A succinct presentation of the Systemic Therapy model : a holistic approach focusing on relationships & interactions within systems (family, group).
Systemic therapy is a holistic approach to psychotherapy that focuses on the relationships and interactions between people within a system (family, group, organization). In contrast to traditional therapies that focus on the individual, systemic therapy argues that problems are not exclusively the result of “internal” individual pathologies, but can reflect dysfunctional patterns of interaction within the individual’s system.
This logic is reasonable, because man is by nature a social being who is born and raised in a family context and a broader social context. Therefore, he evolves and co-shapes his personality and character dynamically in relation to his environment.
Man is by nature a social and political being. He who can live away from human societies is a beast or a god.
Aristotle
Central to systemic therapy is the understanding that individuals are not isolated entities, but are deeply embedded in a network of relationships that shape their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
By analyzing these – usually family – patterns and promoting healthier communication, systemic therapy aims to empower individuals and families/couples, helping them create more functional relationships and achieve long-term change.
Article contents
The systemic model of psychotherapy has interdisciplinary roots, particularly in Biology, Cybernetics, and Systems Theory. A key element in its foundation is the idea that all organisms and their environments are interconnected systems, where changes in one part affect the whole.
In fact, they are so interconnected and interdependent that the “linear” concept of cause and effect, that is, that there is a specific source of the problem in the system, is excluded. But in a family (or a group), as a dynamic and complexly interdependent system, causality is cyclical and not linear. Thus, systemic theory since the mid-20th century introduced a holistic lens that focuses on relationships and not exclusively on individual pathology.
In this area, scientists from other disciplines than mental health laid the foundations for systemic therapy in family dynamics and communication patterns. From the 1950s onwards, scientists from different and often disparate scientific fields began to focus on the context within which beings operate and observe the interactions between the parts.
Ludwig von Bertalanffy, a biologist, began formulating the General Systems Theory as early as 1920, which he essentially worked on throughout his career and finally published in 1968. Arguing that biological and social phenomena can be understood through complex, interconnected systems.
Gregory Bateson, often considered the father of systems thinking in therapy, was an anthropologist and linguist who applied the principles of Cybernetics to human behavior, emphasizing that our communication patterns form complex, often subconscious systems. Bateson’s concept of the “double bind” illustrates how conflicting communication signals within the family could contribute to conditions such as schizophrenia. This groundbreaking theory, which he developed with his colleagues at the Palo Alto Institute in the 1960s, transformed the understanding of mental health within the family.
Another key figure in the field of psychiatry was Murray Bowen, who between 1950 and 1970 developed Family Systems Theory, focusing on the intergenerational transmission of stress and emotional processes within the family. His theory emphasizes how unresolved emotional attachments within family units contribute to individual psychological struggles. Bowen’s techniques, such as “differentiation of the self,” encouraged clients to balance individuality and connectedness in relationships, thereby promoting healthier family dynamics.
Virginia Satir, also around the same time, added a humanistic dimension to systemic therapy, emphasizing self-esteem and emotional expression within family units. Satir’s approach focused on uncovering and reshaping dysfunctional communication patterns to create healthier and more resilient families. Similarly, the Milan School, led by Mara Selvini Palazzoli, expanded on these ideas by focusing on systemic hypotheses that examine how a client’s difficulties can serve as an adaptive function within their family structure.
Systemic therapy uses a variety of techniques to encourage clients to reframe their problems within a relational context. Techniques such as circular questioning, developed by the Milanese School, explore how family members view each other’s behavior and contribute to shared narratives. Externalization—made popular by postmodern systemic therapists such as Michael White—encourages clients to see their problems as separate from their identity, helping them to approach their problems more objectively.
Another common technique in systemic therapy is the genogram, which visually represents family relationships and patterns across generations. This tool allows clients to observe and reflect on inherited dynamics, promoting greater insight into recurring patterns of behavior or relationships.
Read the article about the genogram
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