In Structural Family Therapy, what is the goal when subsystems are enmeshed or overly rigid?

• A. Abolish boundaries to improve openness
• B. Strengthen boundaries in enmeshed subsystems and increase flexibility in rigid ones
• C. Promote unconditional agreement among family members
• D. Ignore the hierarchical structure of the family

Answer: (B)

In Structural Family Therapy, the focus is on how the family is organized into subsystems and how boundaries between those subsystems function. When boundaries are too diffuse (enmeshment), individual differentiation is stifled and people become overly involved in each other’s lives. When boundaries are too rigid, roles become fixed and communication breaks down, preventing flexible, adaptive interactions. The therapeutic aim in these situations is to recalibrate the structure: strengthen boundaries in enmeshed subsystems to reduce excessive permeability and promote autonomy, while increasing boundary flexibility in rigid subsystems to allow for more negotiation, adaptability, and healthier communication. This reorganization supports a clearer, more functional hierarchy and interdependence that still preserves connectedness. Abolishing boundaries, demanding unconditional agreement, or ignoring hierarchical structure would not align with Structural Therapy’s emphasis on creating appropriate, workable boundaries and roles.