In couples therapy, what question could help clarify the wife's relationship with her family?

The question about the wife's relationship with her family focuses on generational patterns and family dynamics, particularly how familial relationships can influence current behavior and relationship patterns. By asking about the mother’s relationship with her mother and family, the therapist encourages exploration of intergenerational influences, attachment styles, and possible inherited beliefs or behaviors from previous generations. This understanding can shed light on the wife’s current relationship with her own family and how those dynamics might be affecting her current emotional state and interactions within her marriage.

The other options, while relevant to the overall context of the therapy, do not directly target the family relationships as deeply. Inquiring about the husband's decisions may focus on the wife's feelings about her spouse rather than her family dynamics. Questions about how often she sees her family might provide logistical information but lack depth in exploring emotional connections or patterns. Similarly, asking about her role in family decisions could yield insights into her current functioning but does not open the pathway to understanding the historical influences on her family relationships.