Bowenian Theory Of Family Theory

The goal of Bowen’ theory is to review developmental patterns within the familial system and the stress centered around the anxiety caused by closeness or the lack thereof (Penny, 1999). Bowen’s theory works to facilitate a decline in stress and anxiety by enabling the clients with education as to how the emotional system works and focusing on how to modify self perceptional behaviors instead of working to change others within the system (Penny, 1999).

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 theories help explain the family’s impact on an individual’s wellbeing and offer different approaches to managing one’s health with a family-focused perspective. They provide a foundation for practice and enhance one’s understanding of family processes and dynamics. These theories address the family as the unit of care and enable nurses to empathize, comprehend, and collaborate with the family providing strategies in practice and improving care (Denham, Eggenberger, Young, & Krumweide, 2016). Two family theories that have sparked my interest are the Bowen’s Family Systems Theory (FST) and the Illness Beliefs Model (IBM). This paper will discuss each theory, including the strengths and weaknesses of each. A fictional family case

After learning about the different family theories, I find that Bowen’s family therapy and narrative family therapy are my favorite. However integrating both these concepts seems difficult. Bowen’s theory is considered a modern approach that looks at factors such as level of self-differentiation, reactivity, and triangulation are seen as determining family and individual functioning. Furthermore, the role as the therapist is seen more as a coach to guide clients towards change through decreasing triangulation and increased levels of self-differentiation. On the other hand narrative therapy is postmodern approach that sees people’s socially constructed stories as key to the development of problems (Naden, et al., 2004). These two theories are

In conceptualising the development of the family system, Bowenian therapists are past-focused. They believe that emotional fusion that is passed down from one generation to the next is the cause of psychological problems (Nichols, 2010, pp 119-122). Normal family development according to Solution Focused therapist produces families with flexible structures, clear boundaries and well-organised hierarchies. This is quite similar to Bowenian’s concept of normal family development. Differentiated individuals after all need to have clear boundaries. Similarly, flexible structures and well-organised hierarchies do promote low anxiety and therefore generate positive emotional contact between family members. The difference is that instead of being past-focused, Solution Focused therapy assiduously avoids the past and focuses their clients as much as possible on the present and future. (Nichols, 2010, pp 321).

Similar to Bowen theory is Minuchin’s Structural Family Therapy where family is viewed as being a part of a larger system bigger than its self and within the family system are smaller subsystems that constitute the family as a whole. According to Vetere, (2001) a goal “of this therapy is to alter the organisational patterns, particularly where the modes of communication are thought to be unhelpful and where behaviours are considered to be abusive and neglectful or to have the potential to be so” (p. 134). The above two theories mesh well with the relational beings that we are. “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18, New American Standard Bible) and from that utterance subsequently family was born.

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.

Overall, Bowen focused on triadic relationships for therapeutic intervention, predominately the parental subgroup and a child. He looked at how low self-esteemed members of a family became vulnerable to triangulation. They then became enmeshed in their family and forwarded a legacy of chronic anxiety. Classic psychoanalysis agrees that issues

The case study of Ana will be analyzed using the Bowen Family Systems Theory Approach. Bowen Family Systems Theory is a theory of human behavior that views the family as an emotional unit and uses systems thinking to describe the complex interactions in the unit (Kerr, 2000). This paper will discuss the concepts of the theory that is appropriate for this case study; the reason this theory was chosen over the other ones; counseling goals and intervention strategies in accomplishing those goals; and designation of

Based on Bowen Intergenerational Therapy, the therapist should be aware of the level of differentiation for each individual and especially recognize who has the highest and lowest level of differentiation between generations as the main stimulant to change. Also, Bowenian therapy focuses on how the quality of relationship between family members how affects their emotions. Genogram is vital to help the therapist to recognize patterns between the intimate family and extended family members. A number of patterns emerged in the genogram. Both parents are emigrant from Mexico. AF came from family with patterns of

Bowenian family counseling approach presents similar aspects that range throughout various family counseling theories. One approach to family counseling that is similar to Bowenian theory is structural therapy. Structural family counseling focuses on habitual behaviors and the role individual’s play in relation to those behaviors (Bohlinger, n.d.). Bowenian therapy reviews a minimum of three generations to assess transgenerational patterns. Both therapies point out a form of boundaries, however, Bowenian therapy looks to differentiate individuals within a family group, as oppose to structural therapy, which desires to change, clarify, and mark boundaries within a family (Nelson, n.d.). Experimental therapy recognizes discord when togetherness and autonomy are not balanced, like Bowenian therapy (Bohlinger, n.d.). Like solution based and cognitive–behavioral therapy, the role of the Bowenian counselor is to teach and coach clients (Nelson, n.d.). Also, like Milan therapy, Bowenian therapists are to remain neutral and avoid taking side within the family (avoid triangles) (Nelson, n.d.). Like object-relations therapy, Bowenian therapy seeks to help clients differentiate themselves (Nelson, n.d.). Although the Bowenian concept presents several similarities to other approaches, there are numerous

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.

The couple I chose for this case study is the older, married couple, Albert and Marion Mazur. I chose this couple while watching the documentary, “Love, Etc.” In this documentary, five couples were followed and featured, among those, Albert and Marion were the couple that displayed complete unity. Married for over fifty years, these two individuals define Dr. Murray Bowen’s family systems theory. Basically, the theory focuses on whatever occurs in an individual’s life affects his or her family. In order to understand one person in a family, it is imperative to view each individual as a member of the family. Therefore, the couple’s history and marriage will be explored using the Bowen Family Systems Theory. The concepts of the theory in

In doing my studies on family/systemic counselling, I found Bowen’s theory intriguing. In my work and everyday life, I witness triangulation on a daily basis, from my own experience, without the awareness from this module, I was often entwined in triangulation. As a trainee therapist I decided to write my paper on Bowenian Therapy in order to gain a better understanding and develop my awareness.

Bowen’s theory is influenced by eight interlocking theoretical concepts to explain the family unit’s emotional functioning (H. Goldenberg & L. Goldenberg, 2013). The interlocking concepts explain the process of emotions within the family system as they are developed throughout the generations (Wineck, 2010). One must fully understand each concept individually in order to fully grasp the impact within the family unit (H. Goldenberg & L. Goldenberg, 2013). Concepts one through five were Bowen’s original theoretical viewpoints (Baege, 2006). According to Bowen (1976), his sixth concept was rooted in Walter Toman’s Family Constellation: It 's Effect on Personality and Social Behavior publication from 1961. In 1975, the final two concepts were developed and added to complete the entire eight interlocking theoretical concepts (Bowen, 1976). Bowen never published or created any work on a ninth concept; however, spirituality was mentioned as a possibility for a ninth concept. Spirituality concept is an undeveloped concept with promise, particularly within the field of addiction studies. Underneath every concept is the basic assumption that chronic anxiety prompts the development of each concept premise (H. Goldenberg & L. Goldenberg, 2013). These interlocking constructs are known as differentiation of self, triangles, nuclear family emotional system, family projection, process, emotional cutoff, multigenerational transmission process, sibling