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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

AMFTRB MFT Exam Questions

Page 5 of 25

81.

You are working with a client who recently lost his job. Subsequently, he also lost his insurance coverage, meaning he can no longer use his health insurance to pay for his therapy. He has not come close to reaching his therapy goals. He cannot afford your full fee. Ethically speaking, you might consider all the following options, EXCEPT:

  • Modifying the treatment goals 

  • Offering sliding scale services to your client

  • Considering referring to lower-cost services

  • Reviewing whether you can provide pro bono assistance 

Correct answer: Modifying the treatment goals 

A client's finances shouldn't impact the treatment plan (unless finances are one of their designated goals). As a therapist, it is important to disclose fees and discuss these arrangements before and during treatment. Providing pro bono services, offering a sliding scale, or helping with referrals would all be appropriate options. 

82.

If a therapist receives a subpoena for client information that is NOT privileged, the therapist should respond by:

  • Complying with the subpoena

  • Asserting privilege on the client's behalf 

  • Assessing if the client wishes to waive their privilege

  • Reviewing the policies about subpoenas in their informed consent 

Correct answer: Complying with the subpoena

If a therapist receives a subpoena for client information that is not privileged, the therapist must respond by complying with the subpoena. 

At that point, they cannot assess if the client wants to waive the privilege, and they cannot just automatically assert the privilege on the client's behalf. 

If they are not sure if the information is privileged, they should certainly seek clarification from an attorney. 

A therapist cannot decide what to do just based on what's indicated in their informed consent.

83.

Which of the following statements is MOST true about therapists managing crises in their line of work?

  • Therapists are responsible for supporting the client's response.

  • Therapists are liable for ensuring the client responds appropriately.

  • Therapists are legally bound to guarantee a client stays safe.

  • Therapists are responsible for taking ownership of the problem.

Correct answer: Therapists are responsible for supporting the client's response.

Ultimately, therapists provide support for the client's response to the crisis. 

They are not liable or legally bound to make sure the client stays safe or responds appropriately (although they ethically try to focus on those tasks). They are also not responsible for fully owning the problem. 

84.

Which of the following is MOST likely an instance of reportable child abuse?

  • A client leaving their infant child in a soiled diaper for several hours

  • A client yelling at their child when they become frustrated

  • A client taking a shower with their toddler child 

  • A client ignoring their child's demands for toys 

Correct answer: A client leaving their infant child in a soiled diaper for several hours

This is the most probable case of neglect. 

A client yelling at a child repeatedly may be grounds for emotional abuse, but we don't have enough context for the situation. 

Taking a shower with a child is not inherently inappropriate, especially since the child is young. 

We don't have enough context to know if ignoring pleas for toys is grounds for neglect.

85.

A client shares that she recently loved a book she read about depression. Upon hearing the title, the therapist states that she also loved the book. This therapist intervened by:

  • engaging in self-disclosure 

  • validating the client's feelings

  • building rapport 

  • practicing bibliotherapy 

Correct answer: engaging in self-disclosure. 

The therapist revealed something personal about herself, which is self-disclosure. 

Validating the client's feelings would include her reflecting on the client's feelings or praising her for reading the book. Self-disclosure can be a part of building rapport, but building rapport does not adequately define this intervention. Bibliotherapy typically refers to assigning reading, which we don't have evidence of the therapist doing. 

86.

When working with families, it is important that marriage and family therapists remember all the following, EXCEPT:

  • Families generally don't want help

  • Families often show resistance to change

  • Families typically have triangles

  • Families are largely shaped by culture

Correct answer: Families generally don't want help

Most families do want help and do want to improve the quality of their relationships. 

However, many barriers can impact this type of dynamic change (resistance, triangles, and cultural constraints all represent key obstacles).

87.

The concept of nonmaleficence is BEST described as:

  • Doing no harm

  • Making no mistakes

  • Avoiding judgment

  • Providing safety

Correct answer: Doing no harm 

Nonmaleficence is described as "doing no harm." 

The other three answers do not adequately describe this term.

88.

You are working with Brent, a 54-year-old man, who was referred to you after recently becoming widowed. Brent states that he has wanted to die ever since losing his wife. He tells you that he has several guns in the house. 

When you ask him if he's ever thought about using one of his guns to harm himself, he says yes. However, he indicates that he does not think he'd actually do it and that he's never really formulated a specific plan. 

Based on this information, you should do what NEXT?

  • Continue assessing Brent's suicidal thoughts and create a safety plan

  • Break confidentiality since you have reasonable evidence to assume Brent could be a danger to himself

  • Ask Brent directly if he is downplaying or lying about his intent

  • Break confidentiality since Brent has disclosed that he has the means to harm himself

Correct answer: Continue assessing Brent's suicidal thoughts and create a safety plan

At this point, you should continue monitoring and assessing Brent's thoughts. It is also helpful to create a safety plan. 

You do not have enough information/evidence to make a mandated report/break confidentiality, as he has only identified thoughts and means. He has not articulated a specific plan or intent to carry out his plan.

It would likely be very damaging to the therapeutic relationship to ask him if he's lying or downplaying his thoughts, so that would not be an appropriate response.

89.

As a symbolic-experiential family therapist, you might include all the following interventions as part of your process of therapy, EXCEPT:

  • Collaborating on exactly how the problem will be solved

  • Developing a liaison with the husband or father in the family

  • Redefining symptoms as attempts to growth

  • Modeling fantasy alternatives to family members

Correct answer: Collaborating on exactly how the problem will be solved 

Collaborating on exactly how the problem will be solved is a solution-focused therapy intervention. 

Developing a liaison with the husband or father in the family, redefining symptoms as attempts to growth, and modeling fantasy alternatives to family members are all symbolic-experiential interventions.

90.

All the following represent key symptoms in PTSD EXCEPT:

  • Substance abuse 

  • Intrusive thoughts

  • Avoiding behaviors

  • Hyperarousal 

Correct answer: Substance abuse

People with PTSD may struggle with substance abuse, but it is not part of the PTSD criteria. 

Intrusive thoughts, avoiding behaviors, and hyperarousal are all key PTSD symptoms used to establish an appropriate diagnosis. 

91.

You are working with Landon, a 16-year-old male, who is in the process of coming out as gay to his friends and family. During this work, you should consider all the following, EXCEPT: 

  • Recognizing that coming out inherently entails significant challenges

  • Recognizing that coming out may create ongoing stress 

  • Recognizing that coming out can coincide with suicidal ideation

  • Recognizing that coming out is inherently unique for each client 

Correct answer: Recognizing that coming out inherently entails significant challenges

Coming out may coincide with several challenges (ongoing stress, suicidal ideation) but that is not ALWAYS the case, and therapists should not assume obstacles are inherent. 

It's more important to remember that coming out is a unique process that will affect each individual differently. 

92.

All the following are ethically true about providing teletherapy, EXCEPT:

  • Therapists should recognize that confidentiality needs to be a flexible concept 

  • Therapists should consider limiting such services with high-risk clients

  • Therapists must adhere to the same HIPAA rules

  • Therapists need to be mindful of unique privacy issues

Correct answer: Therapists should recognize that confidentiality needs to be a flexible concept 

Ideally, therapists should strive to maintain the same level of confidentiality with teletherapy as they would with in-person sessions (hence why they need to be mindful of unique privacy issues). In that regard, it is not a flexible concept—it is both a legal and ethical requirement. 

They must adhere to HIPAA rules, and they need to exert more caution when working with higher-risk clients (as those clients may need more specialized care).

93.

Which of the following is the BEST definition for marital skew?

  • One domineering spouse and one passive, submissive spouse

  • One spouse continuously attacking or criticizing another spouse 

  • One spouse falsely expressing anger 

  • Both spouses transmitting multigeneration patterns 

Correct answer: One domineering spouse and one passive, submissive spouse

That is the best definition of marital skew. One spouse continuously attacking or criticizing another spouse highlights marital schism. 

A spouse falsely expressing anger may be more of a form of pseudohostiliity. Both spouses transmitting multigeneration patterns can be a form of the multigenerational transmission process.

94.

Ethically speaking, multiple relationships should:

  • aim to be avoided, although exceptions might exist.

  • always be avoided.

  • only benefit the client's well-being.

  • honor the therapist's informed consent. 

Correct answer: aim to be avoided, although exceptions might exist.

Multiple relationships cannot always be avoided, especially in rural areas or in certain job settings. 

It is not just about benefiting the client's well-being, although the therapist should always consider that. A therapist's informed consent should not dictate which multiple relationships can/cannot be allowed. 

95.

Which of the following is MOST likely an example of a covert rule a family may have?

  • Don't talk about family matters outside the home

  • Take out the trash when you notice it's full

  • Make sure you come home before curfew

  • If you don't mow the lawn, you won't get your allowance

Correct answer: Don't talk about family matters outside the home

Covert rules are usually implied, even if they aren't explicitly stated. Many families "assume" it isn't appropriate to talk about their issues outside the home. 

The other answers tend to be more specific and suggest that the family has discussed them in the past.

96.

When working with families, solution-focused therapists are MOST LIKELY to believe that: 

  • Families can improve their level of satisfaction by intentionally doing more of what is already working.

  • Families can improve their communication by establishing clear boundaries with one another.

  • Families can improve their relationships by practicing active listening during vulnerable disclosures.

  • Families can avoid looking at the problem and focus their efforts by looking towards viable solutions. 

Correct answer: Families can improve their level of satisfaction by intentionally doing more of what is already working.

Family therapists appreciate their clients who focus on doing "what is already working." This may include how they set boundaries, listen to one another, or show support. 

While solution-focused therapists do focus on solutions, they do not inherently disregard problems altogether. 

97.

All the following are generally true about postmodern family therapy, EXCEPT: 

  • Therapy focuses mostly on intergenerational patterns. 

  • Clients are perceived as the experts of their own lives.

  • Therapy tends to be more collaborative.

  • Therapists maintain an ongoing sense of curiosity about their clients. 

Correct answer: Therapy focuses mostly on intergenerational patterns. 

This is more associated with transgenerational/psychoanalytic theories.

The other answers all represent key components of postmodern family therapy. 

98.

A client terminates treatment with you after successfully meeting his goals. Three months later, he contacts you asking for a copy of his notes. Adhering to HIPAA standards, you should BEST respond by: 

  • Considering whether it would be appropriate (or potentially harmful) to provide these notes to your client

  • Declining the client's request to see his notes

  • Providing the client with full access to his notes

  • Asking the client to outweigh the pros and cons of accessing his notes 

Correct answer: Considering whether it would be appropriate (or potentially harmful) to provide these notes to your client

HIPAA indicates that therapists can use discretion when evaluating if a client's viewing records could be harmful. 

For this reason, you would not automatically decline or oblige to this client's request (you would need more information). Likewise, it's not the client's job to evaluate the pros and cons - it's your responsibility to determine if viewing these notes could cause harm. 

99.

Which of the following is TRUE about entering a sexual relationship with a client?

  • It is never permissible.

  • It is only potentially permissible after two years of termination of treatment.

  • It is only potentially permissible with the client's written consent.

  • It is only potentially permissible after one year of termination of treatment. 

Correct answer: It is never permissible.

Marriage and family therapists do not engage sexually with former or current clients. There was a two-year rule at one point, but this is no longer the case. Written consent is not relevant in this situation.

100.

Who is the founder of rational-emotive therapy?

  • Albert Ellis

  • Aaron Beck

  • Marsha Linehan 

  • Michael White 

Correct answer: Albert Ellis

Albert Ellis founded rational-emotive therapy. 

Aaron Beck founded cognitive-behavioral therapy. Marsha Linehan founded dialectical-behavior therapy. Michael White founded narrative therapy.  

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