Family Systems & Couples Comparisons
Comparing structural, strategic, Bowenian, EFT for couples, Gottman, IFS and related systemic approaches.
Systemic approaches relocate the problem from the person to the pattern between people, and then disagree about which pattern and at what level. Structural work rearranges boundaries and hierarchy. Strategic work interrupts the sequence that keeps a symptom in place. Attachment-based couple work goes after the cycle underneath the content of the fight. Internal Family Systems takes the systemic move and turns it inward, treating one mind as a family of parts.
These pages compare what each approach asks of the people in the room — who has to attend, who is treated as the client, and what counts as change — alongside the evidence, which is stronger in this lineage than its reputation suggests for several couple and family protocols and thin for others.
34 comparisons · 13 within the same tradition · 21 across traditions
Across traditions
Comparisons where the two approaches disagree about what a person is, not only about technique.
- Behavioral Couples Therapy vs EFT for Couples
- Behavioral Couples Therapy vs Gottman Method
- CBT-E vs FBT / Maudsley
- Child-Parent Psychotherapy vs PCIT
- Circle of Security vs PCIT
- Contextual Therapy vs Narrative Therapy
- DBT for Adolescents vs Structural Family Therapy
- DBT vs Gottman Method
- Discernment Counseling vs EFT for Couples
- Discernment Counseling vs Gottman Method
- EFT for Couples vs EMDR
- EFT for Couples vs Gottman Method
- EFT for Couples vs IBCT
- EFT for Couples vs Imago Therapy
- Filial Therapy vs PCIT
- Gottman Method vs IBCT
- Gottman Method vs PACT
- IBCT vs Imago Therapy
- PCIT vs Play Therapy
- PCIT vs Theraplay
- SFBT vs Strategic Family Therapy
Within the same tradition
Comparisons between approaches that share a worldview and differ in method or emphasis.
- Brief Strategic Family Therapy vs MST
- Brief Strategic Family Therapy vs Strategic Family Therapy
- Brief Strategic Family Therapy vs Structural Family Therapy
- Contextual Therapy vs IFS
- EFT for Couples vs PACT
- FBT / Maudsley vs FFT
- FBT / Maudsley vs Structural Family Therapy
- FFT vs MST
- FFT vs Strategic Family Therapy
- FFT vs Structural Family Therapy
- Gottman Method vs Imago Therapy
- MST vs Structural Family Therapy
- Strategic Family Therapy vs Structural Family Therapy