What therapeutic technique involves setting boundaries within a family?

The technique that involves setting boundaries within a family is structural mapping. This approach is foundational in family therapy, particularly within the structural model developed by Salvador Minuchin. Structural mapping involves understanding the organization of family interactions and hierarchies, which is essential for identifying where boundaries may be weak or overly rigid.

By creating a visual representation of family dynamics, therapists can identify and clarify these boundaries. Effective boundaries help to define the roles and responsibilities of family members, facilitating healthier interactions and reducing conflict. Clarifying and restructuring these boundaries can lead to improved communication and relational dynamics.

In contrast, reframing focuses on changing perceptions or meaning associated with specific issues; strategic interventions aim to solve problems through targeted actions; and emotionally focused techniques emphasize the emotional bonds within relationships. While each of these approaches has its own importance in therapy, they do not specifically concentrate on establishing boundaries in the way that structural mapping does.