Why Would Our Business Engage a Systems Therapist?
Things were going exceptionally well in the family business—until Mike and Suzie separated. Overnight, the harmony fractured, and the family found itself in conflict. Mike and his brother Leo, both co-owners and Directors, are deeply concerned about the business’s future. Although Suzie has stated she won’t make a claim on the business, the tension is high. Lawyers have been engaged, and the accountant is actively involved.
Adding to the complexity is Mike’s 25-year-old daughter, Jasmine. A dedicated and valued employee, Jasmine has long been seen as the natural successor to her father. However, she is also her mother’s staunchest ally—further entangling the family and business dynamics.
This is precisely where a family or systems therapist can provide invaluable support.
A systems therapist works with the entire family-business system, recognising that personal relationships and business dynamics are deeply intertwined. When emotional tensions rise—especially during life transitions like divorce, succession planning, or generational shifts—unresolved issues can quickly derail even the most successful enterprise.
Rather than taking sides, the therapist serves as a neutral facilitator, helping family members surface unspoken concerns, clarify roles, and express their needs in a constructive way. They explore longstanding relationship patterns, pinpoint sources of tension, and help families understand how past dynamics may be influencing present behavior.
In practical terms, this might include:
- Facilitating structured conversations between family members who are no longer speaking.
- Supporting the next generation, like Jasmine, to navigate loyalty conflicts between parents and their role in the family business.
- Assisting family members to separate emotional decisions from strategic ones.
- Offering tools for managing difficult conversations around ownership, leadership and succession.
- Helping non-family employees understand and navigate the shifting landscape.
The therapist’s goal is not to offer legal or financial advice—that’s the domain of lawyers and accountants—but to work alongside those professionals, ensuring that family dynamics don’t become the hidden obstacle to a successful resolution.
Ultimately, the systems therapist helps families break through relational impasses, rebuild trust, and re-establish a shared vision. This work can be pivotal in restoring forward momentum—not just for the family’s wellbeing, but for the sustainability and success of the business itself.
By SA based Family Business Accredited Advisor
Catherine Sanders - Director at Bower Place - Clinical Psychologist, Teacher and Writer
