ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that formulation contains within it the core conceptual, psychological, and philosophical issues relating to therapy. It looks at the development of formulation in systemic thinking, and to make some links with other approaches such as functional analysis. The chapter suggests that systemic theory offered a substantial development in its second phase in the move from an “outside” and “expert” position to a constructivist view that acknowledged the subjective nature of knowledge and knowing. Constructivist approaches have repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that family members may disagree, sometimes violently, about their explanations and narratives. These have been seen as essentially interpersonal disagreements or struggles over the punctuation of events. The chapter offers synthesis of approaches to formulation in systemic therapy and suggests that this can be summarized in a five-part model. These are the problem— deconstruction, Problem— maintaining patterns and feedback loops, Beliefs and explanations, Emotions and attachments and Contextual factors.
