Question

A family is in therapy because they have been unable to resolve conflicts and are arguing frequently. When using a strategic family therapy approach, which of the following directives might the PMHNP suggest to create a sense of togetherness?

	A.	Encourage the family to address concerns by writing letters to each other
	B.	Direct the family to temporarily become overly dependent on one another
	C.	Ask the family to engage in pleasant activities following the problem behavior
	D.	Exaggerate in a fun family ritual by preparing for the event in a specific order

During a family therapy session, the PMHNP hears the father say to the son, “You shouldn’t play video games where you shoot people.” According to the Bion school of thought, what is the content of the message that the father is trying to express?

	A.	“Violence is bad.”
	B.	“You should find other things to do with your time.”
	C.	“You’re better at other types of video games.”
	D.	“You will grow up and want to shoot people if you keep playing those games.”

Members of a therapy group have become aligned and are starting to take ownership of their group experience. They are sharing more and are being more open with each other. During the next session, the PMHNP decides to address termination of the group. Which of the following is the most appropriate response by the PMHNP when a group member expresses anxiety about termination?

A PMHNP has integrated group treatment into his practice. After the orientation phase, group members have been exchanging ideas. One member says, “I think you should confront your son and ask why he is so disrespectful.” Another member responds by saying, “That is a terrible idea. If you confront him, he will just be angry with you.” The first member then replies, “You are not the expert here!” The rest of the group members then start taking sides as the debate continues. What step should the PMHNP take to help group development?

	A.	Allow members to notice differences and experience conflict
	B.	Change the conversation when necessary to reduce conflict
	C.	Remind group members to focus on ways to cooperate
	D.	Lead a meditation break to get members back on track

	A.	“Let’s have the group address this concern.”
	B.	“Would someone like to lead the discussion?”
	C.	“I think all of you are ready to leave the group.”
	D.	All of the above

The PMHNP is meeting with a family composed of two parents and their two children. The PMHNP observes that the mother projects her concerns onto one of the children, and that child seems to conform to the parents’ way of thinking. The other child seems to be less involved in the family’s fusion. What action taken by the PMHNP demonstrates the use of the Bowen Family Systems Therapy model?

	A.	Helping differentiate the child who is conforming to the parents
	B.	Helping differentiate the child who is less involved in the family fusion
	C.	A and B
	D.	None of the above

Answer 1

As the family is unable to resolve conflicts and are arguing frequently, the best remedy for this problem would be: B-Direct the family to temporarily become overtly dependent on one amother.

This remedy would be apt here because when the members of the family are not dependent on each other, only then they would've relealized each others importance and come to a suitable conclusion.

• Encouraging the family to address concerns by writing letters to each other wouldn't be suitable as writing letters would just temporarily give them a sense of satisfaction and the real problem wouldn't get addressed.

• Asking the family to engage in pleasant activities following the problem behaviour also works on the principle of deviation so it would be a temporary solution

Exaggerating in a fun family ritual is similar to directing them to become dependent on each other but too much time consuming.

Hence, B) would be the best way to create a sense of togetherness.