New Materialism(s) and Systemic Psychotherapy: Does it Matter? (PART 2)

Abstract

This is the second of a two-part paper on New Materialisms (NMs) and systemic psychotherapy. The paper applies NMs concepts to the practice of systemic psychotherapy through the use of two composite practice examples. Continuing from the first part of the two-part paper, we move the theoretical discussion from a conceptual to a practical level. Therefore, this paper aims to address some of the core elements of NMs and their relevance in systemic psychotherapy practice. It does not claim to take an exhaustive approach to implementing NMs in systemic psychotherapy. NMs can influence a new paradigm within the plurality of paradigms present in systemic psychotherapy. By and large, although NMs and systemic psychotherapy depart from different philosophical, ontological and epistemological underpinnings, we argue that they can be bridged not only at a theoretical but also at a practical level, as they both share a common potentiality as practices of freedom. By plugging in these two practices, new possibilities when it comes to understanding and creating change in our lives and the social situations in which we are situated unfold.