Family Systems Models and Theory

Here's how I see it: if family therapy is a journey across a vast ocean, each family's we work with is like crossing at a different time of year - each journey is different, each has its own challenges and opportunities.

It stands to reason then, that therapists, need to be skilled sailors, captains, and a jack-of-all-trades.  If theory is just the map, relying on that entirely doesn't always cut it. We need something more than a map and some wind to get to where we're going... we need GPS!

I really believe that even the most seasoned therapists can find themselves adrift, struggling to translate theoretical constructs into practical, therapeutic progress. This is where we get to be creative and break away slightly from the rigidity of theory. We can blend and create a rich array of interventions and techniques with theory to help navigate the complex emotional voyage we're on with our family and couples clients.

The good news is that if you look hard enough, therapists from the generations before you and I have done the hard work and honed in on some powerful techniques that help us drive things forward with families.

Even more good news is that I've curated some of my favorite and most useful family therapy interventions, worksheets, and activities here on My People Patterns.