Socioculturally Attuned Family Therapy

This chapter provides an overview of socioculturally attuned family therapy and the importance of third order thinking in exploring the connection between cultural, economic, political, social, environmental, and familial systems. Authors point to the integral role unjust relationships play in creating and exacerbating mental health symptoms and relationship problems as well as the practical implications of addressing power dynamics as part of the therapeutic process. The concept of social determinants of health is expanded to include socio-relational determinants of health and a number of issues are addressed related to our contemporary societal context. These include social isolation, individualism and the distant other, social inequities, and polarization. The chapter concludes by defining socioculturally attuned family therapy as a set of transtheoretical considerations that can enhance common factors and be integrated into existing family therapy models.