Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Practice

In structural family therapy, what does increasing flexibility among family members aim to achieve?

1. Rigid family roles

2. Clear boundaries

3. Healthier family dynamics

4. Decreased emotional engagement

The correct answer is: Healthier family dynamics

Increasing flexibility among family members in structural family therapy aims to achieve healthier family dynamics by allowing individuals to adapt their roles and interactions. When family members can adjust their behaviors and responses to one another, it fosters open communication, promotes understanding, and encourages supportive relationships. This flexibility helps to break down dysfunctional patterns that may exist within the family structure, ultimately leading to improved emotional well-being and collaboration among family members. The focus on healthier dynamics is crucial because rigid family roles can lead to stunted growth and interpersonal conflicts. Clear boundaries are important as well, but simply establishing boundaries does not address the underlying issues of inflexibility that may be causing problems. Similarly, decreased emotional engagement would be counterproductive in this therapeutic context, as it is necessary for family members to connect and engage positively to facilitate change and promote overall family health.