There are two types of live, in-session material on which structural family therapy focuses—
enactments and spontaneous behavior sequences. An enactment occurs when the therapist stimulates the family to demonstrate how they handle a particular type of problem. Enactments
commonly begin when the therapist suggests that specific subgroups begin to discuss a particular problem. As they do so, the therapist observes the family process. Working with enactments requires three operations. First, the therapist defines or recognizes a sequence. For
example, the therapist observes that when mother talks to her daughter they talk as peers,
and little brother gets left out. Second, the therapist directs an enactment. For example, the
therapist might say to the mother, “Talk this over with your kids.” Third, and most important, the therapist must guide the family to modify the enactment. If mother talks to her
children in such a way that she doesn't take responsibility for major decisions, the therapist
must guide her to do so as the family continues the enactment. All the therapist’s moves should
create new options for the family, options for more productive interactions.