Systemic family therapy
What is systemic family therapy?
Family therapy is a well-known psychotherapeutic approach primarily focused on the family system as a social unit, unlike other psychotherapeutic approaches such as psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral therapy that focus on the individual.
The goals are to improve family functioning, strengthen mutual understanding and emotional support among family members, develop coping skills and strategies for solving problems in life's dilemmas, development and functioning of the family.
The systemic perspective observes the problems of the individual in relation to the different contexts in which people live: as a partner in a couple, as a family member, a person with a special cultural and/or religious affiliation, taking into account socioeconomic circumstances and political processes.
Systemic practice believes that "context" is of the greatest importance for the psychological development and emotional well-being of an individual.
Family therapists usually work with more than one family member in a room, but for example, individual sessions or meetings with parents separated from the children are also offered.
They enable family members to safely express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions, to understand each other's experiences and views, to respect each other's needs, to build family strength and to introduce beneficial changes in their relationships and lives. The systemic perspective in its broadest sense can contribute to the strengthening of solidarity, tolerance, trust and cooperation, which is the basis of a healthy society.
Who can benefit from family therapy and/or systemic practice?
Family therapy can be useful in times of crisis, but also in case of long-term problems. It also serves to prevent problems such as behavioral difficulties, for example developing into delinquency or mental health breakdown.
What problems can systemic therapy solve?
- health problems, especially chronic physical diseases
- psychosomatic problems
- mental health of children and adolescents
- mental health of adults
- psychosexual difficulties
- abuse of alcohol and other substances
- marital problems including issues of separation and divorce
- foster care, adoption and related issues
- family life cycle and transitional life issues
- promoting parenting skills and family functioning
- school-related problems
- work-related problems
- traumatic experiences, loss and grief
- interruption of family life due to social, political and religious conflicts
