Bowen Therapist Approach: 

1. Utilize process questions that help identify emotional reactivity patterns

2. Allow each person to talk one at a time (not to each other)

3. Move each person beyond blaming to an “I” statements

4. Form a healthy triangle as the neutral party

5. Maintain your own reactivity

The ultimate goals of Bowen Therapists are to:

1. Understand the how the family operates

2. Lower anxiety

3. Help clients to think, not react

4. Identify relational patterns

5. Assist each family member to self-differentiation (Individuation)

6. De-triangulate

7. Move past blaming and take responsibility for own role in the conflict

 

I have included a Bowen Family Session (mock/role-play) for demonstration purposes

only. 

Simon (father), Sunny (mother), Sierra (15 yr. old daughter) and Shawn (9 yr. old son).

 

 

https://youtu.be/GYeZzf5LWnoLinks to an external site.

“Case Scenario”

 

After reading Chapter 4, and the case scenario, address and explain the evidence of the

following when addressing 1-3 in this case. Provide examples from the case to support

your responses.

Format: 3 separate paragraphs. 

Tara is a 21-year-old female who recently graduated with an LPN from a community

college and now works at a local hospital. Tara’s working hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.,

Monday through Friday. Tara’s parents (Betty and Joe) are very proud of her, especially

her mother. Tara’s mother insists that she comes home straight from work because a very

healthy dinner is served at 6:00 p.m. every night. If Tara is late, then her mother begins

calling her. Tara is an only child, and her mother has always been extremely doting and is

described as a helicopter mom.  Tara has been Betty’s center of attention ever since Tara

battled anorexia in her early teens. Tara has made great progress regarding her health and

weight gain and is now in her early twenties. Tara lives at home with her parents.

 Tara has been close to her parents, but Tara’s father somewhat distances himself from

the family. He will join the family for dinner, but typically stays in his garage doing odd jobs

or watching television in his so-called “man-cave”.  He started distancing himself when

Tara was initially diagnosed with anorexia because Betty became so focused on their

daughter that she no-longer had time for him. Joe reports that he felt isolated and

alone.  Betty continues to hover over their daughter and typically plans their weekends

which involves either gardening, grocery shopping, or running errands. Tara is expected to

be involved in all.

Betty has noticed a shift in Tara during family dinners. Tara seems quiet and is not as

engaging. Tara has also started spending more time with her father in the “man-cave”

after dinner, and if Betty enters the man-cave, then Joe and Tara stop talking. Betty

reports that she is beginning to feel isolated and alone.

Tara’s father reports that Tara has been sharing with him that friends have been inviting

her to join them for dinner after work, but Tara knows her mother goes to a lot of trouble

planning and cooking weekly meals. Tara has expressed that she feels apprehension and

guilt for wanting to join her friends.

 

“Increasing the ability to distinguish between thinking and feeling and learning to use the ability

to resolve relationship problems, is the guiding principles of Bowenian therapy (Pg.66).

 

  

 

“Assignment”

 

You will be describing healthy and unhealthy family development from a Bowen systems

theory perspective to this family.

 

In three separate paragraphs explain the evidence of the following in this case to this

family. You are in the 3 rd  meeting and are sharing your hypothesis.

 

 

1). Emotional Triangles:

What are they and how are triangles evident in this case? (2 points)

 

2). Differentiation of Self/Undifferentiated:

 What does this mean and how does Differentiation of Self/Undifferentiated present in

this case? (2 points)

 

3). Two primary mechanisms/Beneficial:

According to Bowen, what are the two primary mechanisms of change, and how could

these two primary mechanisms of change be beneficial to Tara, as well as her mother? – (3

point)