Integrative Systemic Therapy: Lessons on Collaboration and Training for the 21st Century

Integrative Systemic Supervision: Promoting Supervisees' Theoretical Integration in Systemic Therapy

Integrative systemic therapy (IST) is a meta-theoretical perspective, grounded in systemic theory and integration, that transcends therapy models in individual, couple, and family therapy. To foster supervisees' theoretical integration and systemic thinking, two of IST's primary tools-the essence diagram and blueprint-are described and applied to inform an integrative, systemic meta-perspective for supervision. Recommendations, specific guiding questions, and examples are provided to operationalize these tools in the multi-level supervision system (i.e., supervisor-supervisee-client system). IST supervisors and other supervisors who are interested in integrative, systemic training can use these tools to guide the process of supervision and strengthen supervisees' ability to hypothesize, plan, converse, and read clients' feedback in relation to the various tasks of therapy. The essence diagram and blueprint are applied to facilitate case consultation and cultivate the development of supervisees' clinical competencies. Particularly, the problem-solving focus of IST has been adapted to include a competency-based and professional growth-oriented dimension for supervision to better promote supervisees' development. Lastly, the advantages and challenges of IST-influenced supervision are discussed.

Transcending Therapy Models and Managing Complexity: Suggestions from Integrative Systemic Therapy

Integrative Systemic Therapy (IST) is a metatheoretical perspective for the conduct of individual, couple, and family therapy. Following a brief description of IST, this article presents developments in IST and their implication for psychotherapy integration. The nature of problem solving in IST is clarified, and the relationship between IST's essential problem-solving tasks and its core decision-making process is defined. Particular attention is paid to two dimensions of IST that have given it its name: integration and systems theory. The advantages of a therapy that is client system-centered and not model-driven are discussed, and a justification for "good enough" execution of interventions abstracted from specific models is provided. A procedure for balancing pragmatic demands of therapy with a commitment to account, as needed, for broader or deeper systemic issues is presented.