What is systemic psychotherapy and how does it work?

Systemic psychotherapy is based on systemic theory or theory of systems. According to this theory, individual development affects and is affected by the development of the systems to which the individual belongs (eg family, work environment, groups of friends). In other words, the characteristics that the individual adopts or the behaviors that they exhibit influence and are influenced by the systems that surround them.

 

In systemic psychotherapy the client is treated as a participant in a network of relationships and not as an individual person. Relationships, roles and positions are examined and the goal is better understanding of the self. For example, the members of a family mutually influence and define each other, so that it becomes impossible to examine, understand and change the behavior of one independently of the behavior of the other.

 

Systemic psychotherapy does not target the causes of a problem, but helps us understand how the person relates to their environment and offers the possibility to create new, more functional relationships that promote growth. It is applied individually, but also to couples, families and groups.