MFT Exam Prep Reviews
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MFT Exam PrepI have to say that I have seen the materials from TDC/Amanda Rowan, and the other top two companies out there, and what made me initially choose her over the other two was the fact that her material, at first glance is more manageable. However, after the very first webinar, I knew that I would be passing the exam without a problem. Amanda makes the material very easy to learn, retain and apply to any type of vignette. Her strategies of taking brief shorthand notes, and framing kept me present with the vignettes and really helped me choose the right answer. Her style of lecturing/teaching was also incredibly helpful, as I took her voice into the exam with me. Because of Amanda Rowan and her strategies, not only was the Clinical Vignette exam manageable, I felt it was quite easy. Thank you TDC!
Thank you so much for your program! I passed the first and second MFT exams on the first try with confidence. Compared to other test preparation companies that I tried out, your programs JUST MADE SENSE! For the first exam, I felt you taught ONLY what I needed to know without all the fluff and memorization. While testing, your words, your definitions, the way you explained things were in my head, making the test more clear and less confusing! I loved how with both programs I could go at my own pace! The lectures are so valuable and organized, the information is straight forward, the Quizzes and practice exams are JUST LIKE THE REAL TEST and the rationales are clear and concise! On the second test, the method you train is RIGHT ON with how the BBS tests! I felt like I was passing the whole time! Thank you for this valuable learning experience! I will continue to highly recommend you to all my collegues! I am very thankful for your program, this is the way to go!!
I just passed the MFT Standard Exam about half an hour ago! I am SO thrilled with the help I received from TDC. TDC really prepared me to have the confidence, knowledge, and test taking skills to go into this exam. I didn't feel weighed down by information, but really felt like I knew everything I needed to know to pass. Thank you so much to Amanda and everyone at TDC, and good luck to future test takers!
I wanted to express that because of the Therapist Development Center I was able to pass not only the MFT Standard Written Exam, but also the MFT Clinical Vignette Exam. I tried the Grossman materials and found the information provided by Grossman was too overwhelming. I also tried Berkely Training Associates study material and felt thoroughly confused. I stumbled upon your program based on other reviews from an online study support group. I am so thankful that I stumbled upon your material. The material is so right on point with what was on the exams. I found myself excited to study when studying your materials and this so matched my way of learning. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for helping me pass the California Standard Written MFT exam and Clinical Vignette Exam. For the first exam, I had spent hundreds of dollars with two other MFT exam preparation companies. I attended many of their workshops, received boxes of manuals, and studied everyday. According to their standards, I was prepared to take the first exam. After the test began, I went into a full blown panic attack. It was obvious, that the study material that I had concentrated on and was so proficient at learning was nowhere to be found on the test. I FAILED the first written exam.
I soon found one of your previous students who suggested that I call you. It was the best thing I could have done. You suggested that I see a hypnotist to help manage my test anxiety. You shared with me your study material, which was easy to understand, concise, and simple. It became clear to me why I had failed the first MFT Standard Written Exam. I found many errors, and inaccurate information, in the other MFT test preparation companies test banks and manuals. I found myself calling these companies with corrections to their material.
I am so grateful that I found you. After going through your program, I easily passed both exams. Thank you so much, Therapist Development Center!
Just passed the MFT Clinical Vignette Exam about an hour ago and wanted to give you a HUGE thanks! I had studied with Grossman and failed this exam the first time even though I was getting high scores on his testbanks. I then started using the AATBS system and couldn't manage to get my test scores to a range that would make me feel confident enough to schedule the real exam. This was really perplexing. It was not until I started using your materials that everything came together in such a way that I was able to go confidently into the taking of this exam. I will recommend your system far and above all others! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
I used both ATTBS and Gerry Grossman study programs, including the workshops and failed the first MFT exam 2 times. I was so overwhelmed by all of the books, tapes, flash cards, and tests that I had even re-arranged my dining room into a study area for it all to fit! The dining table was covered with material!! I felt completely defeated, with the thought I was never going to pass! Amanda Rowan's name was given to me by my supervisor, mentioning she had a friend who had been having a difficult time passing the exams too. I live in Sacramento and looked her name up in the phone book, then online. I had no idea the Therapist Development Center existed! I was amazed the minute I paid for the written MFT exam material, it was instantly available on-line. I cannot say enough about how this program improved my self-confidence and how simple it was! Very specific directions and for me the perfect solution. I had aha moments immediately and it was hard to stop studying!! I was enjoying it! I passed the written MFT exam the first time and I couldn't wait to begin the MFT clinical vignette program. I passed that exam on my first attempt!!! The TDC's presentation of all the material is down to earth and I felt they were in the room with me! They incorporated humor, authenticity and expertise throughout! Such a pleasure to have worked with them! I cannot say enough positive stuff about the Therapist Development Center!!!
Words cannot fully express the depth of my gratitude and appreciation to have found Amanda Rowan, LCSW, and the Therapist Development Center for the California State MFT and Social Work licensing exams.
The TDC's approach for me was “the least amount of stress with the greatest amount of efficiency possible.” Of course one still has to apply oneself and do the work, but they have a gift for streamlining it. When I studied with them my confidence level was genuinely boosted, unlike when I studied with other test prep companies, where the task was made to seem overly burdensome, and at times not relevant to the goal of passing these exams. That this is a field where on-going education is necessary and will be continuously required, goes without saying. Amanda is one of those “naturally gifted teachers” where the material seems to make sense and to be “highly accessible” in the way she organizes and breaks it down. She brings a deep understanding of the “style” of the exam, based on how the BBS views it, and helps students focus on areas that are relevant and more likely to be tested, in her estimation.
The TDC reviews the theories and differential diagnoses in a way that is very manageable, and covers the most important highlights. They saved me an enormous amount of stress and energy on both exams through their effective methods and efficient, common sense strategies and techniques. I found the TDC to be nothing short of “brilliant” as a trusted and knowledgeable colleague with whom I was fortunate enough to study for these exams in an “on-demand” way that accommodated my personal schedule.
In the sample vignettes and mock exams, they do not simply give the correct answers/answer sets, or rationales, but talks and walks candidates through the thought processes and reasoning for how they arrived at those answers and why the other answers/answer sets were not correct. I found great comfort in hearing Amanda's voice, as if she was my personal test prep coach, right there helping me and believing in me at the same time. Through this training, I found myself beginning to think like her, to hear her voice and thought processes in my head, which was enormously helpful for both exams.
The TDC's belief and confidence in their test prep candidates was nothing short of refreshing. Their respect for the education and clinical experience their candidates bring, and for their time, energy, and available resources to prepare for these exams was a lifesaver. In addition, the TDC's prices are extremely fair and reasonable.
For the first exam, the “Top 50” areas were enormously helpful, and for the second exam, the frames kept my focus on the exact question being asked each time. The TDC has a gift of giving “not too much” and “not too little” but very much what is needed to do well on the exams.
I recommend the Therapist Development Center's work very highly and without reservation to colleagues, if one is dedicated and also willing to do one’s part in the test prep process. Again Amanda is a naturally gifted teacher, excellent communicator and strategist, and truly cares that her students are well prepared and do well on their licensing exams.
Thank you so much Amanda and TDC. What a gift it was to study with you, to feel confident, and to pass both MFT exams the first time. Kudos to you!!! I am so thankful you decided to do this work, and also that the timing worked so well with my path. Thank you so much again!!! I am extremely happy and grateful, with your help, to be a newly licensed Marriage and Family Therapist!!!
The TDC provides structured and organized guidance for interns preparing for the MFT and LCSW licensure exams. I found the TDC to be helpful and clear in their approach to coaching me in the exam prep process.
Everyone I know who has used the Therapist Development Center (TDC) has passed & sensed they were doing so during the exams. What this says is that the tests are more straightforward than the big companies (Aatabs; Gerry Grossman, & Berkeley Training Associates) lead us to believe. Knowing this, I don’t advise going in cold, due to the six-month wait & re-testing fees, but I would choose a company that streamlines materials to the exams, enjoys a 95%+ pass rate, costs less, delivers more, & is dedicated to helping interns: A company with smarts & heart, like the TDC. Excellent beginning clinicians fail these exams as often as struggling ones, leading to more sales, like expensive coaching & company-induced anxiety management tools. While anxiety management is crucial, I suggest that interns’ first tune in & listen to such, as it may well be warning you that the big prep companies are not on your side: They mislead interns’ with conflicting rationales, impose material not being tested, blame their own inconsistencies on the BBS, & waste everyone’s time, money & energy. While my experience with Aatabs & GG felt traumatizing, finding & working with the TDC was truly as breath of fresh air. You can trust the TDC, which is a rare & wonderful gift, within a field that consistently exploits interns.
The TDC is the voice of sanity after dealing with confusion and contradictory information and rationales of the big companies tests banks for MFT's. Everything the TDC taught was spot on. I am very grateful to them for making this process understandable and straight forward for me. Using the TDC strategies, along with having a solid knowledge base, I passed the CV on my first try. I highly recommend the TDC exam coaching.
I passed both MFT exams the first time because of the Therapist Development Center. The strategies are simple and right on. I can't say enough great things about the TDC. They are the best!
The TDC test preparation course was essential to my passing the CV examination. The TDC has this amazing ability to instill confidence in test takers. In addition, the study materials such as the L& E quiz, theory quiz, the frames, as well as the practice vignettes played an absolute crucial role in my test preparation. I would highly recommend to anyone preparing for this exam to obtain the training that is offered at The Therapist Development Center. The TDC is #1 in my books and I highly recommend it.
I wanted to let you know that I took the CV exam yesterday and passed! Your testing strategies were right on and I flew through the test with confidence! Thank you so much for your information, I truly believe in your program and will be referring all of my work colleagues (I work in an agency) to you. Most testing companies want you to give them at least 6-8 weeks, which is totally bogus. You had me ready in 2 1/2 weeks and I can't thank you enough! It is such a relief to have the whole process completed.
After three times failing the MFT Written Exam, I had to find another way to prepare for the MFT written test. I needed effective strategies, a process to depend on, instead of straight memorization and reading rationales (that I didn't understand) given from other test companies.
I used (Aatabs and Gerry Grossman test banks) and after hundreds and hundreds of dollars spent, and hundreds and hundreds of study hours, I didn't succeed with their test preparation methods. Fortunately, a friend told me about, The Therapist Development Center. She shared that The Therapist Development Center offered a clear and direct process to pass the exam without spending months on end to study.
After speaking with the Director of the Therapist Center, I felt confident to use their strategies. Their method really worked, it was the first time the information processed into my brain! I advise anyone with a process learning issue, to try the Therapist Center. It made all the difference in the world! Within five weeks, I took the exam for the fourth time and passed!
I am now eager to take the Vignette exam......I know I will pass with the support of the Therapist Development Center, they were with me all the way!
My experience with the Therapist Development Center was a completely positive one. I had colleagues who had taken a course from a competitor and left feeling like the exam was unpredictable and unfairly written. On the other hand, I left my course confident that I understood what was *really* being asked, and that I would definitely pass on my first try. The methods used by TDC are very different from those used by the bigger companies, and I found them to be much more useful and clear.
Dear TDC,
I passed the MFT Clinical Vignette exam this morning with ease. I must share with you that I found your coaching to be THE SIGNIFICANT FACTOR in my passing. I purchased your program about three weeks ago and followed it completely.
I also purchased the Gerry Grossman testbank because I was worried that I needed more practice doing the tests. WRONG. I took one of his tests yesterday (the day before the real exam) to gauge my timing and practice. I got 49% on this test! I actually burst into tears and was so incredibly discouraged. This completely put me into a tailspin for about an hour. So, I took a walk and did a guided imagery exercise to push that experience away from my consciousness. Frankly, purchasing his test bank was a complete waste of money for me.
I regrouped my energy and spent the rest of the afternoon reviewing all of your training materials and listening to your final pep talk several times. I slept well. I ate an apple in the morning and drove in a sort of zen-like state to take the test. I was so stunned at how easy the actual test was for me. I used the frames and really sank into the experience of it. The most helpful thing I personally gleaned from your training was your encouragement to "lean into the test." This really propelled me to keep moving and do it with confidence. It was a mind-blowing experience! Also, I had gotten 85% on your final test and that made me feel confident that I could pass.
I am so grateful to have discovered your training. THANK YOU so much. I will definitely refer everyone I know to use your services. I know you will continue to be successful at what you do because it is so important. Thank you!
One more HAPPY customer.
I have wrestled with test anxiety and academic challenges my entire life. I chose my undergrad and grad schools based almost entirely on the fact that they did not test. Your program was so exactly what I needed: you helped me pass the test. You didn't try to tell me crap I couldn't use, didn't need, was confusing or contributed to my level of insecurity. From the first time I heard your voice, I felt reassured and instantly "Knew" I would get my license. Thank you for understanding the test enough to honor it's importance and respecting me enough to know that I just wanted to pass. You are doing the world a great service. I hope you honor yourself for that. I want you to know that I recommend your program to everyone I meet who is in test-prep mode. Thank you again for your wonderful work.
I passed my MFT Exam - yesterday at 4 pm!!! Still kind of in shock, my body is not cooperating fully, but I am slowing down gradually and definitely need a break!.
I want you to extend my heartfelt thanks to you for your wonderful program. I honestly believe that I could have taken the test and passed on using your materials alone, having taken the test (the questions did make sense, as you have said)
I wish I had found the TDC sooner. I could not happily recommend the other company’s program to anyone. It demands spending a lot of time and energy in an obsessive fussiness (not my natural style, not healthy at all for anyone I might add, which you already knew). Taking and retaking those test banks at the beginning, intimidating people to stuff one's head with a bunch of unnecessary facts and theories. The sense of overwhelm in his whole program tends to erode one's self-confidence and caused me to literally dissociate and have a trauma response :-) So antithetical to natural learning Listening to his voice on tape, I might add (the little I did before I found you), was excruciating... and I swear, he sounds like he is over-medicated on anti-depressants, the old kind! I know that sounds insensitive, but a sense of humor about it at this point is the only way to go. What that company does is so contradictory to what is needed, that I can't help but feeling ripped off. Oh well, live and learn. I still have the part 2 sitting here and wonder if it can be returned. I rather doubt it but I'm going to try.
Having that aired--- your voice, on the other hand, was like a good mother's, in very sense --- each time I listened, I felt your caring, your encouragement, your desire to have your student pass. Your practical, grounded presence was so helpful, backed by your own personal experience, your sense of humor, and your real life illustrations. It gave me the basics of what was needed. Most importantly you supported our ability to think critically. You intelligently broke the important information down to make it more comprehensible in a straight talking, matter of fact, earthy way The rationale made sense and that alone made learning the material fun and enjoyable! I actually enjoyed going back and typing up my notes later from memory of the 50 topics and filled in the other outlines as well. That was a terrific study tool. I even wrote up my own Ethics TRUE statements after taking the T/F quiz which was exceedingly helpful. Also the recognition that we draw from our personal experience and expertise when taking the test, imagining "as-if" one is in a room with a client scenario...the fact that you strongly conveyed that was empowering. Not glossing over that test is really hard (and it was, mostly because of the marathon format). It was a revelation to me that what seemed hard at the beginning, when I returned to it later, did not seem as difficult. You said that too. (I finished 20 minute early and went back and re-checked the 25 q's I had marked - at your suggestion - and they almost all made sense and changed only a couple of them)
One of the test questions right now stands out that was particularly funny and somewhat tricky goes something like this: A 57-year old woman who had a history of child abuse is a caretaker for her mother and reports being" finally in control of her situation" Implied that she has access to her mother's checks, etc, yet no age of the mom in the Q stem...The mom had to be at least 70 if she gave birth at 13, so that's how I figured out that it was a mandated report for elder (financial) abuse! Of course even if she were under 65 and a dependent adult it would still be a report. Thought you'd enjoy hearing that one :-)
So again, thank you, thank you TDC. I'll be getting the Vignette curriculum soon.
Plain and simple, I cannot imagine a better test prep method for the MFT licensure exams. I used the TDC’s online program and passed both exams on my first try. While I experienced some normal test anxiety, the TDC’s no nonsense, simplified approach made my studying experience not only relatively easeful, but also quite enjoyable. They bring light and intelligence to an MFT right of passage that is typically fraught with stress and confusion. Not only are the materials clear and effective, but the response time to any concerns or issues is rapid both by email and phone. TDC, thank you for such a positive experience!