Clinical Application of Systemic Therapy with Individuals

Contents
Introduction    1
Theory    1
Inter-personal Systemic    1
Intra-personal systemic    2
Within person therapeutic approach    2
When to move from the intra-personal to the inter-personal    2
Systemic Techniques    3
Understanding    3

Introduction

This paper aims to look to understand when using systemic ideas in therapy with individuals might be useful. Also, it looks to think about within person approaches  as opposed to using a systemic lens

Theory

Inter-personal Systemic

As Heidegger and Gergen show we are always in relation with the world of people and things. Things being a derivation of a relation with people; the thing being what can or has been done to it by a person. We are then in a matrix of relationships and indeed this matrix seems to be organised by a number of systems. These systems have boundaries and some patterns and some sense of regulation mechanisms to these patterns. These systems can be thought of as defined relationships between people; so families, work places, partnerships and the like.

The systemic argument has a few planks and draws on both Wittgenstein’s theories of language and Batemans theories of systems.       

1.       Information is difference, difference is relationship

2.       Context is an important strand in difference

3.       In relationship there is behaviour and there is feedback

So to work inter-personally would be to when noticing the problem that you are attending to, to firstly put it in its network of relations:

1.       Assess

a.       Network

                                                               i.      Who knows about it

                                                             ii.      Who does it effect

                                                           iii.      What systems is it part of

b.       Symptoms

                                                               i.      What are the effects of the symptoms

                                                             ii.      How does that change the network of relations that the symptom is within

c.       Techniques

                                                               i.      Notice system benefits and look to enable in different ways than having the symptom

                                                             ii.      Cognitive restructuring in terms of asking what would your network thing of your thoughts

                                                           iii.      Noticing the gap between intention and effect

                                                           iv.      Noticing the effect of behaviours and if it is in your interest

Intra-personal systemic

As much as you can use systemic theory between people and indeed this is the general application of genograms, of circular questions that invoke the network of relations in a person’s life. It also seems applicable within person.

On the basis of postmodern thinking as to how relationships create identity and there are a plurality of identites within a human then the same ideas that apply inter-personally can apply intra- personally.  You can understand a person as their own network or relations.

Within person therapeutic approach

I guess as I work with a “within person frame” then I am hopefully articulating with my client more of their unsaid experience, drawing meaning, and emotion from the shadows, giving a voice to the unspoken body or behaviour. To understand the present experience in terms of its influences from the past and its draws from the future.  To notice the effects of various behaviours, be they cognitive or somatic.

To some level if we can call this within person phenomenology we can do this without the client as being-in-the -world  as Heidegger calls it, the client can be unattached to their network of relations and we can focus on them, as opposed to their relational being.

When to move from the intra-personal to the inter-personal

So the question I want to pose is when do you move from within person approaches be they either phenomenological or systemic to inter-personal approaches?

Well to loosen thinking you can get other peoples perspective, by circular questioning.

When problems arise relationally that would be one

In terms of enrichening the understanding of something, the relational context should be added, if its not mentioned, likewise if things don’t make sense intra-personally, then the inter-personal should be brought in. So I guess in this strand the intra-personal stands as another strand, to be gently teased when appropriate, when its pointed at, when where you are seems something of an impasse, when something needs loosening.

Systemic Techniques

Understanding

1.       Genograms

a.       Positioning the client in their network

2.       Circular questioning

a.       What would bob say if he heard you say this

b.       When you do x, how does bob understand what you’ve done and what does he do

c.       Who out of people you know would agree\disagree with your beliefs

3.       Meaning as difference

a.       Are there times when you’re not x, don’t do y

4.       Expression as behaviour

a.       How do you show your anger, who knows

b.       When you say x, how do you want people to respond

c.       If your tears could speak what would they say

d.       If your tension could speak what would it say

5.       Relational effects

a.       When you do x to bob how does he act and what do you do (name that dance)

6.       Functionalism

a.       Notice system benefits and look to enable in different ways than having the symptom

b.       Noticing the gap between intention and effect, and learn how to close it

c.       Noticing the effect of behaviours and if it is in your interest

7.       Cognitive restructuring

a.        asking what would your network thing of your thoughts, who would agree\disagree