Abstract
The article introduces a concept of social uterus as an integrative model of family development. The concept has been gradually
developed by two of the authors of the article through extensive clinical work with individuals and families during the last
two decades. It has shown to have clinical validity, particularly in family therapy for psychosomatic disorders and various
chronic somatic diseases. In the article, we first present a short description of our perspective on psychosomatic issues.
We also give some information about the broader context of psychosomatic medicine and family therapy in our country. The main
part of the article focuses on the concept of social uterus in detail. 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.
developed by two of the authors of the article through extensive clinical work with individuals and families during the last
two decades. It has shown to have clinical validity, particularly in family therapy for psychosomatic disorders and various
chronic somatic diseases. In the article, we first present a short description of our perspective on psychosomatic issues.
We also give some information about the broader context of psychosomatic medicine and family therapy in our country. The main
part of the article focuses on the concept of social uterus in detail. 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.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-20
- DOI 10.1007/s10591-012-9197-3
- Authors
- Vladislav Chvála, The Centre for Complex Therapy of Psychosomatic Disorders, The Institute of Family Therapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Jáchymovská 385/25, 460 10 Liberec 10, Czech Republic
- Ludmila Trapková, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Outpatient Clinic, Ovenecká 34, 17000 Prague 7, Czech Republic
- David Skorunka, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Šimkova 870, 50038 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
- Journal Contemporary Family Therapy
- Online ISSN 1573-3335
- Print ISSN 0892-2764