Introduction to Bowenian Therapy In marriage and family therapy, there are many different theories that can be used to conceptualize and treat clients. In this paper, Bowenian family therapy will be the main guiding theory. This therapy is based on Bowen’s theory of human behavior. Dr. Murray Bowen and colleagues spent 12 years observing families in therapy and worked to explain human interactions (Metcalf, 2011). Theory was formed into therapy by a previous student of Bowen's, Dr. Philip Gurin. A brief overview of his Bowenian therapy will be given, followed by a case example, the application of Bowenian theory to the case example, and finally an explanation for the use of this type of therapy over the use of another type of therapy. In …show more content…
Differentiation of self is the management of the opposing external drives of individuality with togetherness and the internal processes which are intellectual processes or emotional processes (Metcalf, 2011). This differentiation is formed early in life based on the degree of emotional separation and attachment with one’s parents (Bowen, 1978). A person with low differentiation can be seen in individuals who are emotionally driven, emotionally dependent, easily stressed and is unable to separate their feelings from their thoughts. On the other hand, a person with high differentiation gives thoughtful consideration, emotionally independent, can cope with life stressors, and can think even in times of high anxiety (Metcalf, …show more content…
Jack and Diane have two children, Tom who is 5 and Jane who is 3. Other salient family members include Jack’s mother, who is married and lives out of state, but is often called upon during problematic times. The couple met when seven years ago when Jack was near Diane on business and were married within a year. Jack and Diane are both white middle class Americans. They live in California most of the time, but Jack is often away on business. The times that the couple are apart are the hardest because Diane is used to doing everything with Jack. When he is away, they often text, call and skype to keep in touch. Currently, the couple is seeking therapy for marital problems including trust problems and anger/conflict problems as their presenting concerns. The children are described as being good children, although they have concerns that the marital problems may be having an impact on their older child Tom. Over the last few months, Tom has been acting out towards his mother, and has not been listening to her. Each marital distress symptom has emerged at different times, but have compounded until they felt high enough severity for Jack and Diane to seek treatment
The primary goals in Bowenian Family Therapy are to lessen anxieties (and therefore blaming, conflict, and reactivity) caused by emotional responses, and to increase differentiation so that family members can
According to the vignette, I feel most comfortable choosing Bowenian family therapy as the pioneer approach and narrative family therapy as the postmodern approach for this family. Of course, that decision would be according to the family needs and if they were unreceptive, I would modify my approach. For the purposes of this paper, the approaches mentioned above are the two that might be most appropriate to proceed through assessment and treatment.
Brown, J. (2008). Is bowen theory still relevant in family therapy field? Journal of the Counselors and Psychotherapists Association of NSW 3. Retrieved from http://www.familysystemstraining.com/papers/is-bowen-theory-still-relevant.html
Approaches to Family Therapy: Minuchin, Haley, Bowen, & Whitaker Treating families in therapy can be a complex undertaking for a therapist, as they are dealing not only with a group of individuals but also with an overall system. Throughout history several key theorists have attempted to demystify the challenges families face and construct approaches to treatment. However, there have been key similarities and differences among the theoretical orientations along the way. While some have simply broadened or expanded from existing theories, others have stood in stark
In the system of family therapy Dr Murray Bowen developed a new approach to family therapy that was different from other family theorist because it emphasized on the family’s emotional system and its history that may be traced through the family dynamics of the parents, and grandparents. His approach looks at human emotions and the patterns that are commonly developed and similar in all family systems.
This paper will summarize the theory of family systems developed by Murray Bowen. It will describe the eight key components to Bowenian therapy and the techniques used during practice. Strengths and limitations will be exposed, followed by a summary of the importance of integration between psychology and family systems theory.
This research paper evaluates the Bowen Family Systems Theory and its impact on the practices of Marriage and Family Counseling. Dr. Murray Bowen is credited with being one of the founders of family systems theory. This paper will discuss the eight concepts which Bowen deemed causes anxiety within the family system. Also, the goals and practices which have been utilized by professionals within the psychology field relation to the Bowen Family Systems Theory. Analysis provides that anxiety is passed along through the family system by the triangle concept and when families are dysfunctional there are several outcomes based upon the concepts developed by Dr. Bowen. The therapeutic structure which is developed by Bowen allows clients to help themselves and lower levels of anxiety over time.
Bowen as (cited in Nichols and Schwartz, 2004) describes a differentiated self as solid self, and fused self he calls the pseudo self. The less developed a person's "self," the more impact others have on his functioning and the more he tries to control, actively or passively, the functioning of others. The basic building blocks of a "self" are inborn, but an individual's family
For this assignment, two different theoretical approaches will be discussed, Bowenian family therapy and structural family therapy, and they will be used individually to construct a treatment plan to help clients reach their goals. Within each treatment plan discussed, short-term and long-term goals of therapy will be established and the family’s presenting problems will be defined. Two techniques that will be assigned to help them reach their therapeutic goals and any expected outcome from using those techniques will be discussed.
Family therapy is a form of psychotherapy employed to assist members of a family in improving communication systems, conflict resolution, and to help the family to deal with certain problems that manifest in the behavior of members. In most cases, deviance in a family member is an indication of underlying family dysfunctions. This paper looks the counselling procedure that can be applied to help the Kline family solve their problems. It answers certain questions including those of the expected challenges during therapy and ways of dealing with the challenges.
This essay aims to compare and contrast the classical Bowen Family System Therapy to the more modern Solution Focused Therapy. Comparison will be made in the following areas (1) broad theoretical formulations, (2) normal family development, (3) development of behavioural disorder, (4) goals of therapy, (5) conditions for behavioural change, (6) assessment methods and (7) techniques. Note that in the last decade, parts of Bowen’s theories have been criticized due to the paucity of empirical evidence. For example, his
This paper is an analysis of my family history in Bowenian terms. I will examine four generations on my side of the family. I have included a genogram in the appendix to examine my personal intergenerational patterns for assessment. I will also examine my family of origin in the categories of race, ethnicity, religion, social class, geographic location, jobs, mental health and medical concerns. The paper concludes comparing Bowenian ideas to other systemic concepts.
Marriage and Family Therapy, particularly the family aspect, has a long history. Some of the family aspect was touched on by such leaders in the field as Freud and Rogers. The focuses for these two theorists however, were based on the impact, particularly the negatives, on the family and didn’t delve into the treatment of the family as whole. This base work however led to the questions asked by the early pioneers interested in treating the family as a whole unit. The question that really set things off was, “‘To what extent would we have to reject and/or accept prevailing theoretical concepts and techniques from individual theories to succeed (Chabot, 2011)?’”
In using the Bowen Theory, the role of the therapist is aligned with that of a coach or consultant (Psychotherapy.net, n.d.). The counselor role is to guide the family to an understanding of their issues without becoming emotionally reactive to their situation. It is also important for the therapist to not allow themselves to be pulled into a triangle situation with the
Family is something that plays a tremendous role in our life. Even though the structure of families has changed over the years, it is important to acknowledge that there many families out there whether they are traditional families, nuclear family, stepfamilies or others which tend to have different types of problems in their families. Therefore, many families attempt to go to family therapy in order for them to obtain help in solving the different types of issues they might have at home. As stated in the book Family Therapy by Michael P. Nichols (2013), “The power of family therapy derives from bringing parents and children together to transform their interaction… What keeps people stuck in their inability to see their own participation in the problems that plague them. With eyes fixed firmly on what recalcitrant others are doing, it’s hard for most people to see the patterns that bind them together. The family therapist’s job is to give them a wake-up call” (2013).