AMFTRB MFT National Exam case studies
AMFTRB MFT National Exam · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The MFT National Examination is developed and administered by the Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB), the association of state licensing boards that regulate LMFTs. Jurisdictions use the exam as one of the requirements for licensing candidates, so it is typically taken after graduate training and during or near the supervised post-degree experience required by your state board. The AMFTRB MFT National Exam case studies are 5 cases and about 2,931 words.
1The Disclosing Teen and the Non-Custodial Parent
You are a licensed MFT seeing 15-year-old Jordan weekly for 6 sessions at an outpatient clinic. Jordan's parents divorced 3 years ago; mother has sole legal and physical custody, father has supervised visitation twice monthly.
605 words, about 3 min2The Couple, the Affair, and the Individual Session
You are doing weekly couples therapy with Priya and Daniel, married 11 years, presenting after Daniel discovered Priya's 8-month emotional affair. Session 4 is individual: Priya discloses the affair became sexual twice and that she has continued texting the partner 'just to end it cleanly.' She asks you not to tell Daniel.
546 words, about 3 min3The Suicidal Client with a Firearm and a Duty-to-Warn Statute
Marcus, 34, has been in treatment 10 weeks for major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate (PHQ-9 = 19 today, up from 12). He is divorced; his ex-wife Lena has primary custody of their 6-year-old.
630 words, about 3 min4Supervisee Competence and the Limits of the Supervisor's Role
You supervise Nadia, an LMFT associate 14 months into a 24-month supervised period, accruing hours at a group practice. Reviewing her recordings, you notice she frequently gives long advice monologues, misses client affect, and last week told a client with OCD 'just stop the rituals-they're feeding the anxiety.' She is warm, well-liked, and her clients report high satisfaction.
575 words, about 3 min5The Culturally Mismatched Diagnosis and the Referring Pediatrician
A pediatrician refers 9-year-old Amir, a recently resettled refugee, for 'oppositional defiant disorder and possible ADHD.' The referral notes 'defiant at home, poor attention at school, does not follow adult directions.' You meet the family with a trained interpreter (Arabic). Parents report Amir witnessed violence before resettlement, wakes screaming 3–4 nights weekly, avoids loud noises and men in uniform, and has become 'angry' since starting school 5 months ago.
575 words, about 3 min