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Mastering Competencies in Family Therapy
Chapter 2: Research and Ethical Foundations of Family Therapy Theories
1. The minimum standard of practice for those in the medical field is known as evidence-
based practice. Which of the following statements is the best definition?
a. Evidence-based practice uses research findings to inform medical decisions for
the care of individual clients.
b. Evidence-based practice encourages using clients in experiments to determine
what works for medical decisions.
c. Evidence-based practice uses the same practices to treat all problems for all
clients.
d. Evidence-based practice refers to a therapist’s own way of doing things based on
his or her experience in the field.
2. Which of the following is NOT one of the five steps for family therapists implementing
evidence-based practice into their practice?
a. Develop an answerable question to focus on in the search for evidenced-based
information.
b. Search the literature for the best empirical evidence to answer the question.
c. Evaluate the validity, impact, and applicability of the research to determine its
usefulness in this case.
d. Assume the research findings are applicable to the current client’s situation.
3. Which of the following statements is FALSE about common factors research?
a. The effectiveness of therapy has more to do with the key elements found in all
theories than with the unique components of a specific theory.
b. The similarities among theories matter more than the differences.
c. There is major evidence in the research literature to support the superiority of one
theory of another in family therapy.
d. The common factors approach does not require therapists to give up their
therapeutic model.
4. In Lambert’s common factors model, which of the following factors is MOST attributed
to successful outcome in therapy for clients?
a. Client hope
b. Therapeutic model
c. Therapeutic relationship
d. Client motivation and resources
5. According to Wampold’s common factors model, which of the following factors matters
LEAST in therapeutic outcomes for clients?
a. Client hope
b. Therapeutic model
c. Therapeutic relationship
d. Client motivation and resources
6. In both Lambert’s and Wampold’s research, the quality of the therapeutic relationship
appears to be more important than the specific model in predicting outcome. Which one
of the following would be considered a positive factor in an effective therapeutic
relationship?
a. The therapist accommodates the client’s level of motivation.
b. The therapist sets the goals for the client.
c. The therapist expresses judgment when the client is not making progress.
d. The therapist is reserved and professional at all times.
7. According to the author of this textbook, an appropriate answer to the question “Do we
still need theory?” is:
a. Theory is most relevant for the client, not the therapist.
b. Theories prevent therapists from using a systematic way for dealing with the wide
range of difficulties clients bring.
c. Theories are important because they are the vehicles through which the common
factors do their work.
d. Theories do not allow therapists to take into consideration unique issues related to
diversity.
8. When therapists, licensing boards, or funding institutions refer to therapy models as
“evidence–based,” they are generally referring to which of the following??
a. Evidenced-based therapies (EBT)
b. Empirically validated treatment (EVT)
c. Empirically supported treatments (EST)
d. Effectively tested therapies (ETT)
9. Empirically supported treatments (ESTs) meet each of the following criteria EXCEPT:
a. Treatment is significantly better than the no-treatment control group.
b. The treatment is based on a written treatment manual.
c. A specific population with a specific problem is identified.
d. Researchers have no need for reliable and valid outcome measures.
10. Which of the following would be considered a DISADVANTAGE of an empirically
supported treatment (EST)?
a. They have greater scientific support.
b. They are expensive.
c. They are highly structured.
d. They do not target a specific population with a specific problem.
11. Why is it important to keep the evidence-based therapy movement and research in
perspective?
a. The evidence-based therapy movement aims to debunk the current theories in
search of one grand theory.
b. The evidence-based therapy approach is important because nothing in the field
has ever been researched or studied before.
c. Research indicates that any therapy, no matter what the theory, is better than no
treatment at all.
d. Research is yet another thread in the theory debate to confuse therapists in
training.
12. Practicing any form of therapy in a professional manner means understanding three levels
of rules that govern professional behavior: laws, ethics, and standards of care. Which of
the following is the best definition for laws?
a. Laws are either set by the local, state, or federal government, in the form of
legislation establishing specific responsibilities for professionals.
b. Laws are often about what you want to do and do not want to do.
c. If a law conflicts with an element of an ethical code, the therapist must abide by
the ethical code.
d. Laws define in detail the expectations of family therapists and specific guidance
on every possible scenario a therapist will encounter.
13. Each major branch of professional associations in mental health publishes a code of
ethics that serves as a guide for responsible and professional behavior. Which of the
following is NOT an ethical principal?
a. Justice
b. Autonomy
c. Infidelity
d. Beneficence
14. The standard of care for therapists means what?
a. Establishing a set code of ethics for your private practice
b. What most people at the same professional level are doing in practice
c. Making a personal decision which laws to follow and which to ignore
d. Doing only what other therapists would do in practice
15. When working with couples and families in therapy, why is it important to define who
your client is?
a. It will impact how the therapist organizes treatment.
b. It will impact how the therapist documents the case.
c. It will impact how the therapist handles conflict between family members.
d. All of the above.
16. Confidentiality is both a legal and ethical requirement for therapists. Why does
confidentiality become more complex when working with couples and families?
a. Therapists cannot share what their clients tell them one-on-one.
b. Therapists are obligated to keep secrets no matter what.
c. Therapists could cause harm to their clients if they do not keep secrets.
d. Therapists need to establish their own secrets policy and make sure clients
understand it.
17. When working with minors, why is maintaining an individual therapist stance versus a
family therapist stance nearly impossible?
a. Family members must give consent for the minor to receive treatment.
b. Family members often do not want to be included in the therapy process.
c. Family members do not have the right to access treatment records for the minor.
d. All of the above.
18. In working with children and families, a therapist is considered a mandated reporter of
child abuse in which of the following circumstances?
a. When the therapist has collected thorough information to confirm abuse has taken
place
b. When the therapist hears from another therapist that a client has been abused
c. When the therapist has a reasonable suspicion that abuse has taken place
d. All of the above
19. When working with a couple who has experienced intimate partner violence (IPV), the
therapist should follow which of the following guidelines for working with the couple?
a. Discontinue couple therapy immediately.
b. Follow state, county, or agency rules governing the treatment of IPV.
c. Treat the couple together.
d. Work with the non-offending partner only.
20. Which of the following is NOT a true statement regarding working with couple or family
clients via videoconference or related technology?
a. Therapists should be trained and have experience using technology.
b. Therapists should be aware of potential risks and benefits of electronic therapy.
c. Therapists must ensure the privacy and confidentiality by securing the connection.
d. Therapists do not need to be licensed in the state their clients are residing in.
21. Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding therapist’s values and their
practice of family therapy?
a. Family therapy can be value-free.
b. A family therapist cannot be sued for imposing his or her values on their clients.
c. Family therapists can refuse to see clients based on their own value-system.
d. Family therapists must contend with the struggle between their obligations to
serve clients and their right to practice based on their own values.