Systemic therapy (also known as ‘systemic psychotherapy’) focuses on the relationships between people and how they affect us. It’s often associated with couples or family therapy, but it is used much more broadly than just with these dynamics. It can support any person or group of people who interact regularly or share a connection.
If you’re considering systemic therapy, this page explores what it is, who it can help, and whether it may be the right approach for you.
What is systemic therapy?
Systemic therapy explores how your emotions and behaviours are influenced by relationships, environments, and social circumstances. This means that rather than viewing difficulties as something that exists within just one person, the systemic approach considers the wider ‘system’ around you.
These systems might include:
- family relationships
- partners
- friendships
- work colleagues
- sports teams
- support networks
- social groups or communities.
The main focus is on understanding how different parts of the system interact, and how certain ways of relating become established over time. This can help highlight what might be contributing to difficulties within the group.
You may have heard systemic therapy mentioned alongside ‘systemic family therapy’. While family therapy is a type of systemic work, systemic therapy itself is actually much broader, and can be used in individual, couple, or group settings.
How does systemic therapy work?
Systemic therapy works by helping you explore how your relationships and interactions shape your experiences. Some of the key ideas include:
- looking at relationships rather than individuals in isolation;
- exploring different perspectives within a situation;
- noticing hidden patterns or ‘roles’ within a system;
- understanding how difficulties are maintained through interactions;
- understanding what may be contributing to stress and conflict;
- creating space for new ways of relating and communicating.
During sessions, the therapist's role is to be curious and non-judgmental. This means that instead of offering one ‘correct’ interpretation, they may help you consider multiple viewpoints, allowing you to see how each person involved might see the situation differently.
Over time, this process can help people understand each other more clearly, improve communication, and build more supportive relationships.
What issues can systemic therapy help with?
Systemic therapy can support a range of difficulties, particularly those connected to relationships and communication issues.
This might include exploring:
- relationship challenges, including conflict or misunderstandings;
- communication difficulties;
- tension within groups, families, or between partners;
- emotional distress linked to relationships.
Studies suggest it may also support people experiencing:
- eating disorders
- depression
- substance use difficulties
- anxiety
- OCD
- bipolar disorder.
What happens during systemic therapy sessions?
Systemic therapy sessions are usually collaborative and guided by what feels most relevant to you. Depending on your situation, sessions may involve just you, but they can also include other people, such as a friend, partner, or family members.
During a session, you might:
- talk about challenges in your relationships;
- explore how different people involved may view the situation;
- reflect on how your interactions with others usually unfold;
- notice how your responses connect with and affect other people.
To help this process, your therapist may ask open questions, highlight interaction patterns you may not have noticed, and support you as you try to communicate in new ways. They might also suggest exercises to help you understand how your system operates and how interactions unfold – such as reframing, family trees (genograms), or visual techniques.
If you are working in a group setting, your therapist will collaborate with and support each person. This way, everyone has the chance to explore their feelings and express themselves in a safe, non-judgmental setting, without feeling isolated or overwhelmed.
Who might benefit from systemic therapy?
A systemic approach to therapy might benefit you if:
- you often feel stuck in repeating relationship dynamics;
- you’re experiencing similar conflicts or misunderstandings with different people;
- communication with others feels difficult or tense;
- you want to understand different perspectives more clearly;
- you feel affected by others' expectations or actions.
Is systemic therapy right for me?
Systemic therapy can feel different from more individual-focused approaches. For example, you may find that it involves:
- talking about your relationships and interactions in detail;
- considering points of view that differ from your own;
- exploring how other people and situations influence your experiences;
- meeting and working together as a group (when sessions involve others).
Whether you attend therapy alone, as a couple, or part of a larger group, the focus remains on building understanding over time, rather than making quick changes.
Finding a systemic therapist
Systemic therapy offers a way to understand your challenges in the context of relationships and the wider environment. Working with a systemic therapist can provide a safe space to explore new perspectives, understand your relationship dynamics, and develop new ways of relating.
If you’re considering systemic therapy, Counselling Directory can help you find a qualified therapist or counsellor who feels like a good fit for you.
Content attribution
This article was written by Hayley Snelling, a qualified counsellor and well-being and body confidence coach, as well as a professional writer at PsychWrite.
The content was commissioned by Counselling Directory.
