Based on the works of Murray Bowen (Yes, the same man who is behind the Bowenian family therapy), system family therapy looks at the family as a whole unit and is exceptionally brilliant for treating interconnected and interpersonal issues in a family. We’ll discuss in the words below how that happens, and we’ll also discuss some of the systemic family therapy techniques. So, let’s begin:
What is Systemic Therapy?
The systems therapy approach is based on the idea of exploring different elements that provide the foundation of a family. This foundation can also have underlying issues, cracks, and faults, that can be perpetuated by its members’ relationships and feedback loops, which if they are never dealt with in a timely manner, will lead to bigger problems in the family, even the last straw that leads to end. Rather than beginning an introspective journey into the individuals that make up the family, this approach seeks to gain insight into the system of the family and aims to change the situations that stem from it (Rogers & Cooper, 2020; Watson, 2012).
The system family therapy is sort of a juxtaposition of traditional family therapy and systemic therapy. Traditional family therapy tries to resolve the differences in the said unit by throwing out the unsuccessful family therapy approaches and uses the emerging ones, which might be better suited to the issues of a particular family (Watson, 2012).
Read More: The Benefits of Family Therapy: Strengthening Bonds and Improving Well-being
Key Concepts of Systemic Family Therapy
The approach of systemic family therapy is based on eight interlocking concepts, which are in turn based on the works of Murray Bowen (Learn About Bowen Theory — the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, 2025). The main concept is that the family is regarded as a system with interlocking and interconnected parts that produce unique behaviors, which are difficult to study individually (Rogers & Cooper, 2020; Watson, 2012). Keeping in mind that, let’s see the conceptual ideas that populate Bowen’s theory:
- Conceptual triangles: This usually forms the basis of an emotional system, where at least a three-person relationship system exists (essentially a building block of a family).
- Self-differentiation: It is essentially the capability to maintain individuality. People who have high levels of differentiation will not be dependent on anyone for validation to pursue their goals separately while people with low levels of differentiation will need validation from others
- Emotional processes of the nuclear family: Marital conflict, physical dysfunction in a spouse, impairment of one or more children, and emotional distance can arise due to a family’s negative emotional interactions.
- Projection of Issues: Problematic parents have a tendency to project their problems and issues onto their children, which can affect their development and emotional stability leading to problems such as a family history of insomnia.
- Multigenerational transmission: Future generations have a tendency to have lower levels of differentiation likely because people tend to choose partners with similar levels of differentiation as themselves
- Cutting off emotionally: While it is not beneficial to cut off and distance from family members to manage conflicts within a family
Read More: Everything About Experiential Family Therapy
Systemic Family Therapy Techniques
Family therapy approaches suggest that individuals (and their problems) are inherently connected to their relationship networks. Bowen essentially believed that it is important to study the communication patterns in these networks to address individual problems.
The therapies that are based on this theory employ many family systems therapy techniques to cater to the needs of an individual or the entire family in terms of mental health in addition to systemic family therapy:
Couples therapy:
While conflicts can arise in an entire family, the problems that originate between two partners can be treated with the help of couples therapy.
Intergenerational family therapy:
To recognize patterns acquired from previous generations and for the family members to learn new ways of interacting, intergenerational family therapy is used.
Narrative therapy:
In this one, members of the family create a narration around their experiences, situations, behaviors, and roles to better understand themselves and the family unit as a whole, even conditions such as schizophrenia or psychosis.
Psychoeducation:
Members of the family learn how to respond to the mental condition of one or two members of the family. It can be part of psychotherapy.
Structural family therapy:
In this one, the members of the family recognize how their family is structured and find resolutions according to those structures.
All of these approaches have their own sub (and common) systemic family therapy techniques which are founded in the idea of systemic therapy psychology:
A vision statement:
A vision statement is something that is used in systemic family therapy to help the subjects in a family see where they are now and where they can be in the future (Rogers & Cooper, 2020).
Circular questioning:
This is one of those family systems therapy techniques that help with seeing the perspective of others. Here, for example, one family member can ask a member of a couple to look at a situation or problem through the eyes of another (Rogers & Cooper, 2020).
Giving ground:
Frequently, when conflicts arise in a family, there is a perceived battle of sorts between the members. Giving ground is one of the best family systems therapy techniques where one lets the other win in a perceived battle. Stepping down or backing down can help a mental health expert working with a client or a family member engaged with another (Watson, 2012) via:
- Disarming the other person who is consumed with dominating the others
- Avoiding walking into the ambush laid out by the family, for example, a couple may not end up impressing the family because they know the members are against them
- Admitting impotence so that the other person feels important
Read More: Exploring Dysfunctional Family Therapy: Comprehending, Recovering, and Fortifying Resilience
What Type of Issues Can Systemic Family Therapy Can Help With?
The goal of systemic family therapy or even just systemic counseling is to help any member of the family or the family itself become knowledgeable about and fight issues such as these:
- Substance abuse disorder
- Anxiety and stress
- Anger management problems
- Emotional dysfunction stemming from things like divorce or bereavement
- Dysfunctional family and relationships
- Bipolar disorder (Miklowitz & Chung, 2016)
- Clinical depression (Cluxton-Keller & Bruce, 2018)
- Personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder
- Infidelity and divorce
- Issues and conflicts in parenting
- Trauma conditions such as PTSD
In addition to helping resolve the problems described above, systemic family therapy is also helpful in finding resolutions for conflicts that erupt between siblings, parents, children, and family members who are undergoing critical life stages or suffering from debilitating health conditions (Distelberg et al., 2014).
Benefits of the Systemic Family Therapy
A wide range of symptoms or difficulties can be addressed by improving behavioral, emotional, and psychological functioning through systemic family therapy:
- Better functioning of the family as members often gain the empathy and support they need and are craving
- The interpersonal connections between them are improved due to openness, empathy, and honesty in families, which strengthen relationships and improve communication between them
- Greater cohesion as individuals in a family are more prone to developing solutions that make the team stronger and healthier
- Communication problems are also subdued as power imbalances are eliminated because dysfunctional patterns are identified and addressed, clearing the way for stronger relationships
- Cost-effectiveness is the key here because the cost-benefit ratio is better when compared to individual therapy (Crane et al., 2013)
Read More: Can Strategic Family Therapy Help With The Fault Lines In Your Home?
Conclusion
We hope you have understood what systemic family therapy is. We have also laid out some of the systemic interventions that are the underlying ideas behind the different family systems therapy techniques. If you are looking to find a solution in the shape of family therapy or something like marriage therapy at Solid Foundation Psychiatry, book an appointment today. If you want a flexible option then we have also got telepsychiatry.