There are five different approaches to psychotherapy and these are affiliated to the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP). The Clanwilliam Institute is staffed by therapists who are trained in one of these modalities i.e. family and systemic psychotherapy. This systemic approach involves working with individuals, children, couples or the wider family network. The focus is on the client’s varied contexts and the connection with these enables a difference in the way the problem is viewed. It promotes alternate ways of understanding that enable conversations to happen in a manner that is inclusive of other viewpoints. It is an approach that attends to belief systems and connections between family members. It also facilitates better understanding between people in the social context and within the work environment.
What is different about Family and Systemic Psychotherapy?
Family and Systemic Psychotherapists seek to engage the clients in a collaborative exploration of their dilemma by focusing on the beliefs, and the interactions which maintain the difficulty or which prevent its resolution. By understanding the client’s environment in the contexts of the biological, social and psychological dimensions, choices are introduced, conflicts are transcended and new patterns of understanding are generated. It is recognized that people are influenced by each other’s belief system. A belief system is communicated through language, culture and a value system that becomes one’s lived experience; such experience is constantly in flux.
We all experience problems and difficulties at some times in our lives. Sometimes our best efforts seem to have the effect of making things worse. In such instances seeking professional assistance can be the most appropriate action. Individuals go through different stages of development and it is similar for their relationships; they change over time. These changes sometimes give rise to stress and a range of problems may be experienced. Sometimes, our lives may be thrown into chaos. We may experience anxiety, self-doubts, destructive feelings or depression. These disturbing experiences may be triggered by events that are manageable for others, and even for us in somewhat different circumstances. Such problems are frequently related to early life and usually early family aspects of our lives. Our difficulty in trusting others, exercising choice or living with an adequate level of autonomy may be related to not having had sufficiently secure, loving or affirming experiences in our early family relationships. More recent traumas, abuse, oppression or unresolved conflict may also contribute to distressing inner feelings, which can be successfully resolved in Family Therapy.
Systemic Psychotherapy facilitates a different approach with Individuals, Couples and Families in that it helps people to understand how their problems are maintained and how they can best be resolved, enabling them to identify and use their own resources, developing their personal integrity and interpersonal effectiveness. We may be strongly influenced to find ways of being which contrast with some of our significant life experiences, or we may repeat our experiences, often with the assumption that this is how the world is, and how everyone should be. Therapy challenges the well worn patterns of understanding and responding in which the problem has become embedded. It enhances participant’s awareness of distress signals and how to respond to them, exploring new ways of dealing with interpersonal and individual difficulties in a manner that is open to change through conversations and reflection. There are limits to our previous learning. Exploring new ways and new beliefs opens up a panorama of possibilities.
Who may attend?
Systemic psychotherapists may encourage the inclusion of others in the process. With relationship problems, we usually prefer to include the main participants. It is not uncommon for parents to successfully attend a series of consultations regarding one of their children, without the child being present. Extended family members may be invited or partners or others who are significantly involved in the client’s life and difficulty. It is also common for individuals to attend alone. Agreeing who will attend is usually an integral part of the exploratory process.
Systemic psychotherapists may also apply their systemic perspective to organisations such as schools, voluntary agencies and the corporate sector. Systemic consultations explore intra organisational problems by addressing and improving procedures and practices which influence their working relationships. The systemic consultant’s focus will, again, include the context of the problem and can result in appreciating and fine tuning the ways in which the organisation communicates and responds to internal change.
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Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy:
There are five different approaches to psychotherapy and these are affiliated to the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP). The Clanwilliam Institute is staffed by therapists who are trained in one of these modalities i.e. family and systemic psychotherapy. This systemic approach involves working with individuals, children, couples or the wider family network. The focus is on the client’s varied contexts and the connection with these enables a difference in the way the problem is viewed. It promotes alternate ways of understanding that enable conversations to happen in a manner that is inclusive of other viewpoints. It is an approach that attends to belief systems and connections between family members. It also facilitates better understanding between people in the social context and within the work environment.
What is different about Family and Systemic Psychotherapy?
Family and Systemic Psychotherapists seek to engage the clients in a collaborative exploration of their dilemma by focusing on the beliefs, and the interactions which maintain the difficulty or which prevent its resolution. By understanding the client’s environment in the contexts of the biological, social and psychological dimensions, choices are introduced, conflicts are transcended and new patterns of understanding are generated. It is recognized that people are influenced by each other’s belief system. A belief system is communicated through language, culture and a value system that becomes one’s lived experience; such experience is constantly in flux.
We all experience problems and difficulties at some times in our lives. Sometimes our best efforts seem to have the effect of making things worse. In such instances seeking professional assistance can be the most appropriate action. Individuals go through different stages of development and it is similar for their relationships; they change over time. These changes sometimes give rise to stress and a range of problems may be experienced. Sometimes, our lives may be thrown into chaos. We may experience anxiety, self-doubts, destructive feelings or depression. These disturbing experiences may be triggered by events that are manageable for others, and even for us in somewhat different circumstances. Such problems are frequently related to early life and usually early family aspects of our lives. Our difficulty in trusting others, exercising choice or living with an adequate level of autonomy may be related to not having had sufficiently secure, loving or affirming experiences in our early family relationships. More recent traumas, abuse, oppression or unresolved conflict may also contribute to distressing inner feelings, which can be successfully resolved in Family Therapy.
Systemic Psychotherapy facilitates a different approach with Individuals, Couples and Families in that it helps people to understand how their problems are maintained and how they can best be resolved, enabling them to identify and use their own resources, developing their personal integrity and interpersonal effectiveness. We may be strongly influenced to find ways of being which contrast with some of our significant life experiences, or we may repeat our experiences, often with the assumption that this is how the world is, and how everyone should be. Therapy challenges the well worn patterns of understanding and responding in which the problem has become embedded. It enhances participant’s awareness of distress signals and how to respond to them, exploring new ways of dealing with interpersonal and individual difficulties in a manner that is open to change through conversations and reflection. There are limits to our previous learning. Exploring new ways and new beliefs opens up a panorama of possibilities.
Who may attend?
Systemic psychotherapists may encourage the inclusion of others in the process. With relationship problems, we usually prefer to include the main participants. It is not uncommon for parents to successfully attend a series of consultations regarding one of their children, without the child being present. Extended family members may be invited or partners or others who are significantly involved in the client’s life and difficulty. It is also common for individuals to attend alone. Agreeing who will attend is usually an integral part of the exploratory process.
Systemic psychotherapists may also apply their systemic perspective to organisations such as schools, voluntary agencies and the corporate sector. Systemic consultations explore intra organisational problems by addressing and improving procedures and practices which influence their working relationships. The systemic consultant’s focus will, again, include the context of the problem and can result in appreciating and fine tuning the ways in which the organisation communicates and responds to internal change.