Maria Rostworowska, Małgorzata Opoczyńska, Bogdan de Barbaro

Systems Consultation: Opportunities and Limitations   43

Summary The paper presents the role of systemic consultation in the diagnosis and therapeutic process of the people hospitalised for the first time because of a psychotic episode. The following questions are going to be put: What is the role of systemic family consultation in the diagnostic and therapeutic process on the inpatient ward? What are the differences between systemic consultation and others forms of family interventions e.g. family interviews, psycho-education, systemic therapy? What are the possibilities and limitations of such a consultation? What does it invite to? These are only some of those questions, which are typical for daily clinical practice, in which the family consultation takes an important part. In this paper, we would like to share some of our thoughts on the questions put, according to our clinical experience. I spite of difficulties the family consultation confronts us with, we are deeply convinced that it has an important part in the therapeutic and diagnosis process.