Helm Stierlin (12 March 1926 – 9 September 2021), born as ''Wilhelm Paul Stierlin'', was a German psychiatrist,

psychoanalyst PsychoanalysisFrom Greek language, Greek: + . is a set of Theory, theories and Therapy, therapeutic techniques"What is psychoanalysis? Of course, one is supposed to answer that it is many things — a theory, a research method, a therapy, a bo ...

and systemic family therapist. From 1974 to 1991 he was the medical director and chairowner of the Department for psychoanalytic basic research and

Family Therapy Family therapy (also referred to as family counseling, family systems therapy, marriage and family therapy, couple and family therapy) is a branch of psychology and clinical social work that works with families and couples in intimate relations ...

at the

Medical Faculty A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, ...

of the University of Heidelberg. Stierlin contributed significantly to the establishment and further development of systemic therapy in Germany. Until 1995 he was the editor of the journal ''Familiendynamik''. His scientific writings and books were translated into twelve languages.

Biography

Early life

Helm Stierlin was the oldest of three sons of the bridge-building engineer and government architect Paul Stierlin (1890 in Stuttgart – 1 April 1945 in Mannheim) and his wife Elsbeth-Sophie, née Schöningh (1905 in Meppen – 1995 in Neckarhausen). His paternal grandparents are Wilhelm Stierlin, director of the Königlich Württembergische Eisenbahn (1853-1906),

nobility Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy (class), aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below Royal family, royalty. Nobility has often been an Estates of the realm, estate of the realm with many e ...

by awarding the Hausorden der Württembergischen Krone, and his wife Anna Stierlin, née Bilfinger (1856-1928). Johann Wendelin Bilfinger, dean in Cannstatt, later Protestant

abbot Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. Th ...

, is an ancestor of Helm Stierlin and the father of Georg Bernhard Bilfinger. Stierlin's maternal grandparents are the manor owner Eduard Schöningh and his wife Elisabeth. Helm Stierlin is married to the Swiss psychologist and family therapist Satuila Stierlin. Two daughters are descended from the marriage. Helm Stierlin grew up in Mannheim, Großwallstadt, Neckarsteinach and from 1935 to 1945 in Stettin. Due to his father's job, the Stierlin family moved several times. As a young soldier Helm took part in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. After the Unconditional surrender of the Wehrmacht on 7 May 1945, he succeeded as a 19-year-old in reaching his homeland via

Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...

without being captured. Helm Stierlin's younger brother Gerhard died at the age of 17 in the Second World War.

Medical education

When the universities reopened their doors in 1945, Helm Stierlin enrolled for the

medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, and Health promotion ...

at the University of Heidelberg after completing an emergency baccalaureate. Parallel to the compulsory medical lectures and seminars, Stierlin attended the philosophical lectures of

Karl Jaspers Karl Theodor Jaspers (, ; 23 February 1883 – 26 February 1969) was a German-Swiss psychiatrist and philosopher who had a strong influence on modern theology, psychiatry, and philosophy. After being trained in and practicing psychiatry, Jaspe ...

as often as he could, which demanded a balancing act from him every now and then, since the lecture venues of the medical faculty and the philosophical faculty were far apart from each other, but the compulsory lectures and the optional lectures at Karl Jaspers in Philosophy that interested him were very close in their schedule. Besides Jasper's approaches, the

Hegel Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (; ; 27 August 1770 – 14 November 1831) was a German philosopher. He is one of the most important figures in German idealism and one of the founding figures of modern Western philosophy. His influence extends ...

school of thought for Stierlin remained a lifelong paradigm. Heidelberg Bergheim Psychosomatische Klinik

Besides yet unresolved derailments of the ethical attitudes and medical practices of some professors at the medical faculties of the universities of Germany during the National Socialism period, there were many positive research approaches and new interdisciplinary ties and connections in Heidelberg after 1945, which had been initiated in particular by the scientific approaches and research work of Viktor von Weizsäcker and Alexander Mitscherlich. In 1950, a chair for

psychosomatic medicine Psychosomatic medicine is an interdisciplinary medical field exploring the relationships among social, psychological, behavioral factors on bodily processes and quality of life in humans and animals. The academic forebear of the modern field of ...

was established at the University of Heidelberg, of which Viktor von Weizsäcker became the first holder. Mitscherlich, who played a major role in the establishment of the institute, left Heidelberg in 1960 and moved to Frankfurt am Main, where he became the first director after the war at the newly founded Sigmund Freud Institute. Stierlin received his doctorate in philosophy in 1950 from Karl Jaspers at the University of Heidelberg with a dissertation on: "The Concept of Responsibility: Attempt at a Discussion of

John Dewey John Dewey (; October 20, 1859 – June 1, 1952) was an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer whose ideas have been influential in education and social reform. He was one of the most prominent American scholars in the f ...

's Pragmatic Ethics of science in Comparison with the Ethik of Kant with Consideration of

Max Weber Maximilian Karl Emil Weber (; ; 21 April 186414 June 1920) was a German Sociology, sociologist, historian, jurist and political economy, political economist, who is regarded as among the most important theorists of the development of Modernity, ...

's Concept of Science". The rapporteur was Kurt Rossmann, the co-rapporteur was Hans-Georg Gadamer. Five years later, Stierlin received his doctorate in

from Kurt Kolle and Gustav Bodechtel at the Medical Faculty of the

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (simply University of Munich or LMU; german: link=no, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München) is a public research university in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. Originally established as the University of ...

with a dissertation on the subject: "The violent patient: An investigation into the attacks perpetrated by the mentally ill on doctors and nurses".

Professional career

In 1957 Helm Stierlin went to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

. Here he worked and researched in particular about

, the

psychopathology Psychopathology is the study of abnormal cognition, behaviour, and experiences which differs according to social norms and rests upon a number of constructs that are deemed to be the social norm at any particular era. Biological psychopathol ...

schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. Major symptoms include hallucinations (typically hearing voices), delusions, and disorganized thinking. Other symptoms include social wi ...

, psychosis, about the process of detachment in

adolescence Adolescence () is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majority). Adolescence is usually associated with t ...

and the most recent therapeutic experiences in

family therapy Family therapy (also referred to as family counseling, family systems therapy, marriage and family therapy, couple and family therapy) is a branch of psychology and clinical social work that works with families and couples in intimate relations ...

with the expanding therapeutic concepts within the framework of system-theoretical approaches. Stierlin interrupted his stay in America for one year from 1963 to 1964 in order to pursue further training at the Sanatory Bellevue in Kreuzlingen. From 1965 to 1973 he headed the Department of Family Therapy at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda,

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; ...

. During his years in America, he was invited to guest lectureships and visiting professorships at various American universities. He also followed invitations to guest lectures and lectures in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...

and Australia. During his time in the US, Stierlin got to know the most important pioneers in the field of family therapy research, including Gregory Bateson, Milton H. Erickson, Jay Haley,

Margaret Mead Margaret Mead (December 16, 1901 – November 15, 1978) was an American cultural anthropologist who featured frequently as an author and speaker in the mass media during the 1960s and the 1970s. She earned her bachelor's degree at Barnard C ...

, Salvador Minuchin,

Virginia Satir Virginia Satir (26 June 1916 – 10 September 1988) was an American author and psychotherapist,http://www.psychologistanywhereanytime.com/famous_psychologist_and_psychologists/psychologist_famous_virginia_satir.htm recognized for her approach t ...

and John Weakland. In 1974 Helm Stierlin received a call to the University Clinic Heidelberg for the newly established chair ''Department of Psychoanalytic Basic Research and Family Therapy''. He held this chair until his retirement in 1991. Stierlin familiarized his students with the interdisciplinary discourses and research results in the field of etiology and pathogenesis of schizophrenic diseases. This includes the work of Gregory Bateson, Wilfred Bion,

Murray Bowen Murray Bowen (; January 31, 1913, in Waverly, Tennessee – October 9, 1990) was an American psychiatrist and a professor in psychiatry at Georgetown University. Bowen was among the pioneers of family therapy and a noted founder of systemic ...

, Hilde Bruch,

Noam Chomsky Avram Noam Chomsky (born December 7, 1928) is an American public intellectual: a linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, social critic, and political activist. Sometimes called "the father of modern linguistics", Chomsky is ...

, Albert Ellis, George L. Engel, Erik H. Erikson, Milton Erickson, Sándor Ferenczi,

Frieda Fromm-Reichmann Frieda Fromm-Reichmann ( Reichmann; October 23, 1889 in Karlsruhe, Germany – April 28, 1957 in Rockville, Maryland) was a German psychiatrist and contemporary of Sigmund Freud who immigrated to America during World War II. She was a pioneer fo ...

, Stanislav Grof,

Ronald Grossarth-Maticek Ronald Grossarth-Maticek (19 June 1940) is a German sociologist specializing in the field of medical sociology, working in the fields of psychosomatics, psycho-oncology and health promotion. He is the director of the Institute for Preventive Me ...

, Jay Haley, Heinz Hartmann, Bärbel Inhelder, Don D. Jackson,

Edith Jacobson Edith Jacobson (german: Edith Jacobssohn; September 10, 1897 – December 8, 1978) was a German psychoanalyst. Her major contributions to psychoanalytic thinking dealt with the development of the sense of identity and self-esteem and with an u ...

, Otto Kernberg, Melanie Klein,

Ronald D. Laing Ronald David Laing (7 October 1927 – 23 August 1989), usually cited as R. D. Laing, was a Scottish psychiatrist who wrote extensively on mental illnessin particular, the experience of psychosis. Laing's views on the causes and treatment of ...

, Alexander Mitscherlich, Harry Stack Sullivan, Norbert Wiener and

Lyman Wynne Lyman C. Wynne (1923–2007) was an American psychiatrist and psychologist with a special interest in schizophrenia. His early research helped lay the foundation for family-based therapies,Carey, Benedict. "Lyman Wynne, 83, a Leader in Research ...

. Stierlin succeeded in organizing interdisciplinary advanced training congresses in Heidelberg, including

physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

psychologist A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and interpretation of how ...

s, neurobiologists, molecular biologists, sociologists, communication science,

computer science Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines (includin ...

, cybernetics,

linguists Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure. Linguis ...

and other

interdisciplinary Interdisciplinarity or interdisciplinary studies involves the combination of multiple academic disciplines into one activity (e.g., a research project). It draws knowledge from several other fields like sociology, anthropology, psychology, ec ...

researchers came to exchange ideas with their colleagues and the student body through lectures and seminars. Among many other scientists, the lecturers Fritjof Capra, Heinz von Foerster,

Ernst von Glasersfeld Ernst von Glasersfeld (March 8, 1917, Munich – November 12, 2010, Leverett, Franklin County, Massachusetts) was a philosopher, and emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Georgia, research associate at the Scientific Reasonin ...

, Niklas Luhmann, Francisco Varela, Paul Watzlawick and

Joseph Weizenbaum Joseph Weizenbaum (8 January 1923 – 5 March 2008) was a German American computer scientist and a professor at MIT. The Weizenbaum Award is named after him. He is considered one of the fathers of modern artificial intelligence. Life and care ...

were guests in Heidelberg. Stierlin was co-founder of the Systemic Family Therapy Program at the Psychotherapeutic Institute Bergerhausen founded by Hans-Werner Gessmann. Since 2002 exists the Helm Stierlin Institute hsi, one of the leading training institutes for systemic therapy and consulting in Germany. Emerging from the Heidelberg School of Systemic Therapy founded by Helm Stierlin in 1975 the hsi in Haus Schmeil, a large old villa located in a park near Heidelberg Castle, has since been training experts in health care, social work, education, management consulting and other human services in the theory and practice of various systemic consulting approaches.

Awards

* 1985: Distinguished Professional Contribution to Family Therapy Award from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Heidelberger Gelehrtenlexikon
'

Literature

* Helm Stierlin: ''Der Begriff der Verantwortung.'' Versuch einer Erörterung der pragmatischen Wissenschaftsethik John Deweys in Gegenüberstellung mit der Ethik Kants unter Berücksichtigung von Max Webers Wissenschaftsbegriff. Dissertation zur Erlangung der Doktorwürde an der Philosophischen Fakultät der Ruprecht–Karl–Universität, Heidelberg 1950. * Helm Stierlin: ''Der gewalttätige Patient.'' Eine Untersuchung über die von Geisteskranken an Ärzten und Pflegepersonen verübten Angriffe. Inaugural–Dissertation an der Medizinischen Fakultät der Ludwig-Maximilian–Universität, München 1955. S. Karger Verlag, Basel (Schweiz) 1956. * Helm Stierlin: ''Das Tun des Einen ist das Tun des Anderen. Eine Dynamik menschlicher Beziehungen''. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main 1976, . * Helm Stierlin: ''Eltern und Kinder: Das Drama von Trennung und Versöhnung im Jugendalter.'' Suhrkamp 1980, . * Helm Stierlin: ''Delegation und Familie.'' Beiträge zum Heidelberger familiendynamischen Konzept, Suhrkamp 1982, . * Helm Stierlin: ''Individuation und Familie: Studien zur Theorie und therapeutischen Praxis''. 1st edition Suhrkamp 1989, 2nd edition, Suhrkamp 1994, . * Helm Stierlin: ''Ich und die anderen.'' Psychotherapie in einer sich wandelnden Gesellschaft. Klett-Cotta, 1994, . * Helm Stierlin: ''Christsein hundert Jahre nach Nietzsche. Systemisch-therapeutische Perspektiven.'' Verlag Welbrück 2001, . * Helm Stierlin: ''Oh, dass sie ewig grünen bliebe!- Ein systemisches Paar-Brevier für anhaltendes Glück in Versen und Bildern.'' Carl Auer Verlag 2002, . * Helm Stierlin with Gunthard Weber: ''In Liebe entzweit. Ein systemischer Ansatz zum Verständnis und zur Behandlung der Magersuchtfamilie.'' Carl Auer Verlag 2003, . * Helm Stierlin with

: ''Krebsrisiken – Überlebenschancen: Wie Körper, Seele und soziale Umwelt zusammenwirken.'' 1st edition Heidelberg 1998; 3rd edition, Carl-Auer-Verlag, Heidelberg 2006, . * Helm Stierlin with Ingeborg Rücker-Embden, Norbert Wetzel, Michael Wirsching: ''Das erste Familiengespräch: Theorie - Praxis - Beispiele''. Klett-Cotta 2002, . * Helm Stierlin: ''Die Demokratisierung der Psychotherapie.'' Bilanz eines großen Psychotherapeuten. Klett-Cotta, 2003, . * Helm Stierlin: ''Ob sich das Herz zum Herzen findet: Ein systemisches Paar-Brevier in Versen und Bildern.'' Carl-Auer-Systeme-Verlag, Heidelberg 2006. * Helm Stierlin: ''Gerechtigkeit in nahen Beziehungen.'' Carl-Auer-Verlag, 3rd edition, Heidelberg 2006, . * Helm Stierlin: ''Psychoanalyse - Familientherapie - systemische Therapie.'' Entwicklungslinien, Schnittstellen, Unterschiede. Klett-Cotta, 2006, . * Helm Stierlin: ''Nietzsche, Hölderlin und das Verrückte: Systemische Exkurse.'' Carl Auer Verlag 2008, ASIN: B0772PGQBL. * Helm Stierlin: ''Haltsuche in Haltlosigkeit''. * Helm Stierlin: ''Sinnsuche im Wandel. Herausforderungen für Psychoanalytik und Gesellschaft. Eine persönliche Bilanz.'' Carl-Auer-Verlag, Heidelberg 2010, . * Hans Rudi Fischer, Gunthard Weber (Hrsg.): ''Individuum und System: für Helm Stierlin.'' Suhrkamp 2000, .

References

External links

* Helm Stierlin one of the Founders of the ''Family systems Therapy''. Conversation on BR2

''Reception on Helm Stierlin's 85th birthday''
in the Heidelberg Center for American Studies, Amerika Haus Heidelberg.
Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg - Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin
* Wolf Ritscher
''Das Tun des Einen ist das Tun des Anderen. Helm Stierlins Beiträge zur Entwicklung von Theorie und Praxis der Familientherapie.''

''Selection of lectures of Helm Stierlin''
im Rahmen der Lindauer Psychotherapiewochen (PDF) {{DEFAULTSORT:Stierlin, Helm 1926 births 2021 deaths German psychiatrists Heidelberg University alumni Heidelberg University faculty Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich alumni People from Mannheim