory holds that anxiety causes families to triangle in a third person to stabilize the two-person system and reduce emotional intensity.

A family therapist uses a genogram to reveal a multigenerational pattern of alcoholism. This assessment tool is most associated with:

Answer: Bowen Family Systems Theory

Genograms are a key assessment tool in Bowen Family Systems Theory for mapping multigenerational patterns of behavior, relationships, and illness.

When a therapist uses 'positive connotation' to label a problematic behavior as protective or helpful, this technique is rooted in which model?

Answer: Milan Systemic Therapy

Positive connotation is a core Milan technique that reframes symptoms as serving a protective function within the family system.

An MFT is mandated to report suspected child abuse. The therapist should:

Answer: Report immediately to the appropriate child protective authority

Mandatory reporting laws require MFTs to report suspected child abuse directly to authorities without delay, regardless of family consent or supervisor consultation.