Systemic Therapy

Systemic Therapy starts with the philosophy that the problem is not located in an individual. Problems occur between individuals, family members, within political, economic and institutional systems and contexts – but not simply inside a person.

Systemic Therapy

Read our article “How to Access Therapy for Your Child” to understand how we work with families and the child’s network, to create positive systemic changes, even when the child isn’t engaging in therapy directly. Here we’re using the context and environment to work with the system around the child to improve their outcomes.

For family and individual systemic therapy, the family tree or more specifically, mapping out the family genogram is one of the most important tools for assessment and therapy. Genograms are special ways to capture the family patterns that emerge across generations. There’s special symbols for gender, conflict and closeness in relationships, relationship status, a family household, as well as death, miscarriage, health and mental health issues and more. Dates and special events can also be captured as well as non-biological relatives and other close relationships.

Resources

Listen in on how culture, identity, discrimination and political difficulties impacted “Bart” in his therapy. It took almost two years to reveal to his therapist that he was from an Irish Traveller community due to the stigma. See how thinking systemically about these issues liberates and empowers him. It leads to his recovery, training and mentorship of other men who may be feeling marginalised or suicidal too.

Can you draw your family genogram using the attached tool with these symbols? What intergenerational patterns have you observed. Who is absent and who do you miss or wonder about? How have these relationships impacted belief systems in the family and who you are today? Feel free to share your family genogram with us in your first consultation.