Therapeutic Approaches
As I have qualifications in systemic family therapy, clinical psychology and creative arts therapies, I am able to work creatively and flexibly to meet the needs of those with whom I work. I aim to form a collaborative therapeutic relationship with all those attending the sessions and co-construct the goals, direction, content and style of the work that best suit them.
I work from the notion that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from the contexts which they are part of. Therefore, I will draw references to significant relationships, culture and belief systems that give meaning to a person’s experiences, identities and actions. My approach is respectful, nurturing and appreciative, with a focus on building strength to facilitate helpful changes.
I draw largely from systemic and social constructionists approaches including:
- Narrative Therapy
- Emotionally Focused Family Therapy
- Attachment-Narrative approaches
- Solution Focused Brief Therapy
- Non-violent Resistance (NVR)
- Coordinated Management of Meaning, which is a communication theory.
I also integrate concepts and strategies from:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Mindfulness-based techniques
- Compassion Focused Therapy
- Non-violent Communication
- Creative techniques
What is Family Therapy and the Systemic Approaches?
Research and Evidence-Based Practice
Due to the very complex nature of mental health problems, it is not always possible to know accurately what the best treatment for each condition is. Psychological approaches that are not systematically structured are less suitable to be evidenced through empirical research. Despite these constraints, the field of systemic and family therapy continuously reviews and contributes to Evidence-Based Practice (EBP).
EBP [i] refers to the process of clinical decision-making that integrates three main areas:
- The best available research on the most effective treatment for each condition;
- Clinical expertise (judgment and experience of the clinician to consider each client/patient’s particular health state and needs) and
- The client/patient’s preferences and values.
In the UK, there is a Non-Departmental Public Body responsible for providing national guidance and advice to improve health and social care across the public sector based on research and EBP; it is known as The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence – NICE.
Systemic Family Therapy is recommended in NICE guidelines for the treatment of several child-focused, adult-focused and couple related problems. [ii]
Reviews of research list the following circumstances in which family therapy has been proven to be effective for children, adolescents and the important people in their lives:
- Problems in infancy; sleep, feeding and attachment
- Child abuse and neglect
- Child and adolescent conduct problems such as behavioural difficulties, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and delinquency
- Emotional problems including anxiety, depression, grief, bipolar disorder, self harm and suicidality
- Body-related problems including enuresis, encopresis, recurrent abdominal pain, medically unexplained symptoms and poorly controlled asthma and diabetes
- Drug abuse
- Eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia and obesity
- First episode psychosis
Reviews of research show effectiveness of family therapy for adults and families affected by:
- Relationship difficulties and distress
- Psychosexual problems
- Intimate partner violence
- Anxiety disorders
- Mood disorders and depression
- Alcohol and drug problems
- Schizophrenia
- Adjustment to chronic physical illness
Sources:
- [i] Sackett, D. et al (1996) Evidence-based medicine: what it is and what it isn’t. British Medical Journal, 312, 71-72
- [ii] Journal of Family Therapy (2014) Vol 36 (2)
Ethics and Anti-discriminatory Practice
Every professional organisation has a Code of Ethics that governs its practice. Anti-discriminatory practice is often part of Code of Ethics and Practices. The UK Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice has a strong commitment to promoting diversity, equality and social inclusion and actively works to challenge marginalising practices and subjugation in all its diverse forms, such as racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny and ageism, wherever it may occur. The training in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy has an extensive component aimed to develop awareness and sensitivity towards social differences, and the effects of differential power and privilege, which is fully integrated in all aspects of training, practice and supervision.
I have a special interest in this area. My MSc research project in the Systemic Therapy training was in the field of culture sensitivity and reflective practice. My personal development was enhanced by my experiences of migration as well as of growing up in a country that holds strong and prejudiced views and ideals while housing ample social diversity.
I recognise that developing cultural awareness and social inclusion is a life-long project. I am mindful of many of my inherent privileges as construed in society. Some of them are being white, middle-class, able-body, neurotypical, cis-gendered and having a formal education to a high level. They inform my personal frame of references in the world and I acknowledge that they are part of a complex social patterns and dynamics of dominant discourses designed to exclude or marginalise those who are different.
We all grew up and are part of systems that hold institutional racism, sexism, ageism and other forms of oppressions, and many of these practices are still unacknowledged and/or unchallenged. I understand that many forms of discrimination are so embedded in the fabric of our culture and society that often we don’t even realise it. In view of this, I invite those I work with to support my learning and growth by educating my frame of references in the world and by giving me feedback when I unwittingly refer to something in an insensitive and discriminatory way.
I endeavour to provide high standard services and I am committed to working respectfully, holding values such as equality, inclusion and anti-discriminatory stance at the highest regards. I aspire to form a collaborative relationship with those I work with and I aim to be open and transparent about myself and the work I provide.
Find more information on the UKCP and AFT Code of Ethics and Practice which I adhere to.