“…Yunkaporta (2019) helps us see the interconnectedness of the parts and the whole and writes, 'The whole is intelligent, and each part carries the inherent intelligence of the entire system' (p. 95). As Tickle et al (2015) point out, Salvador Minuchin, an elder of family therapy, likened the therapist to 'a technician with a zoom lens, who could zoom in to study the individual's intrapsychic experience, but could also observe with a broad focus on the system' (p. 124).…”
The practice of integrating various therapeutic disciplines and models in therapy has traditionally been the domain of the experienced practitioner. To encourage the newly trained systemic therapist to embark on their journey in the artistry of integrative practice, this paper addresses the question: 'What guidance and encouragement could be offered to the beginning family therapist to practice in an integrative way?' Central to this paper is the view that the discipline of systemic thinking itself facilitates integration. Based on the notion that complex models of integrative practice may not serve the beginning clinician, three suggestions are offered. First, the overarching theories that support systemic family therapy also provide a platform for moving between schools of family therapy and our professions of origin. Second, the role of common factors is a useful and important guiding principle to practice in an integrative way. And finally, an essential ingredient of integrative practice is the return to therapeutic presence and attunement.
“…Yunkaporta (2019) helps us see the interconnectedness of the parts and the whole and writes, 'The whole is intelligent, and each part carries the inherent intelligence of the entire system' (p. 95). As Tickle et al (2015) point out, Salvador Minuchin, an elder of family therapy, likened the therapist to 'a technician with a zoom lens, who could zoom in to study the individual's intrapsychic experience, but could also observe with a broad focus on the system' (p. 124).…”
The practice of integrating various therapeutic disciplines and models in therapy has traditionally been the domain of the experienced practitioner. To encourage the newly trained systemic therapist to embark on their journey in the artistry of integrative practice, this paper addresses the question: 'What guidance and encouragement could be offered to the beginning family therapist to practice in an integrative way?' Central to this paper is the view that the discipline of systemic thinking itself facilitates integration. Based on the notion that complex models of integrative practice may not serve the beginning clinician, three suggestions are offered. First, the overarching theories that support systemic family therapy also provide a platform for moving between schools of family therapy and our professions of origin. Second, the role of common factors is a useful and important guiding principle to practice in an integrative way. And finally, an essential ingredient of integrative practice is the return to therapeutic presence and attunement.
This pilot study has two areas of focus. It examines how the knowledge and competences of twelve Master’s-level systemic counselling trainees are connected, and how well their own assessment of their competence corresponds to external assessment. Methodologically, three instruments were used: first, an instrument to measure their explicit knowledge; second, videos of consultations with simulated clients to measure their competence in practice; third, a self-assessment measure to explore how externally assessed competence corresponds to self-assessment. The results show no indication that knowledge is related to externally assessed competence. Furthermore, their self-assessment did not show any systematic connection to the external assessment. The study concludes that the development of systemic counselling skills is a long-term process of theory acquisition, practise, and reflection. Important reflection processes can be stimulated by self-assessment. However, such assessments are not sufficient to capture the quality and scope of competence.
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