Systemic Family Therapy

Major depression is not only a mood disorder with feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness. The symptoms of depression can affect many aspects of an individual’s life such as physical symptoms of fatigue and body aches, lack of concentration,appetite, difference in sleep patterns, sex drive, and even the interest in activities enjoyed once before. As complex as the symptoms of depression can be for the individual to live with; it can feel just as challenging for a family to understand and be supportive to their family member. Family members can be a solid support system when one member has developed an illness or disability. However, from a psychosocial aspect illness or disability may cause a family to become either enmeshed

The family, who is used to doing activities together such as sports, crafts and travel seem to change along with interaction. The communication becomes strained with the children and the husband tries to help his wife but ends up feeling frustrated in his efforts. The wife/mother then begins to isolate herself and feel stuck on how to communicate with what she is experiencing to her family. This example leads to the point that depression is a systemic condition that not only affects just one part of the individual within themselves but can branch out into one's environment i.e. the family. A counselor that may encounter a family such as this can use the systemic family therapy approach. The approach of systemic family therapy is an aid to clients with psychological disabilities. Systemic therapy differs from other therapies because it does not only include the individual but incorporates the family to build strength in their relationships so that symptoms seem less traumatic (Stratton, 2011). The purpose of this paper is to present how systemic family therapy can be effective in providing an understanding for the family and the diagnosed family

Systemic interventions also aim to diffuse the stress and increase the support within the family. Firstly, the therapist will address the problems that the client presents with 'Problem and solution talk'. The problem and solution talk is where the client(s) will communicate a problem but the therapist will only explore it with the systemic information meaning that the relationships are examined to develop a solution to the presenting problem and what the problem means to each client. Next, is the 'Resource talk', as it was stated previously systemic therapy helps the family with communication which can build empathy and clarity with statements. Resource talk allows a client to present a resourceful experience i.e. what the wife/mother is experiencing with major depression. Resource talk enables the family to discuss that experience to become resourceful amongst one another with information,questions and connectedness. These two interventions help a family to not continue the previous inappropriate behaviors such as isolation, frustration, miscommunication to the problem (Keeney,n.d.). The interventions maintain a collaborative effort to develop solutions that will bring a healthy experience to the individual, family, and even social environment. Lastly, the problem and solution talk along with the resourceful talk is maintained with homework assignments that instill