"Imbalanced systems, whether internal or external, will tend to polarize.”

-Richard C. Schwartz  

Family systems is...

An approach that considers each family member in relation to each other, and to the function of the whole family unit.

Thinking about family systems is valuable because ...

- We are inseparable from our network of relationships.
- Tension/challenges within the family often stem from a sense of disconnection to family members or unhelpful patterns of interaction.

Types: 
Structural family therapy: looks at family relationships, behaviors, and patterns as clues to family structure
Strategic family therapy: considers & reframes family processes and functions (i.e. communication/ problem-solving patterns) based on family behavior
Intergenerational family therapy: considers influences passed down from prior generations and their impacts on individuals/family members, and behavior.