The legacy of Tom Andersen: The ethics of reflecting processes

J Marital Fam Ther. 2018 Jul;44(3):386-392. doi: 10.1111/jmft.12289. Epub 2018 Mar 8.

Abstract

Tom Andersen and his pioneering work with reflecting conservations has had a lasting influence on the field of family therapy and mental health more broadly. Most family therapists are familiar with his contributions related to reflecting teams; however, fewer are familiar with his conceptualization of reflecting processes, which offer practical ways to approach therapeutic conversations to address challenging problems. This article provides a brief history of Andersen's career and reviews four key elements of his approach, including: (a) his way of being in relationship, (b) appropriately unusual comments, (c) inner and outer dialogs, and (d) ethics of dialogical relating. Finally, this article introduces readers to the context of the video that will be analyzed in the articles that follow in this special section.

Publication types

  • Biography
  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Family Therapy / history
  • Family Therapy / methods*
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, 21st Century
  • Humans

Personal name as subject

  • Tom Andersen