Bowen Family Systems Therapy PDF

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Bowen Family Systems Therapy CYC 3621- Critical Issues in Current CYC practice Nina Nava, Shari Manhas, Marlene Singh, Holly Jeram

Overview and History of Family Systems Theory Dr. Murray Bowen (1913-1990) Dr Bowen attended and completed medical school but continued to further his education by training himself in psychiatry. Dr. Bowen worked on a team of medical professionals doing research on families who had adult schizophrenia. After five years on that study Dr.Bowen became faculty at Georgetown University where he spent over thirty years working in the department of psychiatry which is where he developed Family Systems Theory and Family Therapy. Bowen’s Family Systems Therapy is a theory of behavior which sees the family as one unit within the family system that is interconnected emotionally. Family Systems Theory uses a system of thinking which focuses on the family as a unit and not one individual being the cause of their “ problems”. Bowen's theory addresses the family unit as being so emotionally connected that a family has a great impact on each member's thoughts and actions and seek out validation and comfort from one another. Each individual member's way of operating directly changes the way others operate. It is believed that the reasoning for the close connection between the family is to assist in keeping the needs of the family met.

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Therapist Roles According to Bowenian Family Therapy, therapists main role is to provide an objective perspective on the issues that are faced by a family, and to do so by promoting the family members to focus on creating healthy boundaries and focusing on differentiation issues. Bowenian therapists have to be cognizant of their own biases, and be able to self differentiate from these influences from their own practice. Specifically, Bowenian theorists assess the issues and strengths of their clients by doing the following; 1. Using the genogram as a tool to assist spouses in clarifying the expectations, roles and responsibilities in their relationship, and to use this same tool to assess areas in which miscommunication of expectations have resulted in spousal issues. 2. To keep one’s self (the therapist) separate and detriangled from the family’s emotional system 3. To assist family members in understanding their individual and combined familial strengths using concept of emotional systems 4. To assess the family’s past and present emotional system through evaluation interviews and measurement techniques. Specifically, the therapist may focus on the historical patterns of the family’s emotional functioning, the anxiety level experienced by the family at different stages of its life and to assess the nuclear family in context to extended family systems both maternally and paternally. In looking at past familial influences, Bowenian therapists may focus on patterns of fusion and the degree of emotional cutoff either or both of the sopouses since each nuclear family embodies the emotional processes and patterns of preceding generations. 5. To help family members realize their strengths and to utilize these strengths in resolving emotional cutoffs

Treatment Goals and Techniques Understanding the main purpose of Bowenian family therapy and learning how to apply the following Bowen techniques:

Goals of Bowen Therapy 1. Bowen therapy focuses on helping family members become self-differentiated by learning how

2 to separate their thinking from their emotions. Furthermore, “differentiation is defined as freeing oneself from the emotional chaos of one’s family” (Jones-Smith, E., 2019). Individuals who are poorly differentiated have difficulties with managing their emotions by being emotionally reactive. These types of people seek the approval and acceptance of others while trying to meet the needs of others. Undifferentiated people tend to feel overwhelmed with their emotions, causing them to lose their ability to be rationale when arguments arise within their families. Individuals who are successfully self-differentiated can proactively manage their feelings without becoming entangled in conflicts between other family members. One goal of Bowenian therapy states “supporting family members through working together to help each member in responding appropriately during emotionally challenging situations” (Jones-Smith, E., 2019). Moreover, assisting family members in becoming differentiated can reduce emotional tension and promote awareness. Additionally, self-differentiated people can balance between thinking and feeling by responding effectively to stressful life events.

2. Family therapy emphasizes the importance of reducing family anxiety as it can lead to positive outcomes in repairing the relationships with one another, increasing communication, developing coping and regulation skills, and creating awareness on how to be less reactive. Understanding the family emotional system through examining the family’s history and intergenerational patterns of functioning. Families who experience lower levels of anxiety are less likely to encounter significant problems. However, families exposed to high levels of tension will experience issues that can impact their family dynamics. Reducing anxiety within the family helps to enhance functioning, connectedness, and lessen symptoms.

3. Ensuring parents have healthy relations with their own families of origin as unresolved issues can impact how they function in their relationships with their spouse and children. Understanding how emotional cutoff plays a role in influencing individuals interactions in the future based on previously unresolved issues in their family of origin. Addressing past issues concerning their family of origin is an essential factor in moving towards developing meaningful relationships with other people in their lives. Bowenian therapy suggests three key ideas: a. Therapists assess family issues through a multigenerational lens by taking into account the

3 unique histories of the family. Incorporating a genogram in the process helps the therapist understand intergenerational patterns and factors that currently influence the family relationships. b. Establishing a connection with family members through decreasing feelings of stress through acknowledging concerns c. Therapists will help family members in the process of identifying the negative impacts of triangulation and learning how to remove themselves from triangles. Bowen explains how “a triangle is a three-person system and when two people respond to anxiety between each other by bringing in a third-person” (Jones-Smith, E., 2019). The third person undergoes high anxiety as they are unable to separate themselves from other family members issues. Moreover, Bowen therapy aims to integrate genograms to help family members in achieving detriangulation.

Bowen Therapy Techniques Bowen therapy highlights the importance of using the following techniques: 1. Genograms - Visual depictions of a family tree that uses shapes and colours to illustrate family relationships, as well as issues such as mental illness and substance use. 2. Going Home Again - Returning to our families of origin to repair relationships and reestablish contact 3. Detriangulation - This refers to the idea of not bringing in a third party to ease the tension during conflict between two other family members. This could also look like not inserting oneself into a conflict that isn’t yours. 4. Talk to the Therapist - This is a technique that is unique to Bowen Therapy, as many other methods encourage family members to talk to one another during the session. Bowen Therapy involves speaking directly to the therapist to keep family anxiety low and also to discourage triangulation. 5. Person-to-Person Relationships - This is the antidote to triangulation. Bowen Therapy motivates family members to discuss intimacy and grievances with one another, rather than inserting a third party to alleviate any tension. 6. Differentiation of self - Differentiation refers to family members managing their own emotions and being mindful to not take on the emotions of others. 7. Asking Questions - The therapist will ask questions in order to get an idea of the family

4 history (family member’ births, deaths, and marriages). The therapist will also use a genogram to gain this understanding, as incessant questions may not be suitable for persons in crisis.

Signs that it’s working...(measurable outcomes of success) Low family anxiety ie. less outbursts and conflict Distinct sense of self among members ie. differentiation Low emotional investment in triangles ie. monitoring one’s own behaviour with regards to triangulation Intergenerational patterns begin to heal ie. positive relationships with family of origin

Strengths, Inconsistencies & Limitations of Bowen therapy Strengths: Understands the effects of intergenerational trauma. Addresses illness within the family such as mental health concerns and substance abuse. Limitations: Focuses on the past instead of the present. High cost - this translates to a lack of access for low-income families and marginalized populations Not suitable for families who are not prepared to examine their familial histories or intergenerational patterns. Not suitable for families with small children. Some critics have also pointed out that Bowen Therapy is time consuming, but that is to be expected when improving family function.

Aboriginal Perspectives

5 Many of our participants will be of Aboriginal descent, due to the devastating impacts of residential schools, colonization and the sixties scoop. An integral piece in healing these injustices is reclaiming one’s cultural identity. This is done through traditional healing practices that can be combined with the fundamentals of Bowen Family Systems Theory, for a modern day CYC approach. It is the responsibility of any non-Indigenous settler to be mindful of not causing further harm to these populations by pushing colonial practices that may not be applicable to the lives of our participants (White Saviour Complex). It is also important to remember the privileged positions we are in when practicing Child and Youth Care.

Traditional Practices De-emphasize the use of pharmaceuticals and pathologizing individuals. Instead, traditional practices focus on creating a sense of belonging and community to heal collective historical trauma.

Traditional Healing Practices Sweat lodges - for healing addiction. Traditional herbs - sage, sweet grass, cedar and tobacco. Medicine wheel - for a more holistic approach to healing. Elders - elders are greatly respected and utilized for healing and guidance. Ceremonies - using prayer, music and story-telling. Healing circles - to heal intergenerational trauma. Traditional foods - berries, wild game and nuts, as opposed to consuming the standard North American diet. Smudging - burning sage is a tool to clear out stagnant energy and to invite positivity.

This results in...

6 Spiritual transformation, shifts in collective identity (healing historical trauma), provides purpose and offers meaning for our Indigenous participants.

Conclusion and Connections of Bowen Family Therapy to CYC practice In reference to a lot of theories, sometimes there is a disconnect between how the theory is presented and how we as CYC practitioners might realistically use it in practice. We believe that the positive aspects in Bowen's Family Systems Theory are; understanding that the family closely connected emotionally, doesn’t single out one individual as being the “problem”, recognizes that every member has a great impact on one another, helps to understand that the family as a whole has strengths and realizes the overall benefits of helping the family develop their abilities to support one another as a unit. When we consider the benefits of implementing Family Systems Therapy into practice it is understood that CYC practice takes on a holistic approach, which means looking at the bigger picture. In Sean’s case that refers to not only what is not only going on with Sean, but also with those that he is closely interconnected to, his family. In order to help Sean progress and make changes Family Systems Therapy recognizes that in order to make those changes meaningful and sustainable we need to look at the family as one emotionally connected system.

Supplementary Video Resources for Practitioners and Families: Psychology Behind Bowen Therapy https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=dSBOpQpkD9o Brief overview of Bowen Family Systems Theoryhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK7LaT5rxY

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References Gone, J. P. (2013). Redressing First Nations historical trauma: Theorizing mechanisms for indigenous culture as mental health treatment. Transcultural Psychiatry, 50(5), 683–706. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461513487669 Jones-Smith, E. (2019). Theories of Counselling and Psychotherapy: An Integrative Approach (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications, Incorporated. MacKenzie, K. (2020). International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 11(3): 80–107. DOI: 10.18357/ijcyfs113202019701...