Emmily C. Domingo

MA Ed in Guidance and

Counseling

- the oldest of five children

- born on January 31, 1913, in the small town of

Waverly,

Tennessee

- graduated from the University of Tennessee with a

bachelor's

degree in science in 1934

- continued his education at the University of

Tennessee Medical School, Bowen received his

medical degree in 1937. He worked as an intern at

Bellevue Hospital in New York City and Grasslands

Hospital in Valhalla, New York.

- he served in the military for five years, and he

began to develop an interest in psychiatry.

- joined the National Institute of Mental Health in

1954 and began to form his family systems theory.

For several years, he explored family relationships

and constructs while working with parents of

schizophrenic children.

Murray Bowen

-A family is greater than the sum of its parts. - As members of a family system every member is interconnected.-Within family systems theory the focus is on with how we relate to one another. We build a collection of interactions called a system. The system can be a family or a workgroup or a collection of friends. Our focus is on the system rather than just on individuals. With the system there are qualitatively different elements that help determine what we are and what we can become .-Systems are self reflective. As humans we have the capability to examine our own behavior . This self reflectivity allows us to focus on our systems and set goals. We no longer need to accept that what we experience is “just the way things are.”

KEY CONCEPTS

Differentiation of the self (Differentiated individual, Undifferetiated people)-the self is an important goal for every family member, particularly children. Differentiation requires that people see themselves as independent from their families. People who are poorly differentiated are more likely to internalize family conflicts and more likely to struggle emotionally.

Triangulation -People who are more undifferentiated are likely to triangulate others and be triangulated. People who are differentiated cope well with life and relationship stress, and thus are less likely to triangulate others or be triangulated.

KEY CONCEPTS

Nuclear Family Emotional ProcessPeople’s attitudes and beliefs about relationships play a role in the patterns, but the forces primarily driving them are part of the emotional system. The patterns operate in intact, single-parent, step-parent, and other nuclear family configurations. Clinical problems or symptoms usually develop during periods of heightened and prolonged family tension. The level of tension depends on the stress a family encounters, how a family adapts to the stress, and on a family’s connection with extended family and social networks.

KEY CONCEPTS

Family Projection Process- This is an extension of The Nuclear Family Emotional Process in many ways. The family member who "has" the "problem" is triangulated and serves to stabilize a dyad in the family.

The Multigenerational Transmission Process-This process entails the way family emotional processes are transferred and maintained over the generations.

Sibling Position- Bowen stressed sibling order, believing that each child had a place in the family hierarchy, and thus was more or less likely to fit some projections.

Emotional CutoffThis refers to an extreme response to The Family Projection Process. This entails a complete or almost-complete separation from the family. The person will have little, if any, contact, and may look and feel completely independent from the family. However, people who cut off their family are more likely to repeat the emotional and behavioral patterns they were taught.

THERAPY GOALS

differentiate the self change the individual from within the context of the systemDecrease anxiety

THERAPIST ROLE AND FUNCTION

Objective researcher Teacher Monitor of own reactivity

TECHNIQUES

GenogramsOne of the best ways to begin therapy and to gain understanding of how the emotional system operates in your family system is to put together your family genogram. Studying your own patterns of behavior, and how they relate to those of your multigenerational family, reveals new and more effective options for solving problems and for changing your response to the automatic role you are expected to play

Asking questionsDo not tell clients what to do, but rather asked a series of questions that were designed to help them figure out their own role in their family emotional process.

PROCESS OF CHANGE

- Questions and cognitive processes lead to differentiation and understanding of family origin

PROBLEMS

Generational Problem(eg. generation gap)

-born in 1916 and dies in 1988

-started as a teacher and becomes a well-

known international trainer

-becomes known through her books, trining

and workshops

-known as pioneer of family therapy, the

“Mother of family systems therapy”-created family reconstruction (1960) and role

playing

- Founded the International Human Learning Resources and the Avanta Networks to reach out to individuals, families and mental health practitioners.

Virginia Satir

TIME FOCUS

-Here and now

KEY CONCEPTS

Family life

Functional vs Dysfunctional communication in families

Defensive stances in coping stress

Family roles and family trials

Emphasis on communication and experiencing/expressing emotions.Focus on family rules--can either help family system function or lead to dysfunction.

- Rules that are unrealistic, rigid, and inflexible are often dysfunctional.- Rules that govern individuation and communication are especially

important.

Health and DysfunctionHealthy people are open and honest with self and others, take risks, are creative and flexibleHealthy families have open communication, strong sense of self among the individuals, and rules are flexibleDysfunctional families have fuzzy communication, members are fearful and blame each other, and rules are inflexible

THERAPY GOALS

promote growth, self esteem and connection

Help family reach communication and interaction

Better interactions, clearer & more open communication, expanded awareness, and enhanced potential for growth.

THERAPIST ROLE AND FUNCTION

Active facilitator

Resource person

Detective

Model for Congruence

TECHNIQUES PROBLEM

Problem within the family

Family sculpting

family reconstruction