This course will teach the fundamentals of Bowen family systems theory (or Bowen theory) and its application to clinical work. Bowen theory is one of the most well-established family therapy approaches. It views the family as an emotional unit and an emotional system, regulated by emotional processes found also in other living organisms. It adopts systems thinking (versus linear thinking) to viewing human behaviour, thus seeing symptoms not as the pathology of the individual, but as reflection of the dysfunctions of a family system.
Treatment is aimed at ameliorating the dysfunctional family relationship patterns and interaction processes.
Students will learn to make multigenerational and systemic assessment of families, to take a broad view, to practice objectivity and neutrality, to identify multigenerational relationship patterns and to work towards differentiation of self, a crucial factor for resilience, in their counselling work. Instructions on the theoretical concepts will be supported with ample illustrations of case examples with individual, couples and families facing problems such as eating disorder, marital difficulty, depression, and child behaviour/emotional problems. There will be videos, case presentations and discussions, and practice of questioning.
Assessment: 100% coursework