Family Systems Therapy

INTRODUCTION The explanatory concepts of general systems theory have not been fully organized into predictive relationships. As such, they do not collectively qualify as a predictive theory. Yet, systems concepts combined with communication theory can be used to explain the inner workings of organizations like families and provide a basis for a plan of therapeutic intervention. Because the concepts show relationship among elements or parts, and between sub-systems and the whole system, they describe human interaction at a fairly general level. Other more specific theories of human behavior can, as a consequence, be used quite appropriately in connection with general systems theory. Someone attempting to use systems concepts need not neglect the use of any other theoretical approach in doing so. The purpose of this paper is to outline some explanatory concepts derived from general systems as applied to the family, then to describe a possible therapeutic approach based on the concepts.