Advanced Theories Paper
Catherine Ashby
COUN 635: Advanced Theories
Dr. Geri Glover
7/25/09
Murray Bowen is one of the founding fathers of family systems theory. He even coined the term “family systems”. His career began at the Menninger Clinic working with families of people with schizophrenia. He was the first therapist to look at the individual’s development in the context of family relationships. Bowen believed that family members adopt certain behaviors and patterns for those behaviors based on their family of origin. This research began with people with schizophrenia and their mothers, but soon led to fathers and to the rest of family in general as a major influential factor in people’s behavior patterns. Eventually, Bowen theorized that people are healthiest when they are emotionally independent yet still connected to their families. Bowen’s contributions to family systems therapy were significant and unique considering his psychoanalytic roots.
Basic Philosophical Assumptions
The general narrative of family systems theory is that individuals are products of their family. As stated above, the best way to understand an individual is to see him in the context of his family relationships. Families are systems; therefore, they are complex networks of interactions, relationships and patterns (Murdock, 2009). People never function alone; the people and groups around them continually influence them. To a family systems therapist, an individual is not understood alone. Individuals are seen as being similar to a single piece of a jigsaw puzzle; if he is seen without the other pieces (the family) he is not well understood. If he is seen along with the rest of the pieces, a bigger picture can be seen (Gurman, & Kniskern, 1981).
Bowen’s Family Systems Therapy (BFST) is largely based on the concept of differentiation of self. When a person is differentiated from their family, they are not regulated by family roles or expectations. The goal is for the individual is
COUN 635: Advanced Theories
Dr. Geri Glover
7/25/09
Murray Bowen is one of the founding fathers of family systems theory. He even coined the term “family systems”. His career began at the Menninger Clinic working with families of people with schizophrenia. He was the first therapist to look at the individual’s development in the context of family relationships. Bowen believed that family members adopt certain behaviors and patterns for those behaviors based on their family of origin. This research began with people with schizophrenia and their mothers, but soon led to fathers and to the rest of family in general as a major influential factor in people’s behavior patterns. Eventually, Bowen theorized that people are healthiest when they are emotionally independent yet still connected to their families. Bowen’s contributions to family systems therapy were significant and unique considering his psychoanalytic roots.
Basic Philosophical Assumptions
The general narrative of family systems theory is that individuals are products of their family. As stated above, the best way to understand an individual is to see him in the context of his family relationships. Families are systems; therefore, they are complex networks of interactions, relationships and patterns (Murdock, 2009). People never function alone; the people and groups around them continually influence them. To a family systems therapist, an individual is not understood alone. Individuals are seen as being similar to a single piece of a jigsaw puzzle; if he is seen without the other pieces (the family) he is not well understood. If he is seen along with the rest of the pieces, a bigger picture can be seen (Gurman, & Kniskern, 1981).
Bowen’s Family Systems Therapy (BFST) is largely based on the concept of differentiation of self. When a person is differentiated from their family, they are not regulated by family roles or expectations. The goal is for the individual is