Meet Claire Barbagallo

Are you curious about the Phoenix teaching team? Then welcome to the ninth of the Teaching Team Introduction series of blogs to introduce Leonie and the Phoenix Family Therapy Teaching Team Associates and Guest Teaching Associates.

Relationships are at the heart of family therapy and systemic practice and start with introductions.  It’s important that at Phoenix we practice what we teach and embrace the relational principles that we espouse. So let’s keep going with getting to know the team in this blog series.

From Claire:

How did your interest in family therapy and systemic practice get sparked?

When I first began as a speech therapist 10 years ago, I worked in Child and Youth Mental Health Services and and the team I was a part of provided family therapy using the Milan approach. Immediately, I knew I wanted to think systemically and learn ways to integrate it in my speech therapy practice. Over the years, I attended family therapy training here and there, got mentoring from my wonderful colleague, friend, and co-director, Seanna Keeley, engaged in group supervision within teams, and decided to formally train as a family therapist through the Queensland Institute of Family Therapy (QIFT).

What frameworks are you drawn to and why? And which figures in family therapy have been your biggest influences?

My training in family therapy has given me the opportunity to learn from all schools of thought, through an integrative approach. Having a cocktail of frameworks allows me to lean into and borrow from (…hopefully in an intentional way!). My primary pictures often include Bowen, Strategic, Structural, and systems theory. Being a speech therapist, I am also always looking for the meaning of language and other forms of communication. I believe narrative therapy is a core element of my work, even before becoming a family therapist. 

I have been grateful to be surrounded by some incredible family therapists throughout my career who have influenced my passion and supported my growth. A few of the main figures have been Leonie While, Kate Owen, who directed and trained in my family therapy course, Laura Hawkins who has been my supervisor for years, and of course, Seanna Keeley.

How has systemic thinking and practice influenced your work?

Understanding my own role in a system and figuring out my point of influence has been super powerful. It helps me pause, and slow things down. This shows up in my clinical work, my role as a director/manager and also how I make any decisions professionally (and personally!).

Why have you chosen to go into a teaching/supervising/mentoring role in this field?

Systemic thinking needs to be a core element of any helping profession training. And it’s not. For this reason, I am incredibly passionate about providing training to other therapists and teachers to create a more systemic, affirming and inclusive future in healthcare.

If you could give one piece of advice to our program participants starting the 2-year accredited training program, the Advanced Certificate in Systemic Family Therapy and Practice, what would it be?

Be open to unlearning parts of your formal background training – whether you are a fellow speech therapist, psychologist, social worker or psychiatrist – the news of difference will feel uncomfortable at times, and that’s okay. It’s important to trust the process.  

What is something you love to do when you aren’t working?

Moving my body, being outdoors, and spending time with my family (slash, running after my toddler).

Claire Barbagallo

Speech Therapist & Family Therapist

Teaching Team Member Phoenix Family Therapy Academy

Please note that this article is educational in nature and does not constitute professional or therapeutic advice or suggestion.