2023 Edition

MFT Practice Test

Take this free MFT Practice Exam to see the types of questions and sections that appear on the actual Marital and Family Therapy National Exam. The MFT National Exam tests a candidate’s understanding of specialized counseling concepts in the areas Systemic Therapy, Assessing and Diagnosing, Designing Treatment Plans, Evaluating Ongoing Processes, Crisis Situations and Ethical and Legal Practice. To prepare for your test, use our 500 question MFT Practice Exams Plus that includes online flash cards and an exam review.

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The Practice of Systemic Therapy

1.	Using Cognitive Behavioral Systems Therapy, the MFT secures a strong therapeutic relationship by:
		a. Addressing first and second order change.
		b. Working with client/client family as a partnership to address cognitive distortions.
		c. Restructuring the family hierarchy in its entirety.
		d. Displaying affection for all members of the client/client family.
In Cognitive Behavioral Systems Therapy, the MFT grows the therapeutic relationship by working as a partner with the client/client family versus leading the counseling relationship. When the client/client family feels they are an equal partner in the sessions, they feel more connected and motivated. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

2.	In the practice of MFT, the following elements are important to be aware of in developing a comprehensive assessment of the client and client family and how they relate to the client and family system:
		a. Culture and its impact on the family dynamic
		b. Sexual orientation
		c. Gender identity
		d. All of the above
All elements of culture, sexual orientation, and identity of gender as well as how they relate to each family member within the system is important in working with the family system and individual client. That being said, it is vital to also understand these concepts in the larger scope of society and their relationships to the MFT discipline. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Assessing, Hypothesizing, and Diagnosing

3.	A newly licensed marriage and family therapist wants to administer a psychological test to a client. Which of the following statements is true?
		a. The licensed therapist must have received training on the specific test and confirmed with the state rules that the test is permitted.
		b. The licensed therapist is trained and licensed to do any and all psychological testing.
		c. The licensed therapist cannot administer psychological tests.
		d. The licensed therapist may administer psychological tests, but may not interpret results.
The licensed therapist should check the rules of their individual state licensing board within which they are practicing to ensure the test is permitted and they should have received training on the specific test. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

4.	A therapist is seeing a couple for counseling to address martial problems. After a few weeks, when the couple comes in for their session, the therapist notices that the wife has a bruise on her neck. When the therapist asks about the bruise, the wife looks nervously at her husband. After some inquiry, the husband admits to choking his wife during a recent argument. Which of the following responses would be clinically appropriate?
		a. Continue to engage the couple in couples therapy to provide a safe space to discuss conflict.
		b. Continue to engage the couple in couples therapy focusing solely on communication skills until you feel confident the couple will not escalate conflict.
		c. Suspend couples therapy, refer the husband to individual therapy, and provide the wife with resources and develop a safety plan.
		d. Meet with the couple individually for individual therapy in order to work on skill development needed for each individual.
Couples therapy is contraindicated in cases of intimate partner violence, so a marriage and family therapist will typically not continue couples therapy if there is known violence. Additionally, while couple therapy may entail some individual work, an MFT does not typically conduct individual therapy with either part of a couple system. If there is known violence in a couple, the best clinically appropriate action is to suspend couple therapy, refer the husband to individual counseling, and provide resources and a safety plan to the wife. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Designing and Conducting Treatment

5.	When trying to prioritize therapeutic goals in treatment planning with a client and client family, the decisions should be developed by:
		a. The client
		b. The client family
		c. The MFT
		d. All of the above
The priorities in treatment planning, ideally, should center around a collaboration between MFT, client and the client family (if applicable). The exception is in the case of danger to self or others, in which safety must always be a priority. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Evaluating Ongoing Process and Terminating Treatment

6.	From a systems perspective, if a family comes to counseling because their 15-year-old son is being oppositional and defiant, the systems therapist should work towards a treatment outcome that recognizes the following:
		a. The 15-year-old son is the main problem and needs to change his behavior.
		b. The behavior of the parents is the chief concern.
		c. The behavior of the siblings and extended family needs to be primary.
		d. Each family member has a role in this problem and the development of a solution.
A systemic perspective indicates that every member of the family plays a role in the interactions and behavior. The index client is the one who simply displays the symptoms of these interactions. Hence, an MFT looks towards the web of all family members versus a single person. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

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7.	Clinical, ethical and legal considerations are part of the termination of the therapeutic relationship. A therapist should terminate the client/therapist relationship in all of the following circumstances, except:
		a. The client is experiencing thoughts of suicide.
		b. An individual is not benefiting or is being harmed by therapy.
		c. The therapist is threatened or endangered in some way by the client.
		d. The therapist does not have the necessary competence to meet the client's treatment needs
Thoughts of suicide are not a sufficient reason alone for termination. Termination is warranted if an individual is not benefitting or is being harmed by treatment, if the therapist is threatened or endangered in some way by the client and if the therapist does not have the necessary competence to meet the client's treatment needs. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Managing Crisis Situations

8.	Michael is an MFT working with Lucas, who has a history of self-injurious behaviors. Recently Lucas's self-injurious behaviors have escalated and Michael is uncertain if these behaviors are indicative of actions that could be intentionally or unintentionally suicidal. Which of the following should Michael do next?
		a. Consult with another MFT to discuss an appropriate course of treatment.
		b. Discuss with Lucas his triggers of self-harm and ask him if this could lead to suicide.
		c. Discharge Lucas because he is not making the necessary progress and is stagnant in counseling.
		d. Switch to a more traditional psychoanalytic approach.
Consultation with another MFT will help Michael to see the situation from another angle and think through the challenging dilemmas that Lucas's case represents before making a clinical decision. It will also assist in the avoidance of any triggering emotions that Michael may be experiencing in the sessions (also known as countertransference). Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

9.	A disadvantage of teletherapy versus conventional therapy for crisis clients includes which of the following?
		a. Physical distance could prevent the MFT from being able to provide in-person assistance if necessary.
		b. The MFT may not have knowledge of local resources if the client lives at a distance from the MFT.
		c. An MFT may be working with a client in a state other than their own that has different laws governing counseling and crisis.
		d. All of the above.
Several issues arise when considering teletherapy in relation to crisis clients. First, is the distance from the client. It may be difficult, or impossible, to get to a client physically to assist, if necessary, in a crisis situation. Second, each region of the country has varying levels and types of organizations as well as psychiatric facilities that an MFT who does not live in the area may not be familiar with. Additionally, states have varying laws regarding clients in crisis and the MFT may be unfamiliar with those laws. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Maintaining Ethical, Legal and Professional Standards

10.	During which part of the counseling process does the MFT discuss the parameters of confidentiality?
		a. Treatment planning
		b. The second counseling session
		c. The informed consent process
		d. The termination process of counseling
During the informed consent process, the limitations of confidentiality should be discussed so that the client recognizes what issues must be referred to the attention of other organizations, persons, agencies, or personnel. These include threats of danger to self or others, abuse or neglect of children, seniors, or developmentally disabled persons. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Quality starts with who wrote the material.

Our practice exam writer

Dr. Christine Duquette, LMFT

is a licensed marriage and family therapist and an adjunct professor of counseling at Yorkville University. Beal University and Golden Gate University in California.

Dr. Brett Novick, LMFT

is a licensed marriage and family therapist and an adjunct professor for the post-graduate counseling department at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

OUR PRACTICE EXAM COVERS THE ACTUAL MFT EXAM TOPICS:

The MFT Exam contains 185 multiple-choice questions and four hours is given to take the exam. Test questions come from a pool of questions that have been extensively reviewed and researched for content accuracy and clarity.

Below are the six sections tested by the AMFTRB on the MFT Exam:

• Systemic Therapy

• Assessment and Diagnosis

• Designing and Conducting Treatment

• Evaluating Ongoing Processes

• Managing Crisis Situations

• Ethical and Professional Practice

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