In Structural Therapy, what is the primary action taken during the first interview with the family?

In Structural Therapy, one of the foundational steps in the initial interview with a family is joining. This process involves the therapist establishing rapport and a sense of trust with the family members. By joining, the therapist aligns themselves with the family and aims to understand their dynamics, beliefs, and issues from their perspective. This initial connection is crucial because it sets the stage for effective intervention and creates a safe environment from which family members can begin to explore their interactions and relationships.

Joining allows the therapist to engage with the family's current experience without judgment, thereby facilitating open communication. Through techniques like active listening, demonstrating empathy, and validating family members' feelings, the therapist fosters a collaborative atmosphere. This step helps to break down barriers and resistance, ultimately leading to a more productive therapeutic process.

While reframing, empathizing, and confronting are all valuable therapeutic strategies, they typically come into play after the initial joining phase has established a solid therapeutic alliance. In essence, effective therapy in this context is predicated on the skillful joining of the therapist to the family system, enabling more profound interventions later in the therapeutic process.