The Self-Development of the Therapist through Satir Systemic Transformational Therapy and Training

Today, many research have shown that mainly the effectiveness of therapy depends on ’the quality of therapeutic relationship between client and therapist’. Thus, therapist’s use of his/her ‘self’ is a critical factor in therapy process.

Virginia Satir, one of the first Family Therapy Trainers, emphasized that the humaneness and congruence of the therapist is more important than his/her expertise very important for effective therapy outcome. For this aim, therapist’s ability to connect with clients and own self processes, being trustable, being congruent and being in harmony with self can increase through solving unfinished familial issues and therapist’s gaining self-awareness.

This workshop aims to support the therapist’s self-growth, increase the therapist’s awareness about family issues, own resources, internal processes and the parts of his/ her self that is needed to be developed, and gaining family therapy skills through experiential, change-focused, systemic and positively-oriented Satir Systemic Transformational Therapy concept. Participants will also have an opportunity to learn about family therapist competencies that are also identified by American Family Therapy Association (AAMFT) and explore about their Therapist ‘being’ as emphasized by the European Family Therapy Association ( EFTA) to promote self growth n becoming a ‘Family Therapist’. The presenter will use the same approach that she uses in her family therapy program : focusing on the growth of the ‘Self’ of the Therapist and providing a competency and therapist focused training program. The Participants would work in groups which would consist of 2 or 3 participants and share their internal processes with the group members.

Plan:

1..Looking into competences about doing family therapy and being family therapist.

2..Participants’ analysis of their self-development and internal processes through working with Satir Iceberg Metaphor.

3. The therapist’s gaining awareness about ’Who am I?’, ’How would be my therapist role and identity?’, ’What are my resources that would help me to be a family therapist?’, ’Which parts of my ’self’ need to be developed?’ thorough experiential techniques (such as art therapy & Satir Self-Esteem Kit) and learning Satir Systemic Transformational Therapy components experientially.