We Are All Connected: A Therapist’s Take on Systems Thinking
Systems Thinking
The anthropologist Gregory Bateson shares a story in Steps to an Ecology of Mind, about a man, an axe, and a tree. He describes the process of the man gripping the axe, the axe making contact with the tree, and the tree responding to the force. Rather than seeing these as separate things, Bateson invites us to consider them as part of a single system. The man’s movement guides the axe, the axe transfers energy to the tree, and the tree reacts. None of these actions exist in isolation. They are all connected, functioning together as part of one larger process.
Bateson uses this story to illustrate his concept of an integrated mind. He saw the mind as different parts coming together to form a whole, much like pieces of a machine working in sync to create movement. The man, the axe, and the tree are not separate. They are in constant relationship, engaged in a dynamic exchange of energy. This story resonates with me because it highlights something fundamental, that we are always in connection, whether with other people, objects, or even ideas. This understanding is at the heart of systems thinking and it forms the foundation of my work as a therapist.
Moving Beyond a Linear View
Bateson wasn’t alone in challenging the idea that the world operates in a simple cause-and-effect manner. Other scientists, psychiatrists, and clinicians also began to question the assumption that A causes B. Instead, they proposed that A and B influence each other, existing within a web of interactions rather than a one-directional path. In this view, things don’t happen in isolation – everything is part of a system that is constantly shaping and reshaping itself.
This shift in thinking transformed the field of psychology and therapy. Traditionally, therapy focused on diagnosing and treating individual symptoms. But systems theory encouraged clinicians to step back and look at the bigger picture. Instead of asking “What’s wrong with this person?”, they started asking, “How do their relationships, environment, and experiences shape what they’re going through?” Symptoms were no longer just personal struggles. They were part of a larger, interconnected system.
A Personal Connection
Before I learned about systems theory, I found myself naturally thinking this way. As a teenager and young adult, I was always trying to piece together what shaped the people around me. I wanted to understand why someone acted the way they did, not just in terms of personality, but in terms of their experiences, upbringing, and relationships. It never made sense to me to think in black-and-white terms because people are never that simple.
I see myself as being shaped by my own family and the world around me. My values, fears, and ways of being are not just mine – they are woven from generations of influence, cultural expectations, and personal experiences. Understanding myself in this way has given me a sense of clarity and a way to make sense of the past and move through the present with greater awareness. In many ways, this is what Bateson described with the integrated mind. A mind that is not housed within one individual, but one that exists in constant exchange with everything and everyone around it.
My Work as a Therapist
I don’t just focus on symptoms or isolated struggles, I look at the whole picture. I help clients explore not just what they are feeling, but where those feelings come from and how their relationships, past experiences, and cultural background shape their emotional world. Therapy, in this way, is not just about fixing a “problem” but about understanding patterns, identifying connections, and creating new ways of relating to oneself and others.
A client doesn’t come into therapy as just one individual. They bring with them the voices of their family, the lessons of their culture, the expectations they’ve absorbed, and the relationships that have shaped them. And I, as the therapist don’t just exist in isolation either. I bring my own experiences, interpretations, and understanding of how systems shape us. Through the therapeutic relationship, we co-create a space where the client can see themselves more clearly, understand their connections, and move toward change with a greater sense of agency.
Coming Full Circle
At first, I didn’t really understand the meaning of Bateson’s story about the man, the axe, and the tree. But over time I’ve returned to it again and again, seeing it as a powerful metaphor for the work I do. Therapy is about integration – bringing together different parts of ourselves, understanding how we are shaped by our relationships, and recognizing that we are never truly separate from the world around us.
The therapeutic process is about collaboration. It’s an ongoing exchange of energy and ideas between client and therapist. In this space, we are not just talking about struggles, we are reshaping narratives, exploring connections, and creating new ways of being. Through this lens, therapy becomes more than just a conversation. It becomes a dynamic, living system. One that is always evolving, just like us.
Samantha Fuchs, LMFT