Our Story
20+ years exploring the brilliance of systems
Over two decades ago, our co-founders Marita Fridjhon and Faith Fuller realized that by nurturing the network of relationship between us, we can transform systems both large and small. This stroke of inspiration was the seed of what would become Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC™).
Our Origins
Having realized that it was possible to coach entire systems rather than just individuals, Faith and Marita approached then Coaches Training Institute (CTI) president Jim Patterson and CTI co-founder Karen Kimsey-House with a proposal to sponsor a new training in relationship systems coaching.
The story of ORSC
Faith and Marita’s work in therapy, consulting, and coaching was deeply rooted in modern systems thinking and Arny Mindell’s Process Work model. Their systems-based approach naturally aligned with coaching teams, making the Coaches Training Institute (CTI) a strong launching pad for what would become a new methodology in systems coaching.
When Karen Kimsey-House, Jim Patterson, and the CTI team agreed to support the training, it marked a significant turning point. This collaboration set the trajectory for what is now known as Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC™) the first systems coaching program to be accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
The first ORSC course, Fundamentals of Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching, was offered through CTI in 2002, co-led by Faith and Marita and attended by many of their CTI colleagues. From that moment, the foundation for systems coaching was in motion. Deep respect continues between the two organizations, with strong collaborative ties across the globe.
Five early leaders stepped forward to help evolve the ORSC program: Cynthia Loy Darst, David Darst, Gail Barry, Grace Flannery, and Jim Patterson.
In 2007, Faith and Marita transitioned the work into their own organization, the Centre for Right Relationship. From a small North American team, the community grew into a global faculty. Today, CRR Global offers courses through partners in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The organization continues to innovate through frameworks like Relationship Systems Intelligence (RSI™) and Systems-Inspired Leadership (SIL).
Timeline
- June 2002
The first Fundamentals course runs under the Coaches Training Institute banner in San Rafael, United States. - January 2007
Faith and Marita form their own company, the Center for Right Relationship (CRR). - June 2007
The first Fundamentals course runs under the CRR banner in London, England. - February 2008
ORSC Certification launches as a mastery-level program expanding on the original ORSC series. - July 2010
The company name changes from the Center for Right Relationship, and officially transitions to CRR Global, Inc. - July 2024
The leadership team transitions as Michael Holton takes on the role of Chief Executive Officer. With this addition, CRR Global enters a new era of intentionally developing the existing network of relationship and powerful organic growth that has brought the company to where it is now.
Our unshakeable belief is that relationship matters.
Our Concepts
Our Founders
ORSC co-creators Faith Fuller and Marita Fridjhon drew on their combined experience in psychology, social work, team building, conflict resolution and community crisis intervention to create a remarkable model.
Faith Fuller
Co-Founder of CRR Global
Faith co-founded CRR Global and co-created Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC™). She is a psychologist and experienced trainer and coach, with decades of experience in working with organizations, couples and communities. Faith is also the author of Relationship Matters: A New Paradigm for an Evolutionary Leap in Relationship.
Marita Fridjhon
Co-Founder of CRR Global and Chief Product Innovation & Faculty Oversight Officer
Marita Fridjhon is co-founder of CRR Global, co-creator of the world-recognized Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC™) program and mentor to an ever-growing community of relationship systems practitioners. Her deeply integrative approach is drawn from her foundations in clinical social work, family systems therapy and organizational consulting. Marita is co-author of “Systems Inspired Leadership” and “Creating Intelligent Teams.“
Systems
Wisdom
We’re entangled in relationship every single day. Systems inspired coaching provides the skills we need to get along better with ourselves, other people, and the larger community.
Our Influences
We stand on the shoulders of giants
Systems inspired coaching and leadership incorporates wisdom from ancient philosophers and spiritual leaders, as well as ideas from modern psychology, systems thinking, and coaching. In weaving together these influences, Faith and Marita created a framework capable of addressing the complexities of relationships and organizations.
Joanna Macy
Joanna Macy’s pioneering work in systems thinking, deep ecology, and group process has significantly influenced our approach to transformation. Her philosophy that personal and planetary healing are interconnected resonates deeply with our systems view of relationships, change, and purpose. Beyond her intellectual influence, Joanna played a pivotal role in our founding. She introduced Faith Fuller and Marita Fridjhon, an introduction that ultimately led to the creation of CRR Global.
Arnold + Amy Mindell | Process Work + Metaskills
Arnold Mindell’s development of Process-Oriented Psychology and Amy Mindell’s work with metaskills have deeply shaped our understanding of systems, roles, and emotional fields. Their approach explores the visible and invisible forces at play in human systems including rank, power dynamics, dreaming levels, and subtle signals. Arnie and Amy were not only thought leaders, but also active mentors to both Faith and Marita. Their influence lives on in the foundational principles of ORSC™, particularly in how we work with conflict, polarities, and the unseen dynamics that move through relationship systems.
Coaches Training Institute | Coaching Structures
Originally launched under the Coaches Training Institute (CTI), ORSC builds on core Co-Active principles such as presence, curiosity, and the belief in the client’s inherent creativity and expands them into a systemic framework. It moves beyond individual coaching to address the complexity of relationships, offering a powerful model for working with teams, partnerships, and entire organizations.
Margaret Wheatley | Organizations as Living Systems
Margaret Wheatley popularizing the application of ideas from systems thinking and the “new science” (like chaos theory, quantum physics, and self-organization) to leadership and organizational behavior.
In defining organizations as living systems rather than machines, she encourages leaders to see businesses and communities as dynamic, interconnected, and adaptable.
Agazarian & Gantt | Systems-Centered Models
The Systems-Centered framework, developed by Yvonne Agazarian and Susan Gantt, introduced the Theory of Living Human Systems a practical and dynamic approach to understanding how systems grow, adapt, and organize. Their work explores how roles within a system can shift fluidly, emphasizing the importance of context, boundaries, and energy flow. This perspective has influenced how we support teams and organizations in navigating change, reducing resistance, and experimenting with new ways of relating.
Virginia Satir | Family Systems Therapy
Virginia Satir’s insights into relational roles, communication patterns, and systemic change inform our systemic approach.
John + Julie Gottman | Relationship Research
John and Julie Gottman’s groundbreaking research on trust, communication, and conflict deeply informs the ORSC approach to working with relationship systems. Their empirical studies revealed key patterns that predict relationship success or breakdown, including the “Four Horsemen” criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling which act as relational toxins that erode connection and trust. In ORSC, we draw on these insights to help teams and partnerships identify and shift harmful patterns, build psychological safety, and strengthen their capacity for healthy, resilient communication.
Emotional Intelligence and Social Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence focuses on managing emotions (both personal and interpersonal), and Social Intelligence emphasizes understanding and navigating complex social environments. They form complementary skills for effective personal and relational success.
Peter Salovey & John Mayer first defined Emotional Intelligence (EI) in 1990, while Columbia university psychologist Edward Thorndike originated Social Intelligence in the 1920s. Daniel Goleman expanded on and popularized these concepts.
We take the concepts a step further with the introduction of Relationship Systems Intelligence, which is awareness of the wisdom within systems.
Hamalainen & Saarinen | Interactive Human Systems
The idea behind interactive humans systems is that we are all contributing agents instead of isolated individuals. Embedded in this is an optimism for change combined with the potential power of each moment. This allows for the sharing of knowledge, harnessing the collective intelligence and enabling the system to proactively create its future and opportunities.
Senge, Scharmer, Jaworski + Flowers | Systems Thinking
Systems Theory (2004) introduced the concept of systems thinking to organizations, enabling individuals to see their part in the puzzle, creating awareness and encouraging responsibility outside of one’s own realm. Senge maintains that understanding the systemic nature of life awakens individuals to something greater.
Wooley et al | Collective Intelligence
In a 2010 Science Magazine article, Woolley et al found converging evidence of a general collective intelligence factor that explained how a group performed on a wide variety of tasks.
Joseph Campbell | Hero's Journey
Campbell draws from Jungian psychology, comparative religion and literature in theorizing that myths serve as symbolic maps for human experience, guiding individuals through life’s challenges and transitions. His work on myths is evident in the ORSC series.