Family systems therapy is a therapeutic technique that thinks about the family as a single, emotional unit. Each action and family member affects the others. Family systems therapy focuses on families and couples in intimate relationships with a goal of nurturing change and development. It tends to view change in terms of the systems of interaction between family members. It emphasizes family relationships as an important factor in psychological health. A professional trained in this technique will work on understanding the relationships within a family, and create a family history that will be the foundation for how current behaviors are viewed. No individual can be understood in isolation from the others in the familial unit. Issues shared among family members, such as substance abuse, depression, eating disorders, anxiety, and schizophrenia are good candidates for a family systems approach. Think this approach might work for you? Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s family systems specialists today.
I am trained as a couple and family therapist--but I bring in this perspective when I'm working with individuals, as well. To me this means considering the different places you exist--the family you grew up in, your family of creation, friendships, workplaces, communities, and cultures--and working to understand how all of these parts of your life impact you as a whole.
— Frances Mican, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in , MNUnderstanding family patterns can help us understand how we got to where we are today. Along with attachment theory, I use family systems to help clients build a picture of their past so they understand who they are in their relationships today, and can make choices about how they want to grow in relation to themselves and others.
— Brandie Sellers, Licensed Professional Counselor in Timnath, COI am adept with working with in family and the complicated patterns of behavior that can exist between members. I am particularly adept at help adult parent/adult child estrangement - helping the parent understand why a child would choose estrangement, and working towards healing that relationship.
— Sean Hutchens, Licensed Professional Counselor in Lowell, ARWe explore the patterns and structures present within the family that impact relational patterns that can lead to individual behavioral and emotional struggles, as well as communication challenges. We work to build healthier patterns of interaction, and reinforce healthy structure within the family to improve the function of both the individuals and family as a whole.
— Wendy Youngsmith, Counselor in Centennial, COIndividuals do not exist in isolation and are intricately connected within the complex web of family dynamics. I believe that understanding these intricate relationships and patterns is crucial for promoting healing and awareness of how your family of origin, family dynamics and upbringing, have influenced you today.
— Lauren Schechter, Psychotherapist in Philadelphia, PAFamily systems therapy is a great way to improve how your family interacts and supports each other. By looking at how everyone fits together, it helps spot patterns that might be causing tension or conflict. This approach not only helps with individual issues but also boosts overall family communication and connection. In the end, it can lead to a happier, more harmonious family life.
— CoTenacious Therapy, Therapist in Ellicott City, MDI graduated with distinction from my Master's program in the study of family systems. Where traditional psychology looks inward towards the individual, family systems says the individual cannot be known until we know what systems they belong to. These systems start with the family, but also expand into community, state, country, and all manner of cultural systems. Exploring through a systems lens can often help an individual understand their identity in a stronger way.
— Timothy Rasmussen, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Intern in Seattle, WAIn my work with couples, I utilize the family systems approach to help them navigate their negative cycles of interaction. I've learned through my study and experience that couples often repeat the same conflict patterns without understanding why they do it. Mapping out their cycle of interaction helps them understand what their needs, wants, and desires are in a relationship with a loved one.
— Richard Golosinskiy, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Camas, WAFamily systems therapy is a great way to improve how your family interacts and supports each other. By looking at how everyone fits together, it helps spot patterns that might be causing tension or conflict. This approach not only helps with individual issues but also boosts overall family communication and connection. In the end, it can lead to a happier, more harmonious family life.
— CoTenacious Therapy, Therapist in Ellicott City, MDMy approach to therapy is warm, non-judgmental, collaborative, and conversational. The theoretical orientations I generally work from include family systems, structural and symbolic experiential. Furthermore, I often incorporate additional concepts and approaches to best meet the needs of my clients. I use multiple modalities of counseling, teaching, learning, and healing and incorporate various psycho-social-educational models within a culture and gender-sensitive framework.
— Issy Kleiman, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Burien, WAI received specific training in understanding how each member can impact a family system and have worked on balancing out a system in the best interest of each family member.
— Martin Avellaneda, Licensed Mental Health CounselorWhen dysfunction and chaos characterize the atmosphere in the home everyone suffers. Children feel it is their fault the family is out of control and often try to meet their needs on their own, while other family members are preoccupied. Creating a safe space for our family and learning tools to set boundaries gives family members time to reduce their stress and tension. Therapy offers an opportunity to relearn and unlearn ways of relating that no longer serve us.
— Barbara Beck, Marriage & Family Therapist in Leawood, KSWe all exist within a group, a family, or a community! The family system lens provides us with a visual map of our emotions, communication interaction patterns, and directions. We will see clearly where the boundaries need to be rebuilt, where the wall needs to be brought down a little bit, and where it needs to be renovated and made more cozy!
— Chao Zhao, Art Therapist in Pasadena, CAI specialize in family systems therapy, exploring how family dynamics, roles, and communication patterns shape individual behaviors and relationships. By addressing these interconnected systems, we work to resolve conflicts, enhance understanding, and strengthen bonds. This collaborative approach empowers families to create healthier interactions, promoting growth, harmony, and well-being for every member.
— Dawn Holiski, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist in West Hollywood, CAIn my work with families experiencing relational conflict, my clients find that employing an approach rooted in attachment theory allows me to help them learn about the communication patterns within the family unit. Through this work, members of the family typically report that they understand where their own communication patterns come from, how their family system operates as a whole, and their role in improving communication within that system.
— Nick Riley, Educational Psychologist in , CAEven if you are coming for individual or couples therapy, I believe that it is important to understand how your upbringing and family environment affects you now. My belief is that we can understand and, therefore, change the present moment when we understand its connection to our past beliefs and habits.
— Dr. Aileen Fullchange, Psychologist in , CAI have taken several trainings by top clinicians in the field and have integrated this approach into many of my sessions throughout my time as a counselor.
— Martin Avellaneda, Licensed Mental Health CounselorIn my work with couples, I've learned that many of them get stuck in the same conflict patterns. After studying and learning about family systems, I help couples identify those negative interaction cycles and where they stem from. This creates a pathway to creating a new interaction cycle that contributes to greater intimacy and improved communication.
— Richard Golosinskiy, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Camas, WAThe goal of Ego State Therapy is to facilitate communication and collaboration among internal parts of self, fostering a sense of harmony and integration within the individual. Rather than viewing internal conflicts as a battle to be won or lost, this approach emphasizes compassion, curiosity, and understanding towards all parts of the self.
— Lydia Carrick EMDR Intensives, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in SEATTLE, WA