What is Family Systems Therapy?

Home » Treatment Therapies » Family Systems Therapy » Page 11

Family Systems Therapy is an approach to family counseling founded by Psychiatrist and Researcher Dr. Murray Bowen in the 1960s. It relies on Bowen’s Family Systems theory, which states that systems, like families, consist of parts affected by one another. This structure means that each family member affects the behaviors of others.

Family Systems Therapy aims to identify these interlocking systems that might result in negative relational patterns and address the causes so family members can relate better to one another.

Family System theory posits that every person can benefit from examining the patterns from their family of origin or the family they grew up with during their formative years. For some people, this could include their biological family, their adoptive family, or other key caregivers present in their early childhood.

While most commonly used in family counseling, counselors also can use Family Systems Therapy in individual or couples counseling.

Your therapist will ask questions about your family of origin and might even ask you to complete a genogram, which is a diagram of your family relationships going back as far as possible. The genogram ranges in detail but usually includes names of ancestors and family members, births, marriages, deaths, and sometimes mental illnesses if known. From there, your counselor might ask you to recall your relationships with your parents and siblings.

Family Systems Therapy helps you understand how your family relationships from childhood impact you today. By identifying emotions you experienced when you were younger regarding the way your family dealt with life, you may begin to get more clarity about the patterns you currently maintain while relating to your family, friends, significant other, or other loved ones. Your therapist then will help you establish more positive, adaptive ways of relating to others, which ultimately leads to growth and healing.

Therapists Who Specialize in Using Family Systems Therapy

My heart breaks every time I see couples who are stuck and running out of hope. "What's going on?" "The world says we're supposed to be okay being alone, but I feel miserable and alone." "What happened to us?" "How did we get here?" "We were never supposed to be those ‘other couples’." Relationships can become painful and unsettling. And disappointing. The good news is relationship injuries can...
Is your child suffering from anxiety, depression or are they acting out and you don't know how to help? Parenting is hard enough as it is, but it can be very overwhelming as a parent when it seems the services your child needs are not available. I am here to help! My goal as a therapist is to create a safe and welcoming environment filled with mutual trust and respect. I utilize an eclectic...
Trauma can be defined as manifestations in both mind and body, stemming from either an isolated painful experience or a recurring theme of pain over the course of one’s life. Through this lens, I utilize an integrated whole-person and trauma-focused therapeutic approach in effort to create space for healing from the adverse life experiences that often interfere with our daily lives. As an...

Joseph A Madrid

Cheyenne

Wyoming

Everyone has struggles or hurdles presented in their lives that sometimes will require an objective opinion. I work collaboratively with people to look at issues from a different perspective. Reaching out to someone for the first time takes tremendous strength of character and courage. I am passionate about this work and it is an honor and pleasure to work with clients who are invested in makin...
It takes courage to seek therapy. As an experienced Mental Health Professional I will support and guide you in this important process. Productive therapy is grounded in a relationship of trust and respect. I create an atmosphere of acceptance and safety to cultivate a positive therapeutic experience. With 30 years of experience as a Clinical Social Worker and therapist, I draw from psycho dynam...
Feeling heard and supported and being understood by your therapist is a critical component of mental health care. Claire is invested in an approach emphasizing a more integrative, dynamic, and holistic approach to mental health. Claire is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Reality Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Creative Arts Therapy, Animal Assisted Thera...
Has your QUALITY OF LIFE diminished. Any transition, no matter how big or small is easy to manage on your own. We are social beings and need support and comfort from those around us. Sometimes this necessary support is not readily available within our usual relationships, and/or sometimes we may not feel heard or understood by those close to us. I believe you have all the answers within you, bu...
TELETHERAPY APPOINTMENTS, I have a profound passion to help clients with life events, transitions, challenges, and their personal growth. I provide a safe environment, positive support, and guidance to help you reach your goals. My practice style is an integrative mix of person-centered, solution focused, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavior, and attachment based therapy. The developme...
As human beings, we all share variations on a similar range of emotions, stressors, responsibilities need for and challenges in relationships. These are universal themes running through all our lives - even when they sometimes show up in unexpected or unusual ways. As the late, great Maya Angelou once said: “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike”. Whether you are seeking guidance i...

Dana Goldenberg

Washington

District of Columbia

I work primarily with: adults, young adults, teenagers, hoping to make lasting positive changes in their lives. I specialize and enjoy working with challenges related to: anxiety, depression, body image issues, issues stemming from low self-worth, perinatal mental health, paternal mental health, fertility issues, relationship issues, sexuality, work-life balance, life transitions, and family...
We are not meant to do life alone. I am willing to be a safe, respectful, and collaborative guide for you, your relationship, or your family as you turn and make sense of your struggles and find your way toward your longings. If you are done relying on attempts at self-improvement, let’s work together to restore personal, emotional, and relational well-being. A specific problem or crisis may ha...
Life's challenges and transitions can feel overwhelming. I work to create a safe environment for my clients in which they can talk about their feelings, vulnerabilities, and goals. I believe the first step towards feeling better is a connection, and that trust, empathy, and validation of one's personal experience are essential qualities of a therapeutic relationship. During COVID-19, I have fou...
Our subconscious mind holds the memories and perceptions of every experience from childhood to adulthood. And as we continue our journey, the unresolved past continues to negatively affect our bodies, influence our thoughts, behaviors and everyday life on an unconscious level. We may not understand why we feel or react as we do to certain situations or why the same patterns show up every time a...

Shannon G Barousse

Mesa

Arizona

From our beginning we are wired to seek and have connection with others. However we can become stuck with those we hold closest. This "stuckness" can present itself in the form of communication breakdowns, anxiety, depression as well as many other feelings that leave us feeling uncomfortable in our own lives. I provide a non judgmental space for you to explore how you came to be in this place a...
We hear "Life is Short" however, life can seem very long when you and your loved ones are struggling with life's challenges. Clients dealing with relationship issues, grief, mental health, developmental delays, behavioral problems, parenting issues, divorce, and more, may benefit by working collaboratively with a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I offer Family Therapy with a systemic...