ABSTRACT
In socioculturally attuned contextual family therapy, third order change begins with attuning to systemic societal-level injustices under the surface of relationship patterns and naming unfairness in current relationships and those of prior generations. Socioculturally attuned contextual therapists value just relationships by crediting the contributions of others and taking accountability for the impact of one's actions. This chapter highlights enduring family therapy concepts that guide contextual therapy, including interpersonal consequences, balance of fairness, entitlement, intergenerational loyalty, and multidirected partiality. It then focuses not only on the immediate give and take among individual family members, but on historical indebtedness at family and societal levels. Therapists intervene in inequitable relationship patterns and help clients envision an ethical give and take with an eye toward transformation of the systemic balance of fairness across current and future generations. The chapter concludes with guidelines and a case example that demonstrates how to apply socioculturally attuned contextual therapy.
