Person-Centered vs. Systemic Therapy
- Haile Reeve
- Sep 1
- 3 min read
Two powerful approaches. One shared goal: helping you grow.
What’s the Difference?
Person-Centered Approach | Systemic Approach | |
Focus | You — your inner world, feelings, thoughts, and potential | You-in-context — how your relationships, culture, and systems shape your experiences |
Belief | You have the capacity for growth when given the right environment | Growth happens by understanding the patterns around you, not just within you |
The Therapist’s Role | Supportive mirror — offering empathy, authenticity, and acceptance | Curious observer — noticing relational patterns, asking systemic questions, seeing the big picture |
Session Style | Safe, non-judgmental space to explore what’s on your mind | May explore family, cultural, or relational dynamics—even if you’re coming alone |
Best For… | People wanting to feel deeply seen, heard, and accepted | People navigating family/relationship issues, intergenerational patterns, or identity in context |
How They Work Together
The good news? These two approaches don’t compete—they complement each other.
A therapist (like Haile Reeve!) may draw from both, creating a space where:
You feel unconditionally accepted for who you are (person-centered),
While also understanding the systems you’re part of (systemic),
So you can heal both internally and relationally.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Reflect)
Person-Centered = “You are enough—and I’m here to walk with you.”
Systemic = “You make sense in context—let’s zoom out and understand the full picture.”
Why This Matters
Because therapy isn’t just about fixing you. It’s about understanding you. And whether that’s done by tuning into your feelings or zooming out to see your role in a system, both approaches help you move toward greater clarity, confidence, and connection.
Which Approach Is Right for Me?
Take this quick quiz to find out if Person-Centered, Systemic—or both—might be a good fit for your therapy journey.
Instructions: Pick the answer that feels most true for you right now. No wrong answers, we promise.
1. When I think about why I’m seeking therapy, it feels mostly connected to:
A) My thoughts, emotions, or self-esteem
B) My relationships, family dynamics, or cultural background
C) Honestly, both
2. I often find myself saying:
A) “I just want to feel heard and understood.”
B) “I keep repeating the same patterns in relationships.”
C) “All of the above—can I choose both?”
3. In therapy, I want someone who:
A) Creates a safe space for me to be myself and figure things out
B) Helps me see how my environment, upbringing, or systems might be impacting me
C) Can do both depending on what I need that day
4. I struggle most with:
A) Self-doubt, anxiety, or feeling stuck internally
B) Family roles, cultural identity, or navigating tough relationships
C) Feeling like everything is connected and complicated
5. What sounds more like you?
A) “I need someone to just get me without trying to fix me.”
B) “I want to understand how I got here—especially in the context of my relationships and history.”
C) “Please say I don’t have to choose!”
Your Results:
Mostly A’s → Person-Centered Might Be Right for You
You’re craving deep empathy, authenticity, and space to be fully seen without judgment. The Person-Centered Approach honors you as you are, while supporting you in growing at your own pace.
Mostly B’s → Systemic Might Be the Best Fit
You're curious about how your life has been shaped by relationships, roles, and environments—and how to shift patterns that aren’t working. The Systemic Approach helps connect the dots between you and the world around you.
Mostly C’s or a Mix → Why Not Both?
You’re a whole person, living in a complex world—and you deserve a therapy approach that reflects that. A therapist who blends person-centered and systemic work (like Haile Reeve!) can offer the best of both: deep empathy and big-picture insight.
💬 Final Thought:
Whichever approach speaks to you, remember: therapy is most effective when it meets you where you are. And sometimes where you are is… figuring it out. That’s okay. That’s exactly what therapy is for.
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