Contextual Therapy

Primarily developed by the late psychiatrist Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy (1920–2007), contextual therapy is an integrative approach that combines concepts and techniques from several systemically based counseling theories that address different dimensions of relationships. Applying family-of-origin therapy, contextual therapists help clients understand the systemic patterns, obligations, entitlements, and loyalties that developed in important family relationships and how these issues have affected the development of each person in the family system. The therapist then shares insight about how those patterns, both constructive and destructive, are repeated. Contextual therapy is also psychodynamic in nature as it is insight oriented and identifies the therapeutic relationship as a primary nexus for change. As clients become more aware of their issues and are fully understood by their therapist, they can use the ...