The Family Emotional System: An Integrative Concept for Theory, Science, and Practice presents an ongoing dialogue among scientists, family investigators, and clinicians related to a natural systems view of the family and human behavior that has been occurring over several decades. The concept of the family as an emotional system, as defined in Bowen theory, is presented as the principal integrative concept underlying this dialogue and an effort to move toward a science of human behavior. As a natural system, the family forms the immediate and most important context for individual development, and may be the most central and important environment shaping brain development across the lifetime of the individual. This book explains how the family system can serve as an integrative framework within which specific factual discoveries and hypotheses from many areas of science can be brought together and understood as various manifestations of a coherent whole. The Family Emotional System provides understanding of what is entailed in conceptualizing the family as an emotional system, a sense of the breadth and depth of knowledge the sciences are contributing to this effort, and examples of how this theoretical framework contributes to family research and practice. The richness and excitement occurring in the ongoing dialogue between scientists and Bowen family systems practitioners and researchers is captured along with the promise it holds for the study of human behavior.

The concepts of Murray Bowen, one of the founders of family therapy and the originator of family systems theory, are brought together here in an integrative fashion. Michael Kerr (who worked with Bowen for many years) and Bowen propose that the enormously complex task of evaluating a clinical family can be orderly when it is grounded in family systems theory. Using family diagrams and case studies, the book is devoted to an elegant explication of Bowen theory, which analyzes multigenerational family relationships and conceptualizes the family as an emotional unit or as a network of interlocking relationships, not only among the family members, but also among biological, psychological, and sociological processes. Bowen’s persistent inquiry and devotion to family observation, in spite of obstacles and frustrations, have resulted in a theory that has radically changed our ways of looking at all behavior.

One look inside Clinical Applications of Bowen Family Systems Theory, and you’ll see that your most current clinical dilemmas are not as difficult to solve as you think. You’ll find plenty of information to assist you in treating a vast audience of populations--the elderly, college students, troubled couples, remarried families, and children with severe medical problems. You’ll also find that you’re able to apply the Bowen systems theory to nearly every clinical situation--emotional dysfunction in children, alcoholism, incest, divorce, depression, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Clinical Applications of Bowen Family Systems Theory is an ideal companion for family therapists, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and counselors. You’ll find your working comprehension of Murray Bowen’s work will grow, and you’ll become more adept at applying what you read in real-life clinical situations, especially in these related areas: family systems assessment based on the Bowen Theory marital fusion and differentiation bridging emotional cut-off from a former spouse dealing with a child-focused divorce case studies of alcoholism and family systems Clinical Applications of Bowen Family Systems Theory is the first book to collect, illustrate, and walk you through a full application of this highly effective treatment method in any number of clinical settings. Both beginning and experienced therapists will find interesting reading in the history of the theory, and the result will be interested clients who begin to create functional, thriving personal histories for themselves.

Move through emotional triangles toward a natural systems view of the individual in the context of the family and society Triangles: Bowen Family Systems Theory Perspectives presents clear applications of Murray Bowen’s concept of the emotional triangle in the family, the organization, and society. This comprehensive book discusses in detail the theory, the theory’s application to the therapist’s own family, clinical applications, organizational applications, and societal applications. This unique resource examines the value of the triangle concept for understanding the emotional process of the family, the organization, and society. Triangles: Bowen Family Systems Theory Perspectives provides a theoretical context for understanding the triangle concept and its application, then progresses to exploring and applying the concept of the triangle and interlocking triangles to self, family, and other contexts. This book is devoted to explicating Bowen’s seminal concept of the triangle, and providing a clear description of the process of detriangling in clinical practice. The text includes several case studies and vignettes to illustrate concepts. Topics in Triangles: Bowen Family Systems Theory Perspectives include: a historical and conceptual overview the triangle’s function in the effort to increase differentiation of self the presence of triangles in non-human primates Bowen’s differentiation of self effort in his own family and business the functioning of triangles at the time of chronic illness and death emotional triangles involving pets and humans the application of the concept of triangles and interlocking triangles to clinical issues in marriage the presence of triangles in the child-focused family triangles in stepfamilies the triangle’s presence and function in families with substance abusing teens triangles involving extramarital relationships triangles in organizations and businesses the triangle’s function in the context in societal emotional process and much more! Triangles: Bowen Family Systems Theory Perspectives is a stimulating, enlightening resource for family therapists, social workers, psychologists, pastoral counselors, and counselors.

Widen your therapeutic focus and help your family therapy clients learn to bridge generational separation! This book delivers professional insights on one of the least understood but most important of Bowen's concepts—emotional cutoff. The first book on this subject, Emotional Cutoff: Bowen Family Systems Theory Perspectives examines this aspect of Bowen family system theory and shows how emotional cutoff can be understood and addressed in therapy. Emotional Cutoff also provides beneficial case examples, empirically based studies, helpful figures, and family diagrams. This information-packed volume includes a chapter by the developers of Family of Origin Response Survey (FORS)—an instrument that measures the degree to which one is emotionally reactive to their mother or father—that outlines the process and its scoring methodology and demonstrates its reliability. The book also includes chapters on emotional cutoff and societal processes—and even how emotional cutoff manifests in the animal kingdom! From the editor: “In this book, the phenomenon of emotional cutoff is explored from many perspectives. The contributors have illustrated the presence of cutoff in non-human species, in relation to evolutionary theory, brain physiology, reproduction, in the lives of therapists and the individuals and families they work with in clinical practice, and in societal emotional process—in a variety of contexts. In addition, the development of an instrument for measuring emotional cutoff is presented.” Emotional Cutoff is a comprehensive examination of this fascinating aspect of Bowen family systems theory, including: a theoretical overview—as well as a look at cutoff in various animal species and an examination of the way the physiology of the human brain is related to the phenomenon of emotional cutoff bridging emotional cutoff in the therapist's own family, as related by three Bowen systems therapists and a genealogist who is trained in Bowen theory—essential reading for all therapists! research and clinical applications—including interventions you can put into practice right away with clients who are dealing with divorce, depression, domestic violence, or child abuse societal applications—a look at emotional cutoff and societal process in Russian citizens, in Holocaust survivors, in immigrants, and in Israeli/Palestinian relations Emotional Cutoff: Bowen Family Systems Theory Perspectives provides exciting possibilities for treating emotional cutoff in people trying to manage their unresolved issues. It is an essential resource for family therapists, counselors, pastoral counselors, family-oriented psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, and psychiatric nurses.

Widen your therapeutic focus and help your family therapy clients learn to bridge generational separation! This book delivers professional insights on one of the least understood but most important of Bowen's concepts—emotional cutoff. The first book on this subject, Emotional Cutoff: Bowen Family Systems Theory Perspectives examines this aspect of Bowen family system theory and shows how emotional cutoff can be understood and addressed in therapy. Emotional Cutoff also provides beneficial case examples, empirically based studies, helpful figures, and family diagrams. This information-packed volume includes a chapter by the developers of Family of Origin Response Survey (FORS)—an instrument that measures the degree to which one is emotionally reactive to their mother or father—that outlines the process and its scoring methodology and demonstrates its reliability. The book also includes chapters on emotional cutoff and societal processes—and even how emotional cutoff manifests in the animal kingdom! From the editor: “In this book, the phenomenon of emotional cutoff is explored from many perspectives. The contributors have illustrated the presence of cutoff in non-human species, in relation to evolutionary theory, brain physiology, reproduction, in the lives of therapists and the individuals and families they work with in clinical practice, and in societal emotional process—in a variety of contexts. In addition, the development of an instrument for measuring emotional cutoff is presented.” Emotional Cutoff is a comprehensive examination of this fascinating aspect of Bowen family systems theory, including: a theoretical overview—as well as a look at cutoff in various animal species and an examination of the way the physiology of the human brain is related to the phenomenon of emotional cutoff bridging emotional cutoff in the therapist's own family, as related by three Bowen systems therapists and a genealogist who is trained in Bowen theory—essential reading for all therapists! research and clinical applications—including interventions you can put into practice right away with clients who are dealing with divorce, depression, domestic violence, or child abuse societal applications—a look at emotional cutoff and societal process in Russian citizens, in Holocaust survivors, in immigrants, and in Israeli/Palestinian relations Emotional Cutoff: Bowen Family Systems Theory Perspectives provides exciting possibilities for treating emotional cutoff in people trying to manage their unresolved issues. It is an essential resource for family therapists, counselors, pastoral counselors, family-oriented psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, and psychiatric nurses.

The Handbook of Bowen Family Systems Theory and Research Methods presents innovative approaches on a range of issues inherent in family research and discusses the links between theory, data collection, and data analysis based on Bowen family systems theory. This multi-authored volume discusses core issues within family systems theory, including anxiety, stress, emotional cutoff, differentiation of self, multigenerational transmission process, and nuclear family emotional process. Chapters also examine related constructs in the research literature such as adaptation, resilience, social support, social networks, and intergenerational family relations. Readers will be able to view theoretical and methodological issues from the perspective of Bowen theory and develop a clearer knowledge of ways to navigate the challenges faced when studying individual, familial, and societal problems. An essential resource for clinicians and researchers in the social and natural sciences, the Handbook of Bowen Family Systems Theory and Research Methods provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the application of Bowen theory to family practice and family research.