Social Uterus: A Developmental Concept in Family. Therapy for Psychosomatic Disorders
Vladislav Chva´la • Ludmila Trapkova´ • David Skorunka Published online: 10 May 2012
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012
Contemp Fam Ther (2012) 34:293–312
DOI 10.1007/s10591-012-9197-3
Abstract:
The article introduces a concept of social uterus as an integrative model of family development. The concept has been gradually developed in the last two decades of extensive clinical work with families with psychosomatic disorders and various chronic somatic diseases. It has proved its clinical validity particularly in the family therapy for the abovementioned problems presented by individuals and families. In the article, we first begin with a short description of our perspective on psychosomatic issues. We also give some information about broader context of psychosomatic medicine and family therapy in our country. Main part of the article is focused on the basic assumptions of the concept of social uterus. With regard to process of family therapy, both promising and controversial aspects of the concept are discussed. We conclude with some ideas concerning a need for collaborative health care in the treatment of psychosomatic disorders.