Bowen's Eight Concepts

A recorded lecture on Bowen Family Systems Theory.
This screencast has been created with Explain Everything™ Interactive Whiteboard for iPad

[@kippapao]

This should be in our public schools, doctor's offices, every university, where ever human beings are!! Sadly, many therapists even are not knowleadgeable about this work!!!! It is my life story. God bless you!!

[@bigbiziness5200]

Great briefing. I needed this

[@martinamettes7599]

Great and clear, insightful lecture. Very helpful in studying for my Family Theory class.

[@pentanglevodka]

Thank you for providing a clear explanation :)

[@kimkeiko2725]

My mother was viewing this wonderful, informative video with me and lost it when you pulled up Dean and Sam from Supernatural! She said she likes you now and wishes she could've attended your class where you talked about them.

[@ericae.hartwell9642]

Tell your mother I like her, too! I have used the Winchester family in a lot of examples in my teaching. They have such a rich mythology behind them and such clear intergenerational patterns. I'm glad you found the lecture helpful. :)

[@AmeliaEverythingBabyNames]

So good. I'm studying family systems as part of Youth Care Work and this was a great explanation.

[@Leaves4075]

I'm studying Counselling in Australia, thanks for this!

[@bronwentownsend5601]

So how do you explain cut off in cases of pathogenic parenting, where it's not the person cut off causing anxiety but the third person is telling lies to cause the anxiety is never cut off?

[@mr.sembaranganyhow7144]

Hi. I have clear picture of your lecture. Keep it up.

[@kippapao]

God bless you and Dr. Bowen for this TRUE theory which helps us to understand, heal and transform with God's grace!!!!

[@rachaelcharlesvoiceovertal7589]

Do you do tuition? DO you offer counselling.Lets be in touch haha

[@gimarc613]

Supernatural🖤

[@kz-cn4qc]

Hi I just wanted to thank you for explaining this theory in such a clear, yet rich way. I'm a student in psychology and watching this was really helpful for my finals! Although, I have a question, why is the Cut-off a form of a high fusion ? in which way is it a fusion?

[@ericae.hartwell9642]

Hi Kate! Thank you for your comment and question. I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. Often, people think of cut-off and fusion as opposites because they think of cut-off as distance and fusion as closeness. From my perspective, fusion is about emotional reactivity--when people are fused to each other, they cannot separate their own emotions from others. If a relationship is so reactive that you need to completely separate (say, by moving away or not talking anymore), then that is a fused relationship. "Closeness" is about how connected people are to each other, fusion is about how reactive you are to each other. Cutting off is an emotional reaction. Hope this helps!

[@ericae.hartwell9642]

Hi Kate, sorry for the late reply but I hope it will still be helpful for you. I think of cut-off as a form of fusion because each person in a cut-off relationship is often still very reactive to the other, even if they don't have any form of direct interaction. Often, the fact that someone has to avoid all contact with another is a sign that it is an emotionally reactive, fused relationship. If we are not reactive to another person, we do not need to cut off from them. This is not mean to pathologize all forms of cut-off and I recognize that cut-off is sometimes necessary for safety.

[@matthewolguin5450]

Literally was comparing it to Supernatural in my head!

[@ericae.hartwell9642]

That's too funny! But also makes sense because it is a great show for thinking about family dynamics and intergenerational patterns.

[@jessic9743]

Hi, I really appricate how you broke down Bowen's eight concepts. I wanted to know if you have any advice for a single person wanting to fuses Boweian Therapy and Cognative Behavior Therapy strategies to better understand themselves and how to navigate society while trying to figure out themselves. I don't have any background in counseling. I just really interested in understanding why i am the way i am.

[@ericae.hartwell9642]

Hi Jessica, I think that CBT techniques could be used to make changes based on a Bowen theory. For example, if you are able to identify some patterns you are stuck in in your relationship, or the common reactions you have when feeling threatened or stressed, you could use CBT techniques to practice changing those specific thoughts and behaviors.

[@jessic9743]

Erica E. Hartwell thanks that's really helpful. Do you think that Bowen theory can be worked on by one's self or it would better with a therapist?

[@ericae.hartwell9642]

I think all of us can certainly grow on our own using various methods (e.g., reading, attending workshops/seminars, journaling, talking with trusted others, etc.) but I also think that if you really want to work on yourself, it always helps to have a professional to support you through that process.

[@jessic9743]

Erica E. Hartwell Thank you

[@rebeccagroessler8403]

Hello, I'm a SCWK student. Thank you for sharing your lecture with the public, this has been very helpful to me. Can you share with me what text you use in your course? I am wondering if it might be more helpful than the version my school uses.

[@ericae.hartwell9642]

Hi Rebecca, I use the book Extraordinary Relationships by Roberta Gilbert. Other classic texts I recommend are Bowen Family Systems Theory by Daniel Papero and Family Evaluation by Kerr & Bowen. There is a very approachable, self-help book based in Bowen's theory as well called Everything Isn't Terrible by Kathleen Smith.

[@rebeccagroessler8403]

@@ericae.hartwell9642 Terrific, Thank you for your response. I’ve taken note of them and am looking forward to getting myself a copy of each. Thank you so much! Happy Holidays to you.

[@DustinKoffman]

Erica, I noticed your voice volume drops just after the dog barks.

[@invisi.]

I think vERy ThOugHt fUll Y mY iq iS 1003 yeE