Soul and System: The Integrative Possibilities of Family Therapy

Abstract

This article presents a review of the interface of family systems theory and therapy with religious, spiritual, or faith perspectives, with particular emphasis on Christian theology and Scripture. A brief review of the literature shows the relative paucity of work in this area to date. It is argued that family therapy is a particularly fertile ground for the integration of theological, religious, and spiritual considerations. Three points of intersection between family systems theory and biblical concepts—context, legacy, and body life—are discussed to illustrate the considerable promise of family systems theory for future integrative work. Implications for practice are discussed within a framework outlining three means of including religion or spirituality in the clinical work of family therapy—as resource, as culture, or as context. Borrowing from the family systems theory emphasis on epistemology, a definition of “second-order integration” is suggested, which may help to clarify the field's “thinking about thinking” about integration.