The Kelso System

The Kelso System is a model used in psychotherapy to understand how individuals change their behaviors and emotions over time. It illustrates a "stability–flexibility" continuum, where stability involves routine and predictability, and flexibility involves change and adaptability. The system suggests that effective psychological functioning depends on balancing these two qualities. When someone is too rigid, they resist change; too flexible, they might lack consistency. The Kelso System helps clinicians identify where a person sits on this spectrum and guides them to develop healthier, more adaptable patterns for emotional regulation and personal growth.