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
When the pain of your past cripples your ability to function and you're worried about your future. When your parenting skills seem to be sputtering out of control, understand that I help individuals and families, struggling with raising children, to feel less stressed out, more confident in their parenting abilities and provide you with the inner resources to solve problems and regain personal...
Our lives do not always go the way we planned. We all experience challenges and struggles and find ourselves searching for relief. I view therapy as a time to heal, grow, change, discover, and build. I have worked with clients to address such concerns as self-esteem, depression, anxiety, family and relationship issues, parenting, work and career concerns, life transitions, stress and coping, an...
Sandra Gormon-Brown
Spokane
Washington
Sandra Gormon-Brown
Spokane
Washington
I am a Certified Attachment Focused Therapist with 25 years of experience working with children and families who's lives have been touched by the child welfare system, foster care and adoption. I specialize in the treatment of attachment issues/disorders, adult and pediatric trauma, and pre/post adoption issues using a variety of evidence based and promising practice techniques including Trauma...
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Innovative Family Therapy
Louisville
Kentucky
Innovative Family Therapy
Louisville
Kentucky
Life is full of challenges and sometimes you may feel overwhelmed and lost at what to do next! LET US HELP! We provide a safe and comfortable atmosphere for you to navigate through life's challenges. We have an awesome group of therapists ready to provide you with support and guidance through your journey. Our office can provide counseling for individuals, couples, & families ages 4+. WE ARE...
Angela Guerrero
Portland
Oregon
Angela Guerrero
Portland
Oregon
Do you feel as though you are your own worst enemy? When in the midst of a problem or stressful situation, does it seem like you make matters worse by being self-critical or saying self-defeating things to yourself? When we are going through something painful or difficult to accept, our internal dialogue sometimes becomes judgmental and self-critical, causing us to feel overwhelmed and doubt ou...
Stephanie Foxman
Atlanta
Georgia
Stephanie Foxman
Atlanta
Georgia
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The Center for PEACE
Houston
Texas
The Center for PEACE
Houston
Texas
Searching for PEACE?... We Have It. Imagine having the guidance to access Inner Peace, support for resolve and courage to accept change. The Center for P.E.A.C.E. will assist those needing parenting education, assessments, counseling and evaluations. Our team is able to provide trauma focus therapy, marital counseling, executive coaching, forensic/addiction counseling, play therapy and gender...
With over 20 years of counseling experience with women, children, teens, and first responders, I use a client-centered approach to help clients heal, grow, and live. I offer grief counseling, career counseling, and focused care for issues, including stress and trauma, pediatric death, anxiety, grief, marital issues, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation. I am a life-long learner, and have trai...
Amanda Bevacqua
Chicago
Illinois
Amanda Bevacqua
Chicago
Illinois
The path to healing is a collaborative effort that the client and therapist engage in together. I believe that my clients are capable, intelligent human beings who actually know quite a bit about what they need to feel whole and happy. I have a special interest in working with couples, relational issues, and parenting issues. I am an "integrative" therapist. Instead of ascribing to one school o...
I am a human being, mom, wife, daughter, friend, a Spanish Bilingual/Bi-cultural Licensed Psychotherapist in this Universe. Love to help individuals, couples, families, and run groups as well. I provide brief treatment (life is too short to expend in years of therapy) Offer crisis intervention, Life Coaching, Career Development and Meditation for those who are interested in it. My client isn't...
Caryn Shein Psychotherapy
Los Angeles
California
Caryn Shein Psychotherapy
Los Angeles
California
Accepting new clients! It is not always easy separating our personal lives from our professional lives when the boundaries we try to maintain in order to excel in both spheres often bleed into each other. You want to bring the best of yourself to all facets of your life, but when issues such as substance abuse, depression, marital strife, family problems, & conflicts with co-workers are so...
Braden Counseling Center (BCC) specializes in counseling individuals, couples and families in various stages of life. With flexible scheduling, Sycamore, Rochelle, and Elgin locations, and a free initial consultation, BCC makes it easy for you to make the first step toward change. We accept various insurance types, and also offer a sliding scale for those who qualify. BCC offers a personalized...
Are you unsure of what's best for you and your family? Do you wish you had someone you could talk to and trust with your worries? As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, with over 20 years experience, I can help. You may be struggling with issues related to yourself, your job or your family but you don't need to do this alone. Over the years, I have helped clients with stress and anxiety, persona...