What Is Family Systems Therapy?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsKey ConceptsTechniquesWhat It Can Help WithBenefitsEffectivenessThings to ConsiderHow to Get Started

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Key Concepts

Techniques

What It Can Help With

Benefits

Effectiveness

Things to Consider

How to Get Started

Close

What is family systems therapy?Family systems therapy is a form of psychotherapy that treats the family as a unit. It’s based on the premise that, when something affects one member, it affects every other family member as well; likewise, the strength and stability of a family unit can provide support when one member needs help. Family systems therapy also focuses on the generational, social, community, and cultural factors that influence individuals and families.

What is family systems therapy?

Family systems therapy is a form of psychotherapy that treats the family as a unit. It’s based on the premise that, when something affects one member, it affects every other family member as well; likewise, the strength and stability of a family unit can provide support when one member needs help. Family systems therapy also focuses on the generational, social, community, and cultural factors that influence individuals and families.

This article discusses how family systems therapy works, what it can help with, its effectiveness, and things to consider and expect.

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

Key Concepts of Family Systems Therapy

Family systems therapy is based on thework of Murray Bowen, a psychoanalyst who developed the approach based on eight interlocking concepts:

RecapExploring these eight principles can help familiesestablish healthy boundaries, create positive relationships, adopt positive communication patterns, and improve the functioning of individuals and families alike.

Recap

Exploring these eight principles can help familiesestablish healthy boundaries, create positive relationships, adopt positive communication patterns, and improve the functioning of individuals and families alike.

Techniques of Family Systems Therapy

Family system theory suggests that individuals are inextricably interconnected to their relationship networks. Bowen believed that understanding these networks and the patterns of communication and conflict within them was essential to address individual problems.

Therapies based on this theory employ various techniques to help individuals and the entire family unit, depending on the family’s needs.

RecapFamily systems therapy sometimes draws on other types of therapies and techniques such as couples counseling, psychological education, and other family-based interventions.

Family systems therapy sometimes draws on other types of therapies and techniques such as couples counseling, psychological education, and other family-based interventions.

The 10 Best Online Couples Therapy Services We Tried and Tested

What Family Systems Therapy Can Help With

Therapy focused on families can help with many group and member issues, such as:

It also can help address conflict in relationships among siblings, parents, and children, Families and members dealing with life changes, chronic health conditions, and similar challenges often benefit from family systems therapy.

For individual mental health problems, family systems therapy often looks at how the family contributes to the onset or persistence of such conditions. If one member has asubstance use disorder, for example, this type of therapy can help other members understand concepts such ascodependent relationshipsthat enable addiction.

When family members learn about factors within the family that are related to the problem, they can then work to change their roles, communication styles, and behaviors to support one another more effectively.

Benefits of Family Systems Therapy

By improving behavioral, emotional, and psychological functioning, family systems therapy can address a wide range of symptoms or difficulties, among them:

Research suggests that family systems therapy can be an effective treatment for conditions including substance use disorders, depression, child and adolescent behavior problems, and relationship issues.

It can be effective on its own or when used as part of a multimodal treatment program for both children and adults.Attachment problemsin children, eating disorders in adolescents, and relationship distress in adults are among the many issues it can address.It can strengthen family support when individuals are facing serious health issues. It’s used effectively along with treatments for substance abuse in teens and adults.

RecapResearch supports the efficacy of family-based interventions for a number of mental health concerns including depression, substance use disorder, relationship problems, and other mental disorders in both children and adults.

Research supports the efficacy of family-based interventions for a number of mental health concerns including depression, substance use disorder, relationship problems, and other mental disorders in both children and adults.

Because family systems therapy focuses on relationships among family members, the entire family must work together during therapy. This can be challenging when family members are reluctant, ambivalent, or resistant to treatment.

Family systems therapists remain neutral throughout treatment. This can be challenging for family members who want the therapist to provide feedback or challenge problematic behavior. From the perspective of some family members, this neutrality can seem like implied approval of certain behaviors.

Ask a potential therapist about their training, credentials, experience in relevant areas, typical approaches, and accepted insurances.

How Family Therapy Works

During your first session, your therapist will gather information about your family, problems, goals, history, relationships, and communication style.

Family therapy typically lasts an average of 12 sessions, depending on the family’s needs.

Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Get Help Now

We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

‘I Hate My Family:’ What to Do If You Feel This Way

12 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family.Learn about Bowen theory.The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family.Social emotional process.Miklowitz DJ, Chung B.Family-focused therapy for bipolar disorder: reflections on 30 years of research.Fam Process. 2016;55(3):483-499. doi:10.1111/famp.12237Cluxton-Keller F, Bruce ML.Clinical effectiveness of family therapeutic interventions in the prevention and treatment of perinatal depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS One. 2018;13(6):e0198730. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0198730Varghese M, Kirpekar V, Loganathan S.Family interventions: basic principles and techniques.Indian J Psychiatry. 2020;62(Suppl 2):S192-S200. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_770_19Distelberg B, Williams-Reade J, Tapanes D, Montgomery S, Pandit M.Evaluation of a family systems intervention for managing pediatric chronic illness: Mastering Each New Direction (MEND).Fam Process. 2014;53(2):194-213. doi:10.1111/famp.12066(Crane DR, Christenson JD, Dobbs SM, Schaalje GB, Moore AM, Pedal FF, Ballard J, Marshall ES.Costs of treating depression with individual versus family therapy.J Marital Fam Ther. 2013;39(4):457-69. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2012.00326.xAbout Families.Systemic therapy: what difference does systemic therapy make to the outcomes for children and families?Carr A.Evidence for the efficacy and effectiveness of systemic family therapy. In: Wampler KS, McWey LM, eds.The Handbook of Systemic Family Therapy. 1st ed. Wiley; 2020:119-146. doi:10.1002/9781119438519.ch6Rowe CL.Family therapy for drug abuse: review and updates 2003-2010.J Marital Fam Ther. 2012;38(1):59-81. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2011.00280.xSlesnick N, Zhang J.Family systems therapy for substance-using mothers and their 8- to 16-year-old children.Psychol Addict Behav. 2016;30(6):619-629. doi:10.1037/adb0000199American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.Marriage and family therapist: the family-friendly mental health professionals.

12 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family.Learn about Bowen theory.The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family.Social emotional process.Miklowitz DJ, Chung B.Family-focused therapy for bipolar disorder: reflections on 30 years of research.Fam Process. 2016;55(3):483-499. doi:10.1111/famp.12237Cluxton-Keller F, Bruce ML.Clinical effectiveness of family therapeutic interventions in the prevention and treatment of perinatal depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS One. 2018;13(6):e0198730. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0198730Varghese M, Kirpekar V, Loganathan S.Family interventions: basic principles and techniques.Indian J Psychiatry. 2020;62(Suppl 2):S192-S200. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_770_19Distelberg B, Williams-Reade J, Tapanes D, Montgomery S, Pandit M.Evaluation of a family systems intervention for managing pediatric chronic illness: Mastering Each New Direction (MEND).Fam Process. 2014;53(2):194-213. doi:10.1111/famp.12066(Crane DR, Christenson JD, Dobbs SM, Schaalje GB, Moore AM, Pedal FF, Ballard J, Marshall ES.Costs of treating depression with individual versus family therapy.J Marital Fam Ther. 2013;39(4):457-69. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2012.00326.xAbout Families.Systemic therapy: what difference does systemic therapy make to the outcomes for children and families?Carr A.Evidence for the efficacy and effectiveness of systemic family therapy. In: Wampler KS, McWey LM, eds.The Handbook of Systemic Family Therapy. 1st ed. Wiley; 2020:119-146. doi:10.1002/9781119438519.ch6Rowe CL.Family therapy for drug abuse: review and updates 2003-2010.J Marital Fam Ther. 2012;38(1):59-81. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2011.00280.xSlesnick N, Zhang J.Family systems therapy for substance-using mothers and their 8- to 16-year-old children.Psychol Addict Behav. 2016;30(6):619-629. doi:10.1037/adb0000199American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.Marriage and family therapist: the family-friendly mental health professionals.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family.Learn about Bowen theory.The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family.Social emotional process.Miklowitz DJ, Chung B.Family-focused therapy for bipolar disorder: reflections on 30 years of research.Fam Process. 2016;55(3):483-499. doi:10.1111/famp.12237Cluxton-Keller F, Bruce ML.Clinical effectiveness of family therapeutic interventions in the prevention and treatment of perinatal depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS One. 2018;13(6):e0198730. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0198730Varghese M, Kirpekar V, Loganathan S.Family interventions: basic principles and techniques.Indian J Psychiatry. 2020;62(Suppl 2):S192-S200. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_770_19Distelberg B, Williams-Reade J, Tapanes D, Montgomery S, Pandit M.Evaluation of a family systems intervention for managing pediatric chronic illness: Mastering Each New Direction (MEND).Fam Process. 2014;53(2):194-213. doi:10.1111/famp.12066(Crane DR, Christenson JD, Dobbs SM, Schaalje GB, Moore AM, Pedal FF, Ballard J, Marshall ES.Costs of treating depression with individual versus family therapy.J Marital Fam Ther. 2013;39(4):457-69. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2012.00326.xAbout Families.Systemic therapy: what difference does systemic therapy make to the outcomes for children and families?Carr A.Evidence for the efficacy and effectiveness of systemic family therapy. In: Wampler KS, McWey LM, eds.The Handbook of Systemic Family Therapy. 1st ed. Wiley; 2020:119-146. doi:10.1002/9781119438519.ch6Rowe CL.Family therapy for drug abuse: review and updates 2003-2010.J Marital Fam Ther. 2012;38(1):59-81. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2011.00280.xSlesnick N, Zhang J.Family systems therapy for substance-using mothers and their 8- to 16-year-old children.Psychol Addict Behav. 2016;30(6):619-629. doi:10.1037/adb0000199American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.Marriage and family therapist: the family-friendly mental health professionals.

The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family.Learn about Bowen theory.

The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family.Social emotional process.

Miklowitz DJ, Chung B.Family-focused therapy for bipolar disorder: reflections on 30 years of research.Fam Process. 2016;55(3):483-499. doi:10.1111/famp.12237

Cluxton-Keller F, Bruce ML.Clinical effectiveness of family therapeutic interventions in the prevention and treatment of perinatal depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLoS One. 2018;13(6):e0198730. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0198730

Varghese M, Kirpekar V, Loganathan S.Family interventions: basic principles and techniques.Indian J Psychiatry. 2020;62(Suppl 2):S192-S200. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_770_19

Distelberg B, Williams-Reade J, Tapanes D, Montgomery S, Pandit M.Evaluation of a family systems intervention for managing pediatric chronic illness: Mastering Each New Direction (MEND).Fam Process. 2014;53(2):194-213. doi:10.1111/famp.12066

(Crane DR, Christenson JD, Dobbs SM, Schaalje GB, Moore AM, Pedal FF, Ballard J, Marshall ES.Costs of treating depression with individual versus family therapy.J Marital Fam Ther. 2013;39(4):457-69. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2012.00326.x

About Families.Systemic therapy: what difference does systemic therapy make to the outcomes for children and families?

Carr A.Evidence for the efficacy and effectiveness of systemic family therapy. In: Wampler KS, McWey LM, eds.The Handbook of Systemic Family Therapy. 1st ed. Wiley; 2020:119-146. doi:10.1002/9781119438519.ch6

Rowe CL.Family therapy for drug abuse: review and updates 2003-2010.J Marital Fam Ther. 2012;38(1):59-81. doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2011.00280.x

Slesnick N, Zhang J.Family systems therapy for substance-using mothers and their 8- to 16-year-old children.Psychol Addict Behav. 2016;30(6):619-629. doi:10.1037/adb0000199

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.Marriage and family therapist: the family-friendly mental health professionals.

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?