In a therapeutic context, what is Minuchin likely to recommend for an enmeshed family like Mrs. Jones and her daughter Jane?

Minuchin’s approach to family therapy emphasizes the importance of clear boundaries within family systems. In the case of an enmeshed family, where there is a lack of appropriate boundaries—leading family members to be overly involved in each other’s lives—the recommendation would be to strengthen the subsystem boundaries between family members.

By doing so, each family member is encouraged to develop their individual identities while still maintaining healthy connections with other members of the family. This helps reduce the overwhelming emotional dependence that characterizes enmeshment, allowing for more balanced interactions. Strengthening boundaries allows family members to engage with each other in a way that fosters individual autonomy, while still being part of a cohesive family unit.

The other options do not align with Minuchin’s focus on boundaries: encouraging family secrets can lead to further enmeshment and lack of transparency; promoting complete openness may overwhelm family dynamics; and focusing exclusively on individual therapy does not address the relational patterns that are fundamental to enmeshed families. In essence, strengthening boundaries is vital to cultivating healthier relationships within the family.