Systemic therapy is a psychological approach that recognises that emotional and behavioural problems cannot be explained solely by the individual, but by the system of relationships in which they live. Rather than focusing solely on individual problems, it analyses how relationships and communication influence patients’ well-being.
This approach identifies:
Patterns of interaction that can lead to conflict and distress.
Work is done to improve communication and bonds between members of the ‘system’.
Practical strategies are developed to resolve problems and strengthen relationships.
The aim is that, by improving group dynamics, each person can feel more supported and balanced, promoting lasting changes in everyday life.
SYSTEMIC THERAPY
What is systemic therapy?
Key concepts in this model
Systemic therapy draws on various concepts to guide the therapeutic process:
Circular causality: within a system, behaviours influence one another, forming feedback loops. There is no single cause, but rather a repetitive pattern of interaction.
Homeostasis: all systems seek to maintain a balance, even if it is dysfunctional. Therapists must intervene in the rules and roles of the system, not just the symptom.
Subsystems: within a larger system (such as the family, for example) there are subsystems with specific functions (the parental subsystem, which coordinates the rules; the sibling subsystem, where siblings share support and rivalry; and the marital subsystem, where the couple sustains the relationship and decision-making).
Triangles: these form when two people in conflict involve a third party to alleviate the tension between them. It is a natural strategy of human systems, but it perpetuates problems.
Function of the symptom: in systemic therapy, the symptom is not merely an individual problem, but a manifestation that fulfils a function within the system.
