Question 1
Answer B is correct. The boy has experienced a change in mood since moving to a new neighborhood. In addition, he is developmentally at a stage when the peer group is important but has not yet made any new friends. The question specifies the race of the clients and, although it does not say anything about their former neighborhood, this assessment would be a good starting point to determine if the environment may be contributing to the boy's depression and lack of friends.
Question 2
Answer C is correct: Contact the parents if you feel that doing so is necessary to prevent the girl from hurting herself.
Question 3
Answer D is correct: This answer is most consistent with ethical guidelines. Specifically, Principle 2.6 of the CAMFT Code of Ethics states that MFTs "use clinical materials in teaching, writing, and public presentations only if a written authorization has been previously obtained ... or when appropriate steps have been taken to protect patient identity." Since there's no way to disguise the identities of the clients in the video recordings, he must get their written authorization before showing the recordings to his students.
Question 4
Answer B is correct. The best interests of the child is always the court's primary consideration when awarding custody
Question 5
Answer C is correct. This is a difficult question, since three of the answers (B, C, and D) involve "prescribing the symptom," which is an intervention that strategic family therapists use.
Question 6
Answer B is correct. The prescribing psychiatrist would be the person to speak to about his or her patient's actions. By phoning the psychiatrist in the client's presence, both you and your client would be able to hear the advice given by the psychiatrist regarding her medication. This may also increase the client's compliance.
Question 7
Answer D is correct. Through the process of elimination, Adjustment Disorder with depressed mood is the best choice even though the question doesn't specify when this man learned of his HIV status or how long his symptoms have lasted.
Question 8
Answer C is correct. A client's threat to harm him or herself or others should always be taken seriously. And this is particularly true in this case since the question indicates you have seen Brian in therapy only twice, which implies that you probably would not know whether or not his statement about blowing up the church is consistent with the way he usually talks.
Question 9
Answer D is correct. To be consistent with ethical requirements when acting as an instructor, MFTs must present information
Question 10
Answer A is correct. Two California laws pertain to providing outpatient mental health services to minors age 12 and over - FC Section 6924 and and C Section 124260. The questions you encounter on the exam on this issue will pertain to the requirements of one of these laws (not both), although which one may not be evident until you read the answers. None of the answers to this question addresses the requirements of Section 6924, but answer A addresses the requirements of Section 124260. Section 124260(b) permits an MFT to see an unemancipated minor age 12 or older without parental consent as long as the MFT believes the minor is "mature enough to participate intelligently in the mental health treatment or counseling services."
Question 11
Answer C is correct. Identifying automatic thoughts is an initial intervention that cognitive-behavioral therapists do to determine the contributors to a client's presenting problem.
Question 12
Answer B is correct. Latino clients tend to prefer an informal style ("personalismo") over a more formal style ("formalismo"), especially after the initial therapy sessions.
Question 13
Answer A is correct. Separation anxiety is a normal response in a one-year-old when she is separated from a parent or other primary caregiver.
Question 14
Answer A is correct. Crisis intervention with an individual who has just been raped should include addressing emotional, medical, and legal considerations. However, this question is asking what the therapist should do first, which is to listen to the client and provide her with emotional support. Certain medical and legal procedures must be carried out after a rape (e.g., medical care, gathering of evidence for possible prosecution); however, these procedures should not be the focus of the initial interview.
Question 15
Answer C is correct. This question presents two problematic issues -- the client is currently in therapy with another therapist and the therapist lets her "pay" for therapy by working for him. The answer options suggest that the latter is the focus of the question, and this answer is most consistent with ethical guidelines. Barter is addressed in Principle 9.5 of the CAMFT Code of Ethics. It states that MFTs “ordinarily refrain from accepting goods, services, or other non-monetary remuneration from patients in return for professional services” because these arrangements can lead to conflicts and exploitation. This suggests that barter is not completely prohibited; however, before accepting a bartering arrangement, you would want to consider the consequences of doing so as well as alternatives to bartering.
Question 16
Answer D is correct. This question is asking what you MUST do, which suggests that the correct answer is the one that addresses legal requirements. Welfare and Institutions Code Section 15630 states that an MFT must report cases of known or reasonably suspected abuse of an elder adult. The client's word is enough to arouse a reasonable suspicion and mandate a report.
Question 17
Answer D is correct. Piaget proposed that cognitive development follows a predetermined sequence of four stages -- sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. The concrete operational stage (7 - 11 years) is marked by the emergence of logical (cause-and-effect) thinking, the ability to conserve, and the ability to understand the point of view of other people.
Question 18
Answer D is correct. This question is asking for the most effective treatment unit. This (the family) is the best treatment unit for what is clearly a crisis, even though the reason given in the answer might not be the best.
Question 19
Answer D is correct. More information would be needed to assign a diagnosis of Premenstrual Dysphoric Syndrome. However, of the diagnoses listed in the answers, this one is most consistent with the information provided in the question.
Question 20
Answer C is correct. Alcohol and drug use has been consistently linked to rape. For example, a National Violence Against Women Survey found that nearly two-thirds of women who reported being raped as adults said the offender was under the influence of alcohol (Tjaden and Thoennes, 2006).
Question 21
Answer C is correct. This is most consistent with CAMFT Ethical Principle 1.2, which requires MFTs to avoid becoming involved in dual relationships.
Question 22
Answer D is correct. According to and C Section 4982, "the commission of any dishonest . . . or fraudulent act . . ." is unprofessional conduct." If you are not collecting a co-payment, you must inform the insurance company. Overbilling to cover the co-payment is illegal and unethical behavior even when a client is in crisis.
Question 23
Answer B is correct. Identifying each family member's level of acculturation is always a good strategy when working with clients who are not part of the dominant ("mainstream") culture. Doing so can help guide treatment planning.
Question 24
Answer B is correct. In many forms of psychotherapy, the client is encouraged to fully experience and express his or her feelings. Thus, when the client begins to cry, you would not want to interrupt his expression, at least not at first. As suggested by this answer more than any of the other responses, you would just want to let him cry.
Question 25
Answer B is correct. From a behavioral perspective, symptoms
are elicited and maintained by behavioral contingencies -- i.e., the
antecedents and consequences (e.g., reinforcement) associated with the
symptoms. Consequently, you would want to determine what events preceded his
symptoms and what consequences followed them.
