Portrait · Guy Ausloos
Guy Ausloos: an exceptional therapist
Guy Ausloos is a well-known name in the fields of psychology and family therapy. Born in Belgium in 1948, this child psychiatrist and psychotherapist specialised in family therapies, with one central conviction: the family plays a crucial role in the individual’s development, throughout their whole life.
The driving ideas of his thinking
Four ideas structure his vision of the family and of care.
1
The family as a system
In this systemic vision, each family member interacts with the others and is influenced by them: each individual’s well-being depends largely on the dynamics of this family system.
2
The concept of “competence”
Every individual carries competences within — capacities, resources, talents — that can be mobilised to overcome challenges and solve the problems that arise. In a family context, these competences can be strengthened and brought to light.
3
Crisis as an opportunity
Rather than an insurmountable obstacle, difficult moments are an opportunity for the family to strengthen its bonds, and for the individual to learn and grow. Faced with a crisis, the family system is invited to mobilise its resources and discover new competences.
4
Co-responsibility
Each family member has a role to play. Rather than laying all the blame on one person, the point is to recognise each person’s share of responsibility in the family dynamics — including the therapist’s, within the space of care.
An approach centred on competences
In his therapeutic approach, Guy Ausloos does not focus on problems: he seeks to identify and strengthen existing competences. The aim is to lead the family to find its own solutions, using the resources it already possesses.
His vision of the family and of its role in personal development is both optimistic and realistic. By recognising the value of each member and by emphasising competences rather than weaknesses, Ausloos reminds us that the family is a powerful force for well-being and growth. His philosophy is a source of inspiration for family therapists of all generations.
See the book: La compétence des familles
I invite you to discover an interview with this exceptional therapist, recorded by Marc D’Hondt and the Village Systémique at an EFTA congress in Paris: it can be watched below, in French.
How to cite this article
Besse, J. (2023, September 3). Guy Ausloos: an exceptional therapist. Complexe Systémique. https://app.complexe-systemique.com/en_GB/articles/guy-ausloos-an-exceptional-therapist
To go further
- An inspiring dialogue with Stéphane Bujold, in the lineage of Guy AusloosWith Stéphane Bujold, a conversation that directly extends Guy Ausloos's thinking.
- The inductive questioning technique in therapyAffirmative, negative, interrogative…: the four modes of inductive questioning for leading the session.
- Maurizio Andolfi: a life devoted to family therapyMaurizio Andolfi, another great figure of family therapy and pioneer of the multigenerational approach.
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