Programs in Bowen Theory

Severe Chronic Stress, Trauma, and the Family System

April 22nd, 2012 by Laura Havstad

With Daniel Papero, PhD, LCSW

Saturday, June 9, 2012 – 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM
Courtyard by Marriott. Santa Rosa, California

Traumatic events almost always involve others. As extreme life events are experienced, what is the function of the family in coping with the effects?
Bowen family systems theory focuses on the effect on the individual, and also addresses the chain of responses throughout the family emotional system to better understand the impact of the trauma and its short and long-term effects.
Clinically, the focus on the family as an emotional unit opens up options for interrupting the build-up of chronic stress and the development of chronic symptoms. This meeting will address the impacts of the family system on the course of severe stress drawing on family systems theory and psychological research through lecture, discussion and a video case example.

Dr. Daniel Papero, PhD, LCSW. Well known to students of Bowen theory, Dr. Papero is faculty and on the board of the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family in Washington, DC. He is author of Bowen Family Systems Theory and he lectures and consults nationally and internationally on family theory, family therapy, and organizational emotional process. He has served as national Social Work consultant to the U.S. Airforce.

Program Information & Registration (more…)

Tags: 6/9/12, Meeting on Severe Stress with Dan Papero, Trauma and the Family System

Posted in Bowen Theory, Conferences, Upcoming Meetings

Application of Bowen Family Systems Theory in Consulting to Family Businesses, with Kathy Wiseman

December 12th, 2011 by Laura Havstad

“So much of what gets decided in business is based on relationships.”

On November 12, Kathy Wiseman presented a day of her thinking about how she uses Bowen family systems theory in her work as a family business consultant. She encouraged the audience to think about how they go about their own work. The goal was to stimulate thinking about the field of family business consulting as seen through the lens of emotional process. Ms. Wiseman told the audience how she came to her interest in emotional process, Bowen theory, and family business through her own family history and from her experiences in the field. She showed a video documenting the natural history of a family business succession through the lens of emotional process over a period of ten years.She talked about the challenges and outcomes of her consultation experiences with several family business foundations and outlined her approach to consulting. To demonstrate a principle for productive family meetings, she led the audience in an exercise of thinking in groups that are structured to protect and promote individuality.