ABSTRACT
The Family Circles Method is a quick and graphic way of gathering, assessing and working with personal and family information, as seen by one or more members of a family. It is particularly useful with individual patients, but can also be used with a couple or a family. It helps clinicians to get another perspective of a patient’s life situation and predicaments. Such maps not only allow us to pinpoint where people are, but also where they have come from and where they might go in the future. The purpose of using mapping exercises such as the Family Circles Method is to help patients to connect current problems or illness with persons from the present and the past, as well as with other contextual issues, such as passions, interests, culture and religion. This not only adds a new dimension to the understanding of a patient’s living contexts and the various dilemmas, but also provides a concrete starting point for making changes in their personal life and relationships. The technique also recognises that some people prefer to approach problem solving in a visual way. Not everyone is good at just talking about relationships – seeing them drawn is a very powerful and compelling tool.
