Introduction
Family therapy is any psychotherapeutic attempt that primarily focuses on changing the interactions among family members and seeks to improve the family’s operations as a unit. Family therapy focuses on how patterns of behavior, those that promote well-being and those that are problematic, operate at different levels within the lives of individuals. Social interactions within various social institutions and systems within whom household members have regular contacts, such as schools, work, healthcare services, and other professional services, might jeopardize the family. For example, a negative change in one member’s functioning will probably radiate changes in the others’ well-being and functioning. In recognizing the multilevel social systems affecting family life, reference is often made to family therapy and systemic therapy.
Systemic Theory
Systemic theory or systemic thinking claims that people’s lives are linked together in that behavior in families becomes a product of mutual influence. It directs attention away from the individual and individual problems and towards relationships and relationship issues. Systemic therapy encourages the therapist to take a holistic approach to their interaction with the individual, focusing on the process or what is happening rather than why it is happening.
The principles of the systematic theory underline all other family therapy models. The first principle of this theory claims that individuals in families are closely connected. Therefore, focusing on those connections and how individual members perceive them can be a more proper way of understanding and promoting change. Secondly, people living closely together for a long time tend to develop interactions consisting of relatively stable sequences of speech and behavior. Thirdly, the patterns of interaction, beliefs, and behavior that therapists observe and engage with can be understood as the context of the problem. They are also considered as the cause and effect of the context of the problem. Lastly, problems within the family life pattern often result from problems caused by changes in the environment. The changes might already have happened or are anticipated to happen. Thus, these four concepts of systemic thinking are of key importance in understanding the nuances of family thinking, its problems, and possible solutions.
Cultural Application
In assessing families for treatment, a therapist should consider the family’s unique culture because it may influence their problems and treatment. Culture is “a set of shared and socially transmitted ideas and meanings used by groups to interpret and guide their lives” (Bagher & Alizera, 2016, p. 53). Bagher and Alizera (2016) claim that therapists and counselors should be mindful that cultural diversity exists within modern society. Therefore, as a powerful social institution, the family is the background of the cultural identity to its members. Each person’s cultural identity comprises multiple belonging, participation, and identification, including race, ethnicity, gender, religion, occupation, and social class. In recent years, culture has turned to occupy a key position in family therapy. Systemic therapy focuses on routine interactions and how they affect family functioning; thus, it involves all populations because the family is a universal social institution.
Christian Worldview
According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), there is a need for therapists and counselors to recognize religion and any other traditional faith beliefs as part of treatment (AAMFT 2004, as cited in Eppler et al., 2019). Successful integration of spirituality into therapy may strengthen the therapeutic alliance, a critical component in therapeutic work. A counselor’s understanding of how systemic therapies line up with particular faith traditions increases a counselor’s ability to understand and support clients’ strengths rooted in faith. Such an understanding helps the counselor develop a patient-centered treatment plan suitable for the client.
For a long time, spiritual contexts such as biblical stories have been used in psychotherapeutic treatments. Not so long ago, marriage counseling was primarily the work of pastors and therapists who did not major in mental health disciplines. For example, during couples’ therapy, quoting the Bible can be helpful for a couple from a Christian background. Quoting a bible verse like, “husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly (Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 1996/2015, Colossians 3:19). Such a verse provides religious guidance of the husband’s conduct towards the wife. Another good verse in the same scenario would be citing the teachings of Peter. A therapist can use religion to show the client that they are familiar with their cultural and religious background, making them comfortable to open their minds to the course. Counselors may use religious teachings to interpret their perceptions of the world and life experiences. The counselor employs creative, comprehensive questions about the nature of the client’s conversation with God around the underlying problem and related life experiences. Religion is also recommended to heal the soul through prayer, devotion, and absolution.
Conclusion
Systemic theory encourages the therapist to open their assessments to alternative vantage points rather than pathologizing them. The approach also involves focusing on family members’ relationships; therefore, the therapist must develop a multicultural understanding and application in their treatment plans. The understanding of the relationship between theology and systemic therapy, or rather the broad area of family therapy, is underdeveloped, thus requiring more research and analysis.
References
Bagher, S. Z., & Alireza, B. (2016). Multiculturalism in counseling and therapy: Marriage and family issues. International Journal of Psychology and Counselling, 8(5), 53–57. Web.
Eppler, C., Cobb, R. A., & Wilson, E. E. (2019). Multifaith perspectives on family therapy models. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 31(1-2), 1–35. Web.
The Holy Bible, New Living Translation. (2015). Tyndale House. (Original work published in 1996).
Nichols, M. P., & Davis, S. D. (2016). Family therapy: Concepts and methods (11th ed.). Pearson.