A wife and husband are in an initial intake session with a social worker. The husband is significantly depressed and asks for individual treatment. As the interview progresses, the wife defines marital issues, describes her husband's feelings and behaviors and smiles when he says something with which she agrees. When the latter occurs, the husband smiles in return. A major issue for this couple will probably involve

A. depression.
B. a dystonic marital relationship.
C. enmeshment.
D. role confusion.


C. enmeshment.

Minuchin defines enmeshment as a family in which boundaries between members are blurred and there is a tendency toward overprotection and fusion of individual boundaries. In the vignette for this question, the partners appear at a session together. Though the husband is asking for individual help, the wife explains his mental state. The social worker would want to consider the extent to which the couple is enmeshed.

Social Work & Human Services

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