title: Integrating self and system: an empty intersection?
abstract: Synthesizing individual and family therapies can founder if the underlying epistemological assumptions concerning "what is self" are not taken into account. Most individual therapies assume self "really" exists as a relatively stable internal entity, the repository of residues of experience where traits, memories, et cetera are organized via internal schemas. Such a view tends to treat self as a thing, and implies that psychological problems are the result of internal deficits or conflicts; this can lead to difficulties in therapy. In contrast, ecosystemic views employ constructivist and contextualist approaches that are more fluid. However, by basing autopoetic self-organization in language, ecosystemic epistemology still separates subject from object. Adopting a perspective in which self has no fixed, distinguishing characteristics can resolve many difficulties and create a dimensionless point where self and system, individual and family, therapist and client can meet without hindrance.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, Kaiser-Permanente, Hayward CA 94545, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dyckman
mesh_terms: D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D012647:Self-Assessment