Tom Andersen

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Tom Andersen (born May 2, 1936 in Oslo ; † May 15, 2007 at Høvåg ) was a Norwegian psychiatrist and psychotherapist .

life and work

After completing his medical degree in 1961, Andersen specialized in psychiatry and was appointed professor of social psychiatry at the University of Tromsø in Northern Norway. As a supervisor, he was involved in the practical work of social workers, nurses, physiotherapists and doctors, especially in areas with poor infrastructure.

Andersen dealt with Gregory Bateson , the biological theories of Humberto Maturana , cybernetics and constructivism ( Heinz von Foerster and Ernst von Glasersfeld ) and the 'Milanese model' of the group around Mara Selvini Palazzoli . Encounters with Harold A. Goolishian from the Galveston Family Institute in Texas gave him impetus .

Andersen began to question the therapist and his point of view, his modes of communication and intervention, and to offer him an observing system as an alternative. This should focus on the here and now in the therapeutic sense, help avoid diagnostic evaluations and generate positive future scenarios. Such conversations had the character of a reflection, which is why Andersen introduced the concept of the reflective team , which has been inseparably linked with his name ever since. who invented the Reflecting Team , meanwhile the standard of systemic therapy and specific form of a therapeutic setting. In an obituary, his very special way of addressing his clientele is acknowledged.

Fonts (selection)

  • (1990): The Reflective Team. Dialogues and dialogues about dialogues. Modern life, Dortmund 1990.
  • (1991): Relationship, Language and Understanding in Reflective Processes. Systems 5: 102-111
  • (1997): Increasing the sensitivity of the therapist through a joint research process between client and therapist. Journal of Systemic Therapy 15: 160–167

literature

  • (1987): Systemic thinking and systemic action in Northern Norway. A conversation with Tom Andersen. Journal of Systemic Therapy 5: 95-100.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://www.systemisch.net/timeline-systemisch.htm
  2. ^ Stumm, Pritz: Personal Lexicon of Psychotherapy , Vienna, New York 2005, 17f
  3. ↑ Michael Schlicksbier-Hepp: Obituary for Tom Andersen
personal data
SURNAME Andersen, Tom
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Norwegian psychiatrist and psychotherapist, founder of the Reflecting Team
DATE OF BIRTH May 2, 1936
PLACE OF BIRTH Oslo
DATE OF DEATH May 15, 2007
Place of death at Høvåg