Family System Therapy is a form of psychotherapy of a more complex level compared to   individual and couples therapy and it seeks to reduce distress and conflict by improving the systems of interactions between family members or individuals who share the same eco-subsystem (workplace, school, community).

The benefits of System Family Therapy  are multiple:  from improving communication to enhancing relationships and strengthening bonds, to improving self-esteem  and creating a state of  healthy well-being for the participants.

The role of the therapist

This form of therapy  involves the presence in the therapeutic room of all the parties involved in the conflict, meaning that the therapist is in charge with the coordination of the entire process and change. The role of the therapist is complex and demands trained therapeutic skills in active listening and distributive attention, sharp observation abilities , co- coordination of and attunement to a co-evolving process with  dynamic  multiple layers of interaction .

We speak about vertical and horizontal attunement in therapeutic terms, which means that in a therapeutic circle , every participant  is found in a permanent exercise of self -exploring thoughts and reflections ( vertical line) whilst remaining coupled to the interaction and connection with the other participants in the conversation. Together with the participant, the therapist engages himself in the same process ( of vertical and horizontal attunement) while he is handling multiple roles  as  facilitator of the process , mediator, leader, or intervener .

Methods used

Dialogical Feedback. In our practice at ERIMIS we employ a repertoire of methods to explore and identify family dynamics with their  multiple subsystems and roles. We use this process to assess the level of concerns of the family members by applying-, for example,  the Worries Questionnaire ( Rober and van Tricht, 2015) as pre-assessment tool and other assessment approaches.

Narrative Therapy. In diagnosis and intervention we  work consistently  with the  Narrative Approach to  help individuals deconstruct their  dominant story and position themselves outside the “problematisation circle”, to observe the problem and  help them re-create connections with each other from a new perspective, thereby developing a healthy input and frame of analysis.

Transactional Analysis is also an extremely useful tool  we use in the analysis of transactions in communication,  helping  family members acknowledge their mal-adaptative  Ego State positions, in order to break up  the cycle of cross transactions and to learn  new behavioral patterns of communication which will result in growth.

The reason to seek Family System Therapy is when dealing with:

    • Conflicts and fights
    • Clashing norms, rules and values in blended families
    • Conflictual parenting and positions in child rearing
    • Adjusting to new (born or relocated) family members -, negotiating roles and positions
    • Transgenerational and intergenerational conflicts and trauma
    • Separation or Divorce
    •  Mourning and loss
    • Relocation
    • Dealing with imparities or mental health issues in the family

If you recognize yourself in one of the situations mentioned above and you need help in working out your difficulties in your family circle, or if you have specific questions about  system  family therapy or need information on a particular aspect, book an appointment free of charge  with us!