Authority of the psychotherapist in the perspective of systems theory

: The authority of the therapist is described in reference to a model of the framing of development based on General Systems Theory, as an essential property of the therapist-patient relationship that insures the hierarchical structure of the therapeutic system. The hierarchically superior position of the therapist is based on the relatively great (long term) constancy of his/her functioning mode in therapy, securing the dynamic stability of the therapeutic system. To insure his/her own development (evolution), the therapist himself (herself) needs to be framed by hierarchically superior systems. The importance of the relative autonomy of the therapist in face of the risk of loosing or overdoing his (her) own authority is briefly discussed.