Meet seanna Keeley

Are you curious about the Phoenix teaching team? Then welcome to the tenth 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 Seanna:

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

I first came across family therapy and systemic practice while studying my undergraduate degree in social work.  It just made sense to me that we all exist in systems and that working with one person means working with their family, community, culture, age and every other system they are engaged in.  After returning from 7 years of working in the UK I was a bit burnt out and wondering what to do with my profession.  I thought doing a Masters would help and it really it.  Studying family and systemic therapy re-invigorated by passion for working in mental health and helped bring back my spark.

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

I am grateful to have studied under Dr Leonie White and Dr Kate Owen and have an integrative approach to family therapy.  This means I can draw on multiple frameworks for my hypothesis and interventions, building more room to be creative and flexible in my work.  I often lean on Structural and Bowen as my primary lens with Narrative and Milan as my secondary.  Being taught by Leonie, Kate and Roger has been such a great way to relight my spark and inspire me as a family therapist. Having Laura Hawkins guide me as a supervisor, helping me jump in the helicopter and look at things differently helps me keep growing as family therapist.

How has systemic thinking and practice influenced your work?

Oh gosh, in every way possible!  I have a greater ability to zoom in and out of my work to understand what is happening for the person(s) I am with and for myself.  The training has increased my creativity, flexibility and confidence as a mental health clinician.  I think about the world differently which has helped my own life and personal relationships.  And I really enjoy being connected to the community of family therapists.

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

I have been inspired by those who have taught, supervised and mentored me along my own training and development and want to give some of that back.  Teaching and supervising people provides an opportunity for me to increase my own knowledge as we learn together. 

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?

It’s ok to not understand everything all at once!  Parts of systemic practice will come easier than others, allow yourself to let things click into place.

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

I love reading, going for hikes and spending time with people doing new things.

Seanna Keeley

Accredited Mental Health Social Worker & Clinical 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.