Question 1

All of the following are examples of structural goals EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Structural goals in family therapy focus on organizing and optimizing the family system's structure, such as defining roles, boundaries, and subsystems. Forgiving and repenting for an injustice is more related to emotional and relational healing rather than the structural organization of the family.

Question 2

Giving compliments and shaping competence are used by a structural therapist in order to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Compliments and shaping competence are techniques used by structural therapists to highlight and strengthen the family's existing positive interactions and capabilities, thereby reinforcing their natural strengths.

Question 3

Based on the previous vignette, Harold, the structural family therapist working with Mikayla and Jenna, takes into account that all behavior has reciprocal antecedents and describes their pattern of interaction like this: M affects J's response, which then affects M's response, ad infinitum. Harold is:

Accepted Answer

Harold is reframing the complementary relationship by removing blame from one person and describing how each person contributes to the problem dynamic, which is a common technique in structural family therapy to understand and address patterns of interaction.

Question 4

Which of the following statements about using structural family therapy with diverse populations is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Structural family therapy was indeed developed with attention to the dynamics and needs of diverse families, particularly those experiencing difficulties with their children. It employs an active and engaged approach where the therapist often adopts an expert stance, which aligns well with the values of many traditional cultures.

Question 5

Ecosystemic structural family therapy (ESFT), an empirically supported adaptation of structural family therapy, was developed to treat which population?

Accepted Answer

Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy (ESFT) is specifically designed to address the needs of children and adolescents who exhibit severe emotional or behavioral problems, along with their families, and emphasizes the importance of the community context in treatment.

Question 6

At each state of __________, family members need to negotiate boundaries to support individual member's growth needs. It is when families do not do this that problems occur.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is C) family development. This is because family development theory focuses on the systematic and patterned changes experienced by families as they move through their life course. The theory emphasizes the dynamic nature of family life and the need for families to adapt and renegotiate boundaries to support the growth and development of individual members. Problems can arise when families fail to adjust their boundaries to accommodate these changes.

Question 7

Occasionally, when a structural therapist is having extreme difficulty realigning a hierarchy in a family, or when a particular family member is being scapegoated, the therapist might use which of the following interventions?

Accepted Answer

Unbalancing is a technique used by structural family therapists to temporarily support one side of a family conflict more than the other. This can help change the family dynamics and realign the hierarchy, especially when a member is being scapegoated or the usual balance is proving difficult to adjust.

Question 8

Intensity is an intervention best described by which of the following statements?

Accepted Answer

Intensity as an intervention technique involves the therapist intensifying their approach through tone of voice, pacing, and word choice to break through barriers in therapy. This can help in reaching deeper issues or overcoming resistance.

Question 9

Which of the following are potential missteps when working with Asian American families according to Epstein and colleagues?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following are potential missteps...

Question 10

When a structural therapist asks family members to change seats, has separate sessions with individuals or subsystems, or asks one member of the family to remain silent during an interaction, the therapist might be doing what kind of intervention?

Accepted Answer

Boundary making involves altering the physical or emotional boundaries within the family system, such as changing seats or having separate sessions, to clarify and strengthen subsystem boundaries.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT one of the four fundamental concepts of intensive structural therapy (IST)?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is NOT one...

Question 12

Alexis, a structural family therapist, had been working with a volatile couple in family therapy for a few months. During one session, she verbally questioned the assumption of the couple that it "is better for the children if we stayed married" to determine whether that belief was having the effect the couple thought it should. What intervention was Alexis using?

Accepted Answer

Alexis was challenging the family's worldview by questioning their assumption about staying married for the children's benefit. This approach aims to make the couple reflect on their beliefs and consider how those beliefs affect their situation and decisions.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT considered to be a protective factor in families according to FFT?

Accepted Answer

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) emphasizes the importance of positive family dynamics and interactions. B) Lack of involvement in conventional activities is considered a risk factor rather than a protective factor, as involvement in conventional activities can promote positive behaviors and family cohesion.

Question 14

When assessing families, FFT therapists attend to the family's cultural and community contexts. Which of the following BEST defines the term "community contexts?"

Accepted Answer

Community contexts refer to the specific local community environment in which the family lives, including its norms, values, and resources, which can influence the family's behaviors and interactions.

Question 15

What is the typical order of problem solving steps in FFT's mutual problem solving strategy?

Accepted Answer

The typical order of problem-solving steps in FFT's mutual problem-solving strategy starts with identifying the problem, then identifying the desired outcome, agreeing on how to accomplish the goal, identifying potential obstacles, and finally reevaluating outcomes. This sequence ensures a structured approach to solving problems by first understanding the issue and desired end state, planning how to achieve it, considering potential challenges, and then assessing the effectiveness of the solution.

Question 16

Mikayla and Jenna have been married for six years. They have recently decided to try therapy because they find they argue incessantly and are drifting apart emotionally. They are no longer able to spend quality time together without fighting, and both would rather spend time with friends or by themselves than with each other. They state that their arguments tend to follow the same theme time after time, regardless of what they are fighting about. Mikayla sees Jenna as "overly emotional" and states that she always breaks down during their fights. Jenna states that Mikayla never tries to understand her, that she can't share her emotions and that she'd rather be "logical" all the time. From a structural viewpoint, how might you describe this relationship pattern?

Accepted Answer

The description of Mikayla and Jenna's relationship indicates a complementary pattern, where one partner is logical and the other is emotional, and they have become rigidly polarized in these roles. This polarization leads to recurring arguments and emotional distance.

Question 17

Brief strategic family therapy is a model that draws on structural and strategic therapies to address drug abuse problems with African-American and Hispanic populations. All of the following are principles of intervention in brief strategic family therapy EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Brief strategic family therapy does not typically use paradoxical directives as a principle of intervention. Instead, it focuses on joining, enactments, and reframing to engage and effect change within the family system.

Question 18

The IST scorecard is designed to enable clinicians to:

Accepted Answer

The IST scorecard is designed to enable clinicians to track their outcomes using clear measures and benchmarks.

Question 19

Reframing from a structural viewpoint is seen as:

Accepted Answer

Reframing from a structural viewpoint involves both highlighting complementary relationships within the family and piecing together each member's description of the problem to reveal the broader systemic dynamics. This approach helps in understanding the family structure and dynamics more holistically.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT considered a major difference between heterosexual couples and LGBT couples?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is NOT considered...

Quiz 5: Structural Family Therapies