What is Contextual Therapy?

Contextual Therapy (Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy)The contextual model proposes four dimensions of relational reality:  facts (genetic input, physical health, basic historical facts, events in a person's life cycle, etc); individual psychology; systemic transactions (classical systemic family therapy, i.e.. rules, power, alignments, triangles, feedback, etc); and relational ethics. These dimensions are understood to be inter-linked. Relational focuses on the nature and roles of connectedness, caring, reciprocity, loyalty, legacy, guilt, fairness, accountability, and trustworthiness, within and between generations. Relational ethics is seen in relation to basic needs and real relationships with concrete consequences. Focuses on the interconnection between people. Contextual Therapy  aim is to evoke a dialogue of responsible mutual position-taking among family members, and consists of a sequential, empathic turning towards member after member (even absent members), in which both acknowledgment and expectation are directed at them. It is not a neutral or unilateral approach, and requires an appreciation of the 'ledger' from each person's point of view, even that of the current victimizer. The therapist has each family member explain their side of the story, in order to begin to understand the problem in terms of background facts, the relational context (i.e., intergenerational, interpersonal, and systemic), and deeper motivational factors (e.g., psychological processes, hidden loyalties and legacies, ledger imbalances, destructive entitlement resulting from real or perceived injustices, parentification of the child, etc.).  After the therapist has a preliminary understanding of the situation, issues requiring urgent attention (e.g., physical welfare, prevention of violence, etc.), are addressed,  especially in relation to the interests of the most vulnerable member(s), whether or not they are present at the therapy sessions.