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Cheat sheet

AMFTRB MFT Exam Cheat Sheet

Practice QuestionsStudy Guide

Systemic Therapy

16%of exam

Systemic ModelsTherapeutic AllianceDiversitySelf of Therapist

Assessment + Diagnosis

16%of exam

Systemic AssessmentDSM + RiskAssessment PickerHypothesis vs Diagnosis

Designing Treatment

17%of exam

InterventionsCouples + FamilyModel PickerGoals vs Objectives

Process + Termination

16%of exam

Progress ReviewTerminationReferral PickerTermination vs Abandonment

Crisis Situations

16%of exam

Crisis TriageSafety ActionsCrisis PickerSI vs HI

Ethics + Professional Standards

19%of exam

Ethics + LawProfessional PracticeEthics PickerConsent vs Confidentiality

Quick Facts

Exam
MFT National Exam
Sponsor
AMFTRB
Administrator
PTC
Testing
Prometric
Questions
180 MCQ
Time
4 hours
Scoring
Modified Angoff
Fee
$370
Retake
Once per quarter

Six Domains

System Assess Treat Evaluate Crisis Ethics

16%16%17%16%16%19%

Content vs Process

Content

  • What happened
  • Story details
  • Surface topic

Process

  • How they interact
  • Repeating sequence
  • System pattern

Story vs pattern

Systemic Models

Bowen
Differentiation focus
Structural
Boundaries hierarchies
Strategic
Pattern interruption
Experiential
Authentic emotion
Narrative
Problem externalizing
SFBT
Exceptions solutions
EFT
Attachment cycles
Contextual
Loyalty ledger

Bowen Core

Differentiate, detriangle, reduce cutoff

DifferentiationTrianglesCutoffProjection

Systemic Concepts

Homeostasis
System stability
Circularity
Mutual influence
Feedback loop
Pattern reinforcement
Triangulation
Anxiety detour
Fusion
Low differentiation
Cutoff
Distance manages anxiety
Subsystem
Family unit
Hierarchy
Power organization

Alliance + Context

Joining
Enter family system
Tracking
Follow interaction
Mimesis
Match family style
Neutrality
Avoid alliances
Cultural humility
Client as expert
Power
Contextual influence
Minority stress
Chronic oppression strain
Self of therapist
Use reactions carefully

Hypothesis vs Diagnosis

Hypothesis

  • Systemic pattern
  • Reformulated often
  • Guides questions

Diagnosis

  • DSM/ICD criteria
  • Clinical label
  • Guides care

Pattern vs criteria

Assessment Picker

  1. Multi-generation pattern→Genogram
  2. Current mental functioning→MSE
  3. Safety concern→Risk assessment
  4. Diagnosis needed→DSM/ICD
  5. System pattern unclear→Circular questions
  6. Tool outside competence→Refer/consult

Systemic Assessment

Genogram
Multigenerational map
MSE
Current functioning
Risk assessment
Safety threats
Biopsychosocial
Whole context
Family life cycle
Developmental tasks
Strengths
Resources resilience
Collateral
External informants
Instruments
Scope-limited tools

OCD vs OCPD

OCD

  • Intrusive obsessions
  • Compulsions
  • Usually distressing

OCPD

  • Pervasive perfectionism
  • Control rigidity
  • Often ego-syntonic

Symptoms vs personality

DSM + Risk

MDD
Two-week syndrome
PDD
Two-year depression
Mania
Elevated impaired energy
PTSD
Trauma reexperiencing
OCD
Intrusions compulsions
OCPD
Pervasive control
Bulimia
Binge purge cycle
SUD
Impaired substance control

Structural Map

Boundaries plus hierarchy drive structure

DiffuseRigidCoalitionHierarchy

Structural vs Strategic

Structural

  • Boundaries
  • Hierarchy
  • Enactments

Strategic

  • Sequences
  • Directives
  • Paradox

Organization vs sequence

Model Picker

  1. Enmeshed boundaries→Structural(Restructure hierarchy)
  2. Rigid symptom pattern→Strategic(Interrupt sequence)
  3. Family anxiety triangle→Bowen(Increase differentiation)
  4. Problem story dominates→Narrative(Externalize problem)
  5. Need quick exceptions→SFBT(Find strengths)
  6. Couple attachment cycle→EFT(Access needs)

Interventions

Enactment
In-session pattern
Reframe
Shift meaning
Paradox
Prescribe symptom
Externalize
Person not problem
Miracle question
Preferred future
Scaling
Progress rating
Sculpting
Spatial relationships
Psychoeducation
Teach relevant skills

Goals vs Objectives

Goals

  • Broad outcome
  • Longer horizon
  • Client direction

Objectives

  • Measurable steps
  • Concrete behavior
  • Progress markers

Destination vs steps

Couples + Family

Pursue-withdraw
EFT cycle
Attachment need
Underlying emotion
Repair attempt
Conflict deescalator
Affair recovery
Impact accountability
Sensate focus
Sexual anxiety reduction
Parentification
Child adult role
Coalition
Aligned against third
Detouring
Conflict displaced

Treatment Plan

Presenting problem
Client concern
Hypothesis
Systemic explanation
Long-term goal
Desired outcome
Objective
Measurable step
Intervention
Therapist action
Modality
Format selected
Safety plan
Risk response
Medication coordination
Prescriber collaboration

Termination vs Abandonment

Termination

  • Planned ending
  • Notice given
  • Referrals offered

Abandonment

  • Abrupt ending
  • No continuity
  • Client harmed

Planned vs improper

Referral Picker

  1. No progress→Reassess plan
  2. Needs higher care→Coordinate referral
  3. Goals met→Planned termination
  4. Therapist relocating→Continuity plan
  5. Client drops out→Outreach document
  6. New safety issue→Update plan

Progress + Termination

Feedback
Client course correction
Outcome measure
Progress signal
Modify plan
Adjust collaboratively
Plateau
Reassess fit
Referral
Needs exceed scope
Termination plan
Maintain gains
Aftercare
Post-treatment supports
Abandonment
Improper ending

Crisis Order

Assess risk, secure safety, document rationale

RiskSafetyConsultDocument

SI vs HI

SI

  • Self-directed risk
  • Plan means intent
  • Safety planning

HI

  • Other-directed risk
  • Identifiable victim
  • Duty protect

Self vs others

Crisis Picker

  1. Suicide intent means→Immediate safety
  2. Command hallucinations→Psychiatric evaluation
  3. Credible victim threat→Duty protect
  4. Child abuse disclosed→Mandated report
  5. DV coercive control→Safety planning
  6. Sexual assault disclosed→Validate options

Crisis Triage

Suicidal ideation
Self-harm thoughts
Intent
Desire to act
Plan
Method timing
Means
Access capability
Prior attempt
Strong predictor
HI
Harm-to-other risk
DV
Coercive control
Psychosis
Reality impairment

Safety Actions

Safety plan
Concrete coping steps
Hospitalize
Imminent danger
Mandated report
Legal protection
Duty protect
Identifiable victim
Consult
Risk support
Document
Clinical rationale
Resources
Crisis supports
Follow-up
Continuity check

Ethics Flow

Code, law, consult, document

EthicsLawConsultRecords

Ethics Picker

  1. Client asks secrets→Explain limits
  2. Boundary conflict→Consult document
  3. Outside competence→Refer train
  4. Subpoena arrives→Seek legal guidance
  5. Social post temptation→Protect confidentiality
  6. Therapist impairment→Stop harmful practice

Ethics + Law

Informed consent
Ongoing agreement
Confidentiality
Privacy duty
Privilege
Legal protection
Limits
Safety exceptions
Dual relationship
Boundary risk
Scope
Competence boundary
Consultation
Ethics support
Records
Jurisdiction rules

Professional Practice

Supervision
Oversight consultation
Telehealth
Jurisdiction compliance
Advertising
Truthful claims
Fees
Disclose early
Social media
Protect identity
AI tools
Competence privacy
Impairment
Protect clients
Continuing competence
Maintain skills

Common Traps

Scored item count

All 180 count ≠ No pilot assumption

California exception

AMFTRB national exam ≠ California separate exam

Guessing rule

No wrong-answer penalty ≠ Answer every item

Crisis priority

Safety before insight ≠ Action before exploration

Model confusion

Structural changes organization ≠ Strategic changes sequence

Diagnosis trap

DSM with systems ≠ Not labels only

Termination trap

Plan continuity ≠ Avoid abandonment

Ethics trap

Consult is not enough ≠ Document rationale too

Last Minute

  1. 1.Weights follow handbook blueprint
  2. 2.All 180 items count
  3. 3.Four hours; one best answer
  4. 4.Modified Angoff; forms equated
  5. 5.Process beats content details
  6. 6.Assess risk before intervention
  7. 7.Safety outranks alliance discomfort
  8. 8.DSM plus systemic hypothesis
  9. 9.Goals broad; objectives measurable
  10. 10.Terminate with continuity plan
  11. 11.Consult and document ethics
  12. 12.Never buy live items

AMFTRB Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)

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