Ecosystemic training: conjoining supervision and organizational development

Training in systems therapy is itself a systems process that is influenced by the organizational context in which it occurs. Systems trainers need to apply their skills to the interface between them and the agency, otherwise they face the danger that their impact will be eroded by organizational difficulties in "internalizing" their approach. Furthermore, there is much to be gained by working in this domain, especially if the training stimulates and becomes intertwined with organizational development. This coevolutionary process then facilitates integration of the systems model by both the trainees and the agency. Three variables, important for working at this interface, are analyzed: the approach of the supervisor, the composition and dynamics of the training group, and the treatment philosophy and work patterns of the institution. The implementation of this approach is demonstrated through a 4-year project of training and program development with Israel's Youth Protection Authority.