Which therapeutic approach focuses primarily on the family as a unit?

Family Systems Therapy is centered around understanding the family as a cohesive unit rather than just focusing on individuals in isolation. This approach views family members as deeply interconnected, where interactions among them can significantly influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By analyzing the dynamics within the family system, therapists aim to uncover patterns and issues that may be affecting individual and family functioning.

In Family Systems Therapy, the interactions, roles, and boundaries within the family are evaluated to identify issues that contribute to dysfunction. The goal is to improve communication, enhance relationships, and promote healthier interactions among family members, which, in turn, helps to address individual concerns within the context of the family system.

Other therapeutic approaches mentioned, like Individual Therapy, primarily target the individual’s issues without consideration of family dynamics, whereas Cognitive Therapy focuses on the individual's thought processes. Gestalt Therapy emphasizes awareness and the here-and-now experience but does not concentrate on family interactions as the primary focus. Therefore, the choice that best highlights the family as a central unit of therapeutic focus is Family Systems Therapy.