Systemic therapy seeks to understand the individual in relationships with others, rather than in isolation. It is used to identify and explore deeply entrenched patterns within an individual's relationships and between family members rather than to focus on problems located within just one individual. All people are embedded in their context and are part of a larger unit or system, such as, a couple, a family, or an organization.

During the therapeutic process, we explore your perspectives on your relationships in order to understand the problems you are experiencing. This approach helps facilitate better communication and understanding with others. It can help couples and families to change, develop and resolve conflict.

Some of the issues or situations where one could benefit from systemic therapy are :

・Anxiety, depression or low self-esteem

・Work-related problems

・Relationship difficulties :

including lack of communication, separation and divorce

・Promoting parenting skills and interaction among

family members

・School-related problems

・Chronic physical illnesses and psychosomatic problems

・Alcohol and other substance abuse

・Traumatic experiences, loss and bereavement

Systemic Therapy

Techniques used in the systemic style of therapy:

• Reframing

• Circular questioning

• Giving exercises to do in session/at home

• Employing "Floating Objects", such as :

The creation of the family myth, the genogram,

the river of life ...

The goal of using these techniques is to open up dialogue, bring awareness, facilitate understanding, create change and move towards healing.

One technique that is always used is the genogram. During your therapy sessions, we will construct your genogram. Looking at your family through the genogram allows patterns, forgotten stories, traumas, resources, in short, your family history, to emerge.

It is basically a subjective approach to creating a family tree that is informed by your emotional point of view. Certain factual information will be noted (e.g., substance abuse, mental health issues, relationships, births/deaths, etc.) but it is your recollection of emotional configurations and an understanding of how you see yourself in the current family system that will help guide much of the therapy.

Seeing your family history in this way can bring forth new awareness and perspective on current personal and family situations. Through this process you may see you are no longer alone and that there are connections in relation to your ancestors. Seeking out and creating connections is important to creating flow, possibility and balance between yourself and others.