That’s the question at the heart of a successful training programme developed by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust clinicians, which has recently been featured in Context magazine, the publication of the Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice.

In their article, Systemic Skills Training, Dr Lisa Rudgley, Senior Family and Systemic Psychotherapist at Cotswold House Specialist Adult Eating Disorder Service, and Anne Lion, Senior Family and Systemic Psychotherapist at Melksham Community CAMHS, describe how they created a practical training programme to help clinicians understand the wider family, social and professional systems that influence a person’s health and wellbeing.

Since launching the course in 2022, nine programmes have been delivered to 75 clinicians working across mental health services in Swindon and Wiltshire. Participants have included psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers, all exploring how systemic approaches can enhance everyday clinical practice.

The free training focuses on practical skills that clinicians can use immediately, including systemic questioning, genograms, reflexivity and collaborative approaches to working with families and wider support networks. Central to the programme is the idea that lasting change is often more difficult when the wider context around an individual is not understood or considered.

A special thanks to the adult service users who developed the leaflet Useful Communication Ideas for Clinicians Working with People Who Are Neurodivergent. Created in response to questions raised during the training sessions, the leaflet shares practical suggestions and adaptations to support more effective communication with neurodivergent people.

Feedback from participants suggests the training is helping clinicians become more confident in involving families, considering different perspectives and approaching conversations with greater curiosity rather than rushing to solutions. Many reported applying the learning directly to their clinical work and gaining a deeper understanding of how relationships and family dynamics can shape a person’s experiences.

Dr Lisa Rudgley  and Anne Lion told us: “Systemic practice encourages us to be curious, to consider multiple perspectives and to recognise the important role that relationships play in people’s lives. Our aim has been to provide practical skills that clinicians can immediately apply in their work, helping them feel more confident in working with families and wider support networks. It’s been wonderful to see colleagues from so many different disciplines embrace these ideas and use them to support more holistic, person-centred care.”

Following positive feedback, the programme continues to evolve, with plans to expand opportunities for discussion and skills-based learning while maintaining its focus on making systemic ideas accessible and relevant to clinicians across Oxford Health services.

If you would like to know more email: Anne.Lion@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk