Cultural narratives and the self of the therapist: A journey in systemic therapy

Abstract

This paper is based on my experiences of becoming a systemic family therapist, reflecting on how my identity and Greek cultural narratives have shaped my practice. A historical overview of first-, second-, and third-order approaches illustrates the evolution of the self of the therapist in systemic therapy through self-reflexivity. Reflecting on my experiences in a multicultural context, I explore the significance of curiosity in understanding how my cultural narratives influence my practice. I examine how my identity is formed and re-formed based on context. To achieve this, I provide practice examples where I attended to my internal dialogues, used supervision, and applied reflective tools such as the cultural genogram. Expanding on these reflections, I propose the Culturally Permissioned Reflexivity Map (CPRM) framework, which integrates insights from the Location, Dislocation, and Relocation (LDR) framework (Draper, Marcellino & Thomson 2023), reflexive mapping approaches, including the Social Identity Map (Jacobson & Mustafa, 2019), the cultural genogram (Laszloffy & Hardy, 1995), and conceptual work on mapping emotional reflexivity (MacKian, 2004). The CPRM framework aims to deepen further our understanding as to how cultural contexts shape which emotions and professional positions feel permitted, silenced or tolerated within the therapeutic and supervisory relationships. The core argument of this paper is that, in therapeutic relationships, therapists should integrate all aspects of their selves to establish meaningful connections with clients. This integration is central to the therapeutic process and facilitates change.