What Is Family Systems Therapy?

When a family faces challenges—conflict, transition or mental health issues—the preferred psychotherapy approach is the Family Systems Therapy (FST). FST’s basic notion is that a family is a network of closely interconnected elements. What happens to one family member inevitably impacts all the others. When a problem arises within the household, optimally, the whole family will work with a therapist to bring about change.

In this article, we deliver the answer to the question: “What is Family Systems Therapy?”. We’ll cover how it has evolved, its main principles and its techniques. Then, we’ll move on to a related approach called Internal Family Systems (IFS), which takes the precepts of FST and turns them inward, to an individual and their internal “family”.

What Is Family Systems Therapy?

Family Systems Therapy (FST)  is a form of group psychotherapy in which the therapist meets with family members (including, if needed, relatives or other crucial persons). The focus is on improving their individual functioning and their relationships as a unit.

FST has been proven beneficial for a range of challenges, including

• Improving communication
• Establishing healthy boundaries
• Helping a family member overcome trauma, addiction, eating or mood disorders [1].

A Brief History of Family Systems Therapy

Family Systems Therapy can be traced back to the 1950s, with notable figures such as Murray Bowen [2] and Salvador Minuchin [3] contributing the early insights that would later form the foundations of the approach:

• Bowen noticed that once-improved schizophrenia symptoms would flare up again when the patient returned home [4], realising the need to work with the family as a whole.
• Minuchin showed how invisible but potent family rules shape our lives. In his seminal work, he demonstrated how particular family patterns tend to keep children sick, for example [5].

These early insights and family systems therapy techniques are alive today in an ever-evolving approach we now know as the modern (and quite eclectic) FST.

What Is Internal Family Systems Therapy Used For?

In the 1980s, an interesting branch from the original FST work emerged: Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS). It is used to help a person reach their calm, compassionate centre—their core Self—and heal their psychological wounds. Many regard it to be an excellent application of systems thinking to individual therapeutic work.

Richard Schwartz, the founder of IFS therapy [6], was trained as a family systems therapist [7]. In his work, he observed that individuals often discuss different parts of their personality, their sub-personalities. Some of these parts hold pain or trauma (called Exiles in the IFS). Others try to protect us by controlling our behaviour (these parts are known as Managers). When all else fails, sub-personalities named Firefighters step in and try to numb our feelings [8].

Recent studies suggest that IFS therapy can help deal with trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, chronic pain, depression, and develop self-compassion and self-forgiveness [9, 10, 11].

What Is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that develops after experiencing or witnessing an extremely distressing or traumatic event. It can cause symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, intense anxiety, and intrusive thoughts related to the experience.

How Does Internal Family Systems Therapy Work?

In Internal Family Systems therapy, the family systems therapy techniques are modified to identify and truly understand all your sub-personalities.

During sessions, you learn how to access your true, undamaged Self. Once the burdens of other parts are released, they can be better managed by this healthy Self.

Nonetheless, before that can be achieved, similar to family members in FST, all parts deserve to be heard and healed.

One way to do so is the six F technique.

1. Find: Identify sub-personalities.
2. Focus: Concentrate on the most relevant part.
3. Flesh: Describe it to flesh it out.
4. Feel: Examine your emotions about this part of yourself.
5. BeFriend: Accept and befriend this part with curiosity and compassion.
6. Fear: Determine what fear is driving this part.

Therefore, the IFS sessions sometimes feel somewhat like internal role-playing. Over time, you learn not to be fused with and overwhelmed by these parts, but to moderate their impact and make healthier choices.

Does Internal Family Systems Therapy Work?

Though there is more research still to do, several studies have confirmed Internal Family Systems Therapy is effective. One pilot study was conducted on 17 adult survivors of multiple types of childhood trauma and found that IFS therapy was effective for PTSD, as well as other accompanying symptoms [9].

Another study, published in 2025, provided further support for these initial findings and also showed that IFS may also be helpful in cases of substance use [10].

Interestingly, IFS can also be beneficial for individuals experiencing physical ailments. Research data revealed improvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [12], for example.

Nonetheless, we must acknowledge that the evidence supporting IFS is still limited. This gap in the literature becomes particularly evident when contrasted with well-researched modalities such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). It remains to be seen how the IFS therapy will develop. For now, it appears to work for many people, and new empirical evidence will hopefully expand its impact.

Conclusion

In one way or another, family is the foundation of everything. Even if we are not eager to accept it, we are all shaped by these earliest and often closest relationships. Creating healthier dynamics (whether with our family or ourselves) can be a turning point in life.

Both Family Systems Therapy and Internal Family Systems Therapy remind us that healing and becoming all we can be is not about walking the path alone. It is about growing compassion, acceptance, connection and balance—within and around us.