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Assume you are sharing an elevator while attending a conference when a fellow attendee notices your nametag and credentials and asks you what exactly you do as an MFT. Prepare an elevator speech to sell your approach as “a systemic thinker” that could be delivered in about two minutes. Consider approaching this assignment from a place of selling yourself and your line of work. In fact, you may want to think of it as a way to offer your business cards to potential clients.

You could mention the following concepts in a way that allows your fellow elevator travelers to understand your philosophy: · Feedback loops · Homeostasis · Causality · The sum is greater than the sum of its parts

Remember that an elevator speech must be: · Brief · Easy to deliver. · Positive and non-defensive · In everyday language that people can understand · Free of therapy jargon

Length: 1-2 pages References: References are not required for this assignment, but be sure to properly cite and reference any if included. Your speech should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts presented in the course by providing new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic.

Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards where appropriate. Be sure to adhere to Northcentral University's Academic Integrity Policy.

Paper For Above instruction

In a fast-paced, social environment such as an elevator, conveying the essence of my work as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) requires clarity, brevity, and relatability. My approach is rooted in systemic thinking, which emphasizes viewing individuals not in isolation, but as part of a larger interconnected system. This perspective allows me to understand behaviors, emotions, and challenges as outcomes of complex interactions within family or relational systems, rather than isolated issues.

At the core of my practice is the concept of feedback loops—reciprocal interactions that continuously influence each other within a system. For example, in a family, a parent's response to a child's behavior can reinforce or modify the child's actions, creating a cycle that sustains certain dynamics. Recognizing these loops helps clients understand the patterns that may be contributing to ongoing problems, such as conflict or emotional distress.

Another fundamental principle is homeostasis—the tendency of systems to stabilize or maintain equilibrium. Often, family members unconsciously resist change because it threatens this balance, even if the existing situation is unhealthy. My role is to facilitate awareness of these resistances and guide clients toward healthier stability without disrupting the core cohesion of their relationships.

Causality in systemic thinking is viewed as multidirectional rather than linear. Instead of blaming an individual, I help clients see how behaviors are influenced by and influence others within the system. This perspective fosters empathy and shared responsibility, enabling couples or families to work collaboratively towards change.

Finally, I believe that the sum is greater than the parts. This means that understanding the entire relational context provides insights that are impossible to see when focusing solely on individual symptoms. My approach integrates these concepts to help clients see their relationships as dynamic, interconnected systems where small changes can lead to significant, positive transformations.

In essence, I help clients reframe challenges as opportunities for systemic change—breaking unproductive cycles, fostering healthier feedback loops, and creating new patterns of interaction that promote growth and resilience. My goal is to empower clients with a systemic lens, so they can better understand their relationships and foster lasting change in their lives.

References

• Bateson, G. (1972). Steps to an ecology of mind: Collected essays in anthropology, psychiatry, evolution, and epistemology. University of Chicago Press.
• Currie, S. (2013). Systemic therapy: Theory, methods, and practice. SAGE Publications.
• Fisher, J., & Bowles, P. (2018). Family therapy: Concepts and methods (10th ed.). Pearson.
• Jones, E. (2020). The systemic approach: Understanding families and relationships. Routledge.
• Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. Harvard University Press.
• Satir, V. (1967). Conjoint family therapy. Science and Behavior Books.
• Schwartz, R. (2013). The systemic in psychotherapy: A complex systems perspective. Routledge.
• Watzlawick, P., Beavin, J. H., & Jackson, D. D. (1967). Pragmatics of human communication. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Yalom, I. D. (2002). The gift of therapy: An open letter to a new generation of therapists and their clients. HarperOne.
• Zerubavel, E. (1991). The fine line: Making distinctions in everyday life. Free Press.