Master the use of the Amour Monstre floating object in systemic therapy
Theoretical foundations
Theoretical foundations: a systemic compass
This second major chapter lays the systemic foundations needed to use Amour Monstre accurately, beyond enthusiasm for the tool. It clarifies the different “levels” of cybernetic reading.
First order
Observing loops and regulations: how the system reacts, compensates, and seeks a form of stability.
Second order
Integrating the fact that the therapist takes part in the system they observe: their presence already shapes what becomes visible and speakable.
Third order
Taking into account the broader contexts of power, norms and inequalities that run through relationships.
The goal is simple: to give you a compass for choosing your stance and calibrating your intervention. You will find the basic guideposts that make the game safe to use — curiosity, non-blame, responsibility — and you will understand why Amour Monstre works as a floating object: a third party that shifts the discussion from face-to-face confrontation to a shared exploration, more nuanced, more containing, and more open to transformation.