How to Coach Yourself and Others Coaching Families | Page 178
II/ JOINING
This is the process of coupling that occurs between the therapist and the family, leading to the development
of therapeutic system. In this process the therapist allies with family members by expressing interest in
understanding them as individuals and working with and for them. Joining is considered one of the most
important prerequisites to restructuring. It is a contextual process that is continuous. There are four ways of
joining in structural family therapy: tracking, mimesis, confirmation of a family member and accomodation.
1) TRACKING:
The tracking technique is a recording process where the therapist keeps notes on how situations develop
within the family system. Interventions used to address family problems can be designed based on the
patterns uncovered by this technique. In tracking, the therapist follows the content of the family that is the
facts. Tracking is best exemplified when the therapist gives a family feedback on what he or she has
observed or heard.
Most family therapists use tracking. Structural family therapists (Minuchin & Fishman, 1981) see tracking
as an essential part of the therapist's joining process with the family. During the tracking process the
therapist listens intently to family stories and carefully records events and their sequence. Through tracking,
the family therapist is able to identify the sequence of events operating in a system to keep it the way it is.
What happens between point A and point B or C to create D can be helpful when designing interventions.
2) MIMESIS:
The therapist becomes like the family in the manner or content of their communications.
3) CONFIRMATION OF A FAMILY MEMBER:
Using an affective word to reflect an expressed or unexpressed feeling of that family member.
4) ACCOMMODATION:
The therapist adapts to a family's communication style. He makes personal adjustments in order to achieve a
therapeutic alliance.
III/ DIAGNOSING
Diagnosing is done early in the therapeutic process. The goal is to describe the systematic interrelationships
of all family members to see what needs to be changed or modified for the family to improve. By
diagnosing interactions, therapists become proactive, instead of reactive.
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