Assumptions of Neosystemic for Therapy and Supervision
Complexity of Relationships and Influences.
In the context of the Neosystemic framework, therapy and supervision need to transcend traditional dyadic models to embrace a holistic understanding of infinite influences. Therapists and supervisors recognize that clients and supervisees are embedded within intricate webs of relationships, cultures, and systems that continuously shape their experiences and behaviors (Anderson & Gehart, 2023). Consequently, interventions and supervision practices must account for this complexity by adopting a systemic lens that considers the dynamic interplay of multiple influences. This requires therapists and supervisors to remain vigilant and adaptable, attuned to the ever-changing landscape of influences that impact their clients and supervisees.
Continuous Change in Clients, Therapists, and Systems.
Neosystemic framework acknowledges the inherent dynamism of individuals, therapists, and the broader societal context. Change is not confined to the client alone but extends to all participants in the therapeutic process and the larger systems they inhabit. The systemic approach also introduces the idea that there is not an external or objective way of analyzing or perceiving the client. The therapist and the supervisor become part of the system which implies that the observer cannot be separated from, and consequently changes, the system through mutual influence (Goolishian & Anderson, 1987). However, we are of the opinion that the current systemic view of influence seems to be static, isolated, and restricted within the confines of the specific time and space which occurs in therapy and supervision, void of the awareness of the constancy of change as famously noted by Heraclitus in 500 BCE, and that influences are continuing long after that one-time meeting. Therapists, as agents of change, must continually adapt and evolve in response to shifting dynamics within themselves, their environments, and the world at large. This necessitates a commitment to ongoing learning, self-reflection, and cultural humility to remain effective in an ever-changing landscape (Gehart, 2017).
Cultural Humility and Openness.
Within the Neosystemic framework, individuals are viewed as unique cultures, each shaped by a multitude of intersecting influences. Recognizing the impossibility of comprehensively understanding every influence, therapists and supervisors adopt a stance of cultural humility and openness. Rather than seeking to impose rigid overviews, they approach each individual with curiosity and respect, acknowledging the complexity and diversity of their experiences. This requires therapists and supervisors to cultivate genuine curiosity about their clients' lived experiences, remaining open to learning and adapting their conceptualizations as new insights emerge (Miller et al., 2020).
Complex Causality and Systemic Perspective.
In the Neosystemic framework, the concept of circular causality acknowledges the interdependence and reciprocal influence among various elements within a system (Hoffman, 1981). However, with the increasing complexity of modern life, causality becomes even more intricate and multifaceted. The linear cause-and-effect relationships of traditional models give way to a more nuanced understanding of causality, characterized by feedback loops, nonlinear dynamics, and emergent properties. Therapists and supervisors navigate this complexity by embracing a systemic perspective that recognizes the nonlinear nature of causality and the importance of exploring multiple factors contributing to therapeutic outcomes. This approach encourages therapists and supervisors to remain curious, flexible, and responsive to the ever-evolving interactions within the therapeutic system (Sutton & Williams, 2019).