What is systemic therapy?
Systemic therapy views people as part of a system. All people in a system are directly interrelated – for example in a family, partnership, school or workplace. Changes in a system therefore affect all members. Dysfunctional relationships or unfavorable communication patterns within the system can affect the mental health of individual members.
Systemic therapists therefore attribute a person’s problems to a disruption in the system. Unlike other types of therapy, however, the focus is not on finding the influences that cause illness. This is because in systemic therapy, the therapist assumes that every disorder also fulfills a specific purpose in the system. Together with the patient, he tries to uncover the function of the symptoms within the system.
Systemic therapy can also take place in an individual setting. The attachment figures are then not present, but the therapist can work vicariously with symbols, for example, in order to involve the attachment figures.
Origin in family therapy
Systemic counseling: Definition
What is systemic counseling? Systemic counseling methods are similar to those of systemic therapy because they follow the same basic idea: to solve problems, they start with the system. Systemic therapy differs from counseling in that psychological suffering is dealt with as part of therapy. Systemic counseling, on the other hand, focuses on everyday problems and supports the person concerned in the concrete implementation of goals and in solving problems. Systemic counseling is therefore often of shorter duration than systemic therapy.
Systemic supervision
Systemic supervision also plays an important role, particularly in psychosocial and clinical institutions. For example, a supervisor supports counselors or psychologists in their profession by reflecting on their work. Systemic supervision can take place both in an individual setting and in a group. Supervision is now also used in companies, for example to improve communication processes in teams.
Systemic coaching
The terms “systemic consulting” and “systemic coaching” are not legally protected. People who would like to consult such a consultant or coach privately should therefore pay attention to the professional qualification. Graduate psychologists or psychologists with a Master’s degree (Psychologe M.Sc.) have undergone professionally qualified and recognized training. Educators and social pedagogues/social workers also frequently work as systemic consultants or coaches.
When do you do systemic therapy?
Systemic therapy can be used to deal with a wide variety of life issues. Starting with professional crises through to coping with psychological disorders. Systemic therapy is considered an effective treatment option for affective disorders such as depression, eating disorders, addictions, schizophrenia and psychosomatic illnesses. Children and adolescents also benefit from systemic therapy.
Like most therapies, systemic therapy only makes sense if the patient is willing to accept it. This includes a willingness to look at the exact processes in systems, such as the family. For patients whose problems are not related to systems, another form of therapy may be more suitable.
What do you do in systemic therapy?
The therapist focuses on the existing resources that the patient and their caregivers bring with them. Those affected often have skills that they have not previously used or have used incorrectly. This could be the ability to listen well, to settle disputes or to assert themselves.
For the treatment of mental disorders, the therapist also explores what function the symptoms have in the system. An example would be a depressed mother who is a single parent and is afraid that her son might leave her. Her depression contributes to her adult son not moving out because he is worried about her.
However, this does not mean that the therapist is accusing the mother of malicious intent. Those affected are usually not aware of the effects in the system. If those affected understand the connections and see the meaning of their symptoms in a system, they can cope with them more easily.
The therapist uses the following systemic therapy methods, among others, to make the connections in the system and alternative solutions visible:
Systemic therapy: Circular questions
Systemic therapy: genogram
To give the therapist an insight into the family structure, he asks the family to draw a genogram. In the genogram, the family can not only draw their family tree, but also use different lines to represent the relationships between them. Thick lines can express a strong bond and broken lines a conflict. The aim of family therapy is to uncover rigid patterns and entrenched thoughts. This opens up new possibilities for dealing with the conflicts.
Systemic therapy: family sculpture
Another systemic approach in systemic therapy is the family sculpture. A family member positions the members in the room as he or she sees the relationship between the family members. For example, family members who get on well with each other would stand close together. Conflicts become clear when people are positioned with their backs to each other.
This method illustrates how a family member perceives the family and can trigger strong feelings in everyone involved. The therapist then guides the person to set up the family as they would like the situation to be. The family sculpture can help to change the dynamics in the family.
Systemic therapy: family constellation
The patient then positions the people in the room according to their family picture. He then sits at the edge and can observe the interaction from outside. The therapist asks the people positioned how they feel in their position. Although the participants do not know the patient’s personal history, the dynamics are often similar to those that actually prevail in the family. When individuals change their position, the dynamics also change. In this way, possible solutions can be tried out.
Family constellations are a controversial method. Criticism of it arose from the work of therapists who were not sufficiently trained for family constellations or who exploited this method to their advantage. Also, such therapists sometimes do not have the open, respectful and unbiased attitude that the systemic therapist should adopt for the benefit of his patient.
What are the risks of systemic therapy?
In systemic therapy, the therapist involves important attachment figures in the therapy process. If existing problems in the family system, for example, are discussed openly, new tensions and problems can arise.
The success of systemic psychotherapy depends on various factors. A good relationship between the therapist and the patient is particularly important. If you as a patient do not feel comfortable in therapy, you should talk to your therapist about it and, if necessary, look for another therapist.
What do I need to consider after systemic therapy?
After the therapy sessions, it is advisable to take time to process the issues discussed. Strongly emotional issues often arise during therapy. Give yourself and the other people time to sort out their feelings.
It is also important that the content of the therapy sessions is not used to reproach other people for their mistakes. Many people find it very difficult to talk about their feelings in front of others. Treating each other with respect therefore also has a positive effect on the therapy.
If the problems are still present after the end of therapy, you can talk to your therapist about extending the therapy. If you notice that psychological problems are occurring, you should definitely contact a therapist again – either for a new systemic therapy (possibly now in an individual setting if it was previously a group setting) or another form of therapy.