After experiencing increasing conflict in the home, a social worker calls and schedules a therapy meeting. A 24-year-old, his sister, his mother, and the mother’s live-in boyfriend are asked to attend the therapy meeting. Who is the “client” who will be treated during this session?

Choice A reason: The 24-year-old only being the client would imply that the therapy session is focused solely on the individual issues of the 24-year-old. However, the context of the therapy session, which includes multiple family members, suggests that the focus is on addressing family dynamics and conflicts. Family therapy typically involves working with the entire family unit to improve relationships and resolve conflicts, rather than focusing on a single individual. Choice B reason: The entire family being the client is the correct answer because family therapy aims to address issues within the family system as a whole. By involving the 24-year-old, his sister, his mother, and the mother’s live-in boyfriend, the therapy session is designed to explore and resolve conflicts that affect the entire family. This approach recognizes that individual issues are often interconnected with family dynamics, and addressing these dynamics can lead to more effective and lasting solutions. Choice C reason: The 24-year-old and his mother being the clients would limit the scope of the therapy to the relationship between these two individuals. While this might address some aspects of the family conflict, it would not provide a comprehensive approach to resolving issues that involve other family members, such as the sister and the mother’s live-in boyfriend. Family therapy is most effective when all relevant members are included in the process. Choice D reason: The sister, mother, and 24-year-old being the clients would exclude the mother’s live-in boyfriend, who is also part of the family dynamic. Excluding any family member who is involved in the conflict can limit the effectiveness of the therapy. Family therapy aims to include all relevant members to fully understand and address the issues affecting the family as a whole. Therefore, this option is not as comprehensive as involving the entire family.