Tracking circularities – An invitation to explore relational patterns

This paper re-visits a familiar family therapy technique, ‘tracking’ which is often regarded to be part of the first phase of family therapy and associated especially with strategic approaches. We suggest that it is consistent with constructivist approaches to family therapy and can be employed in a collaborative way to co-construct and enrich relational narratives. Ideas from attachment theory and neurobiology are integrated to show that circularities are also influenced by the emotional states and physiological arousal of family members. An attachment narrative therapy (ANT) approach is employed to describe how tracking can be understood and employed to promote changes at multiple levels, including attachment relationships. Families are encouraged to adopt an ‘observer’ position on their relationships and in turn to become authors of their interactions in contemplating ways they can chose new avenues of actions. Details of the procedure of engaging in tracking with individuals and families are described with clinical examples.