Source of motivation Development of pathology Nature of change Therapeutic relationship Bowen- Outline

Theory is about all life, not just humans and families. Striving to comprehend the unity of life’s forces is the intrinsic principle that gives all of Bowen’s theory coherence. Need for Differentiation Differentiation of self is also intrapsychic differentiation. Thought vs. feeling Techniques Bowen- Source of motivation

It is about intergenerational transmission and evolution for the system from one generation to the next. The Nuclear family emotional process full of chronic anxiety is what maintains and propels the system. Bowen- Source of motivation

Differentiation of self scale 0 ___________________100 Ruled by reason or ruled by feelings Separate facts from feelings All of life is on a continuum – i.e. nature/nurture, male/female, physical illness/emotional illness, etc. Bowen- Source of motivation

Symptoms show up in one of three places: 1. Marital relationship; 2. health of one of the partners; 3. one of the children. The issue is always related to one’s own ability to regulate one’s reactivity – or differentiation. Undifferentiated ego mass Connection to family leads to being ruled more by emotion High levels of family loyalty Dependency Anxiety Bowen- Development of pathology

Undifferentiation in marriage - One Marries a person at same level of differentiation; Reactive emotional distance (pseudo- differentiation. Physical or emotional dysfunction in a spouse Overt marital conflict Bowen- Development of pathology

Family projection process- Projection of problem onto children One child usually fused with undifferentiated parent Each generation has lower levels of differentiation. Differentiation is an on-going always present process. One is never really “done.” Bowen- Development of pathology

Triangles The smallest number of people or “legs” that will stabilize a system. Bowen- Development of pathology

Emotional cutoff from family of origin - - Unfinished business Again, pseudo - differentiation Bowen- Development of pathology

Optimal functioning Family members are differentiated Anxiety is low Good emotional contact with family of origin Resilient Flexible Capable of sustaining relationships Bowen-Nature of change

Increase ability to distinguish between thinking and feeling within self Bowen- Therapeutic relationship Use self to increase levels of differentiation in clients Bowen-Nature of change

Therapy is usually done one on one. Success of the therapy is directly related to the therapist’s own differentiation from her or his family. A therapist cannot take clients farther than they themselves have gone. One cannot learn about Bowen therapy by reading, one must “do” Bowen Therapy. Bowen- Techniques

Tracking Follow the patterns of emotional reactivity Structure of patterns Triangles Changing triangles Direct flow of conversation Neutralize emotional fusion Use “I” statements Be neutral, cognitive and rational Bowen- Techniques

Four Bowen- Concepts Differentiation – a life long process of striving to keep one’s being in balance through the reciprocal external and internal processes of self-definition and self- regulation. It is a concept that can be difficult to focus on objectively. It means to have the capacity to become one’s self out of one’s self with minimum reactivity to the positions or reactions of others. It is charting one’s own way by means of one’s own internal guidance system rather than perpetually eyeing the scope of others. It means to be able to take a stand in an intense emotional system and to say “I” what are demanding that you say “we.”

Four Bowen- Concepts Differentiation means being clear about one’s own personal goals, values and ideas, and taking personal responsibility for one’s own reactions and emotional being. It means not blaming others for one’s own emotional being and for one’s own destiny rather than blaming it on other’s, i.e., one’s parents, race or culture or gender or set of circumstances.

Four Bowen- Concepts Emotional System Any group of people or other colonized form of protoplasm (herds, flocks, packs, schools, etc.) that have developed emotional interdependencies to the point where the resulting system through which the parts are connected and have evolved its own principles of organization.

Four Bowen- Concepts Multigenerational transmission The “presence of the past” and the emotional responses of this, both the nature and the degree of intensity, are passed down from generation to generation (the sins of the father)

Four Bowen- Concepts Emotional Triangle – Examples – Father, son, mother. Grandparent, grandchild, parent. Teacher, student, fellow student.

Bowen- Concepts Healing as a Self-Regenerative Phenomenon. Healing is a self—regenerative process. Self—regeneration means not only self- responsibility, but also self-actualizing. The act of taking responsibility for one’s own emotional being and destiny is not only a key to survival, but that very attitude creates the self that is the necessary resource for that end.

Bowen- Concepts The natural systems view of Pathology - All pathogens have a commonality in the absence of a factor that regulates their own growth and behavior. Whether one is viewing a totalitarian nation or a family system, a pathological one will attempt to bend the will of others to their own end, they will never say “no” to them selves. This same inability to regulate self not only contributes to unregulated growth, but it also prevents the growth we call maturity. Bowen has, in fact, often substituted the word immaturity for pathology.

Bowen- Concepts A natural systems view of Healing 1. Life moves toward life. Life does not have to be taught how to do it. 2. The process of maturation have their own time frame. Not only can they often not be speeded up, but sometimes. it is necessary as with fermentation or embryonic development to slow the process down. It requires lowering one’s anxiety to allow these processes to go their own way. The healer does not have to take responsibility for making health happen, but for discovering the universal forces that make life tick, and then lining up the clients thinking and functioning with those life sustaining forces that have continuously evolved since creation. One who tries to promoted healing rather than will it, is more systemic.

Bowen- Concepts Tasks of the healer are to: 1) reduce the chronic anxiety that inhibits healing in emotional illness, by being well differentiated, 2) stimulating the organisms own resources which means guiding or challenging the self of the client to emerge. (Bowen has taught that which makes any paradox or challenging remark weak or strong is the investment and anxiety in the healer. Healers apply their will toward their own self—regulation, rather than the regulation of others).

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