Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Practice

Which of the following is a technique used in structural family therapy?

1. Communication training

2. Enactments

3. Behavior modification

4. Individual counseling

The correct answer is: Enactments

Enactments are a core technique used in structural family therapy, which is designed to observe and change family dynamics in real-time. This approach involves having family members act out specific interactions or roles within the family structure during therapy sessions. By doing this, the therapist can identify patterns of behavior and communication, as well as the boundaries and roles that define the family's interactions. Through enactments, the therapist can directly illustrate how certain behaviors contribute to dysfunction within the family system and facilitate discussions about these patterns. This technique allows families to experiment with new ways of interacting, effectively restructuring their dynamics and enhancing their communication. Other options, though relevant to therapeutic practices, do not specifically align with the foundational techniques of structural family therapy in the way enactments do. For instance, communication training focuses more on improving dialogue but does not address the structural elements of family interactions as comprehensively. Behavior modification is primarily focused on changing specific behaviors rather than the relational dynamics that structural family therapy targets. Individual counseling, while beneficial for certain clients, does not encompass the family system approach that is characteristic of structural family therapy.