From this perspective, the behavior of one of the family members cannot be understood or explained outside the system. Systemic therapy does not intend to address the problem directly, but modifying the family dynamics that maintain it.

Indices to go to family therapy:

• Family crises (complicated situations or related to the life cycle): birth of a child, emancipation, death, etc.)
• Behavioral problems or mental disorders of one of the family members.
• Addiction treatment: in the treatment of various addictions it can be effective involving the closest relatives, in order to help the person stay away from the stimuli that favor the consumption response.
• Parent training: average parents are provided to deal with maladaptive behaviors, through molding and positive reinforcement.

How does the psychologist address family therapy in consultation?

Normally, during the first session each family member exposes their point of view about the problem or situation they are living. In addition, when the professional considers that it is the right time, he asks each family member to express their complaints freely. The psychologist will take the opportunity to stay out of time in each session in order to observe how the family relates and interacts (way of communicating, nonverbal communication, who acts as a leader, links that are established within system, etc.).

Once the professional has analyzed the family and is aware of the type of relationship they maintain, as well as their difficulties, action therapies begin to develop. Through exercises and activities, existing relationships and roles are worked, with the aim of improving the family nucleus. It is intended to reach a common point of understanding, in which they are able to put themselves in the place of the other from empathy and understanding, jointly solving the problems that arise.

Psychological techniques in family therapy:

• Positive redefinition of the problem: Through this technique we try to grant the negative situation a different reading. The objective is to question the vision of family members about the problem and try to observe the situation from another perspective.
• Milagro Question: Through this technique the family is asked what things would change in their daily lives if the problem suddenly was solved. In response to their answers, the professional obtains clues about aspects that must be incorporated into the family so that what they want is ending. It is also positive to ask about what they did on those occasions when things went well, in order to divert the attention of the negative and incorporate behaviors that have worked in the past.
• Scale questions: each family member is asked to grant a score (from 0 to 10) to their problem. In this way, the professional can inquire about what he would need to reduce a point on the scale, or if the score is high, what the person did so that it did not increase more.
• Circular questions: A family member is asked to answer what he does, thinks and/or feels another family member (present in the consultation) about which we want to know something. In this way, an interrelated vision of the problematic situation is obtained and allows information that was unknown, in addition to new points of view.