Systemic therapy
A problem never exists in isolation. There are always people, relationships and patterns around you that play a part. Systemic therapy looks at the whole picture.
What is systemic therapy?
Systemic therapy, also called relationship and family therapy, studies how people interact with each other and how that interaction keeps problems in place or makes them stronger. Instead of looking at the individual alone, systemic therapy focuses on the system: the family, the relationship, the wider family or another network of people.
The starting point is that problems always hang together with their context. Relationship problems are the result of patterns two people have built up together. Tension with your parents or with a colleague follows the same logic. Systemic therapy makes those patterns visible and helps to change them.
Systemic therapy can be given one to one, but also with couples or with several people involved together. The provider adapts to your situation.
Scientific basis: systemic therapy is based on decades of research into family and relationship dynamics (Minuchin, 1974; Haley, 1976). The Dutch Association for Relationship and Family Therapy (NVRG) works with evidence-based guidelines. Family therapy has been shown to be effective for eating disorders and family conflicts in several meta-analyses.
Who is it for?
Related complaints
Related treatments
Frequently asked questions
Does everyone involved have to take part?
How does systemic therapy differ from couples therapy?
Can I come on my own?
Ready for a first conversation?
Book an intake with a certified provider.
Sources: Minuchin (1974), Families and Family Therapy · Haley (1976), Problem Solving Therapy · NVRG systemic therapy guidelines