The
basic idea or premise of the Systems Approach is that every part of the
social/emotional system will affect the entire system. In other words, you
cannot separate one component of the system from the sub-total or entire
system. It doesn’t matter whether one spouse returns to college and completes
the Bachelor of Arts degree she abandoned long ago to have children or whether
her husband loses weight to improve his health and suddenly attracts a bevy of
female admirers. The changes in behavior can affect the basic structure of the
relationship or system and create resistance within it. The ultimate goal of
the Systems Approach is to bring the System back into balance.
For
example, if a man comes in for hypnotherapy; his “presenting issue” is marital
discord, and the hypnotherapist is working only with the man (husband).
However, if the hypnotherapist doesn’t keep the client’s wife in mind during
the therapy, she is liable to walk out of the marriage because she has not been
taken into account within the “system.” Ideally, both spouses would come in for
hypnotherapy to work on their marital issues. If this is not possible or the
spouse refuses to come in, the hypnotherapist could work just with the client
to specifically teach him how to deal with her.
According
to Hypnosis Motivation Institute founder John Kappas, Ph.D., no matter what the
client’s problem or issue happens to be, the systems approach infiltrates all
areas of therapy. Even if only one member of the family or one spouse or
partner in a relationship is seeking therapy, that issue must be dealt with
within the context of the client’s own system. Therefore, the hypnotherapist
must address components in the person’s work, relationships, family past, the
hypnotherapy he or she is receiving, plus aspects of the entire social system
or relationship. If these other issues aren’t taken into account, the therapy
won’t be successful and only the issue being addressed in therapy will be
“treated” (improved or eliminated) per the client’s goal, Dr. Kappas warned.
Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in
Southern California. She graduated with honors from the
Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about
Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.
© 2015
