Theorists
The theorist behind Family Systems Theory:
A. Carl Rogers
B. Murray Bowen
C. Minuchin
D. Virginia Satir
B. Murray Bowen
Murray Bowen's Family Systems Theory
(developed 1950s-1960s) posits that the family is an emotional unit, where individual behavior is deeply connected to, and determined by, the family relationship system. It focuses on reducing anxiety and increasing "differentiation of self"—the ability to balance emotional connection with autonomy—across generations
In Structural Family Therapy, the primary goal of treatment is to:
A. Increase insight into multigenerational patterns
B. Restructure maladaptive interactional patterns
C. Promote unconditional positive regard
D. Eliminate symptomatic behavior directly
B — Restructure maladaptive interactional patterns
Structural therapy focuses on reorganizing family structure (boundaries, subsystems, hierarchy) to improve functioning
A counselor observes that a mother frequently speaks for her adolescent daughter, and the daughter rarely expresses independent opinions. This dynamic is best described as:
A. Disengagement
B. Enmeshment
C. Triangulation
D. Differentiation
B — Enmeshment
Enmeshment refers to diffuse boundaries where family members are overly involved in each other’s emotional lives, limiting autonomy.
A therapist instructs a couple who constantly argues to schedule a daily 15-minute argument. This is an example of:
A. Reframing
B. Paradoxical directive
C. Boundary setting
D. Sculpting
B — Paradoxical directive
A paradoxical directive prescribes the symptom or problematic behavior to disrupt the system and create change.
A therapist asks a client to observe her own emotional reactivity during family conflict and to reduce it. This intervention aligns most with:
A. Structural therapy
B. Bowenian therapy
C. Strategic therapy
D. Experiential therapy
B — Bowenian therapy
Reducing emotional reactivity and increasing differentiation are core Bowenian goals.
Theorist(s) who developed Experiential Family Therapy:
A. Virginia Axline
B. Fritz Perls
C. Frank Parsons
D. Virginia Satir and Carl Whittaker
D. Virginia Satir and Carl Whittaker
Virginia Satir and Carl Whitaker were pioneers of experiential family therapy, focusing on "here-and-now" emotions, authenticity, and personal growth rather than rigid theory. Satir emphasized nurturing communication and self-esteem, while Whitaker used a "symbolic-experiential" approach, acting as an active, sometimes provocative, coach to foster freedom.
A counselor using Bowenian therapy would most likely:
A. Focus on present interaction patterns
B. Encourage enactments
C. Construct a genogram
D. Assign paradoxical tasks
C — Construct a genogram
Bowenian therapists use genograms to examine multigenerational patterns and emotional processes.
A therapist intentionally aligns with a subsystem to temporarily strengthen its functioning. This intervention is known as:
A. Reframing
B. Joining
C. Boundary making
D. Unbalancing
D — Unbalancing
Unbalancing occurs when the therapist temporarily aligns with one subsystem or individual to shift the family hierarchy or dynamics.
In strategic therapy, the identified patient’s symptoms are viewed primarily as:
A. Intrapsychic pathology
B. A learned behavior
C. Serving a function in the system
D. Evidence of trauma
C — Serving a function in the system
Symptoms are viewed as functional within the system, often maintaining balance (homeostasis).
A therapist physically moves family members in session to demonstrate emotional closeness and distance. This technique is called:
A. Sculpting
B. Enactment
C. Unbalancing
D. Reframing
A — Sculpting
Sculpting (Experiential therapy) physically arranges family members to represent emotional relationships.
Developer of Strategic Family Therapy?
A. Jay Haley/MRI
B. Louise Gurney
C. B.F Skinner
D. Murray Bowen
A. Jay Haley/MRI
Jay Haley’s Strategic Family Therapy is a brief, directive, and problem-focused approach developed in the 1960s-70s, where the therapist takes responsibility for designing specific interventions to resolve rigid family communication patterns. It focuses on solving concrete, presenting problems rather than uncovering deep psychological insights, often using paradoxical techniques to bypass resistance
According to Bowen, the cornerstone of psychological health is:
A. Emotional fusion
B. Differentiation of self
C. Family projection
D. Emotional cutoff
B — Differentiation of self
Differentiation of self is Bowen’s central concept, reflecting the ability to balance emotional and intellectual functioning and maintain autonomy in relationships.
A rigid boundary between parent and child that limits emotional connection is referred to as:
A. Diffuse boundary
B. Clear boundary
C. Rigid boundary
D. Complementary boundary
C — Rigid boundary
Rigid boundaries are overly restrictive and limit emotional closeness and communication
Virginia Satir emphasized:
A. Hierarchical structure
B. Communication styles and self-esteem
C. Paradoxical interventions
D. Multigenerational transmission
B — Communication styles and self-esteem
Satir emphasized communication patterns and enhancing self-esteem within family interactions.
A counselor working to clarify generational boundaries between grandparents and parents is primarily using:
A. Strategic techniques
B. Structural techniques
C. Bowenian detriangulation
D. Experiential methods
B — Structural techniques
Clarifying generational boundaries and hierarchy is central to Structural Family Therapy.
Contributor to Structural Family Therapy?
A. Murray Bowen
B. Virginia Satir
C Gary Landreth
D. Salvador Minuchin
D. Salvador Minuchin
Structural Family Therapy (SFT), developed by Salvador Minuchin in the 1960s, is a counseling approach that improves mental health by restructuring dysfunctional family interactions. It focuses on altering invisible, rigid patterns—specifically boundaries, hierarchies, and subsystems—to create healthier relationships. Key techniques include joining, mapping, and enacting scenarios to directly address issues
Strategic family therapy is most concerned with:
A. Insight into childhood experiences
B. Changing sequences of interaction
C. Promoting individuation
D. Exploring unconscious drives
B — Changing sequences of interaction
Strategic therapy focuses on interrupting problematic interaction patterns maintaining symptoms.
A client who distances herself physically and emotionally from her family to manage anxiety is demonstrating:
A. Differentiation
B. Triangulation
C. Emotional cutoff
D. Sibling position
C — Emotional cutoff
Emotional cutoff involves distancing oneself emotionally or physically to manage unresolved attachment issues.
A family member who placates others to reduce tension would be described by Satir as:
A. Blamer
B. Super-reasonable
C. Distracter
D. Placater
D — Placater
The placater appeases others to reduce tension, often ignoring their own needs.
A therapist reframes a child’s defiance as an attempt to gain connection. This is most consistent with:
A. Structural therapy
B. Strategic therapy
C. Systems thinking
D. Psychoanalytic therapy
C — Systems thinking
Reframing behavior as functional within the system reflects systemic (especially strategic and structural) approaches.
Systemic Family Therapy was created by the theorist(s)_________?
A. Carl Rogers and Sigmund Freud
B. Dan Siegel and Janina Fischer
C. Virgnia Satir and Carl Whittaker
D. Mara Selvini Palazzoli, Luigi Boscolo, Gianfranco Cecchin, and Giuliana Prata
D. Mara Selvini Palazzoli, Luigi Boscolo, Gianfranco Cecchin, and Giuliana Prata
Milan Systemic Family Therapy is an influential, 1970s Italian, family-based approach developed by Mara Selvini Palazzoli, Luigi Boscolo, Gianfranco Cecchin, and Giuliana Prata. It focuses on breaking dysfunctional interaction patterns by utilizing circular causality, neutral, curious, and hypothetical stances. Key techniques include circular questioning, positive connotation, and team-based, five-part sessions
Experiential therapists tend to be:
A. Highly structured and directive
B. Emotionally expressive and spontaneous
C. Detached observers
D. Focused on behavioral contracts
B — Emotionally expressive and spontaneous
Experiential therapists are active, authentic, and emotionally engaged in sessions.
The concept that describes parents transmitting their emotional problems to a child is:
A. Multigenerational transmission process
B. Family projection process
C. Nuclear family emotional system
D. Societal emotional process
B — Family projection process
This describes parents transmitting their emotional dysfunction to a child, often resulting in symptoms in that child.
Circular questioning is primarily used to:
A. Assign blame
B. Identify subconscious motives
C. Explore relational patterns
D. Assess IQ
C — Explore relational patterns
Circular questioning highlights differences in perception and relational dynamics among family members.
Which theorist is most closely associated with differentiation of self?
A. Salvador Minuchin
B. Jay Haley
C. Murray Bowen
D. Virginia Satir
C — Murray Bowen
Bowen is the originator of the concept of differentiation of self.