V originále
Psychosomatic illness can be a difficult and life-changing experience. Its presence can play a powerful role in the whole system. Our clients are far too often told “it is just stress-related, try to slow down and relax!” In our perspective, the symptom is usually voicing a relational ambivalence which cannot be voiced or even realized otherwise. In a common medical perspective illness is treated as an enemy. In my lecture I would like to offer a perspective where illness is seen as an honest and sometimes very annoyingly persistent coach of better communication who doesn’t get cheated easily. There has been a long tradition within the family therapy context of treating psychosomatic clients. In this lecture I would like to offer our experience with dialogical approach applied to working with psychosomatic clients and their families. Keynote speech at the annual conference DGSF-Video Tage 2021, held by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Systemische Therapie, Beratung und Familientherapie in cooperation with Auditorium Netzwerk from September 12 to September 19, 2021 in online form.