Bowen found when individuals
were helped to differentiate, all
types of relationships improved
Primary goal of treatment: Differentiation of self
for individual family members
treatment model reflects psychoanalytic roots
focused on individual
considers family of origin
area concern is the family unit
this model does not require all
members of the family to be present
But it does require family members gain
an understanding of how entire system
operates across multiple generations
Bowen taught clients about the
functions of triangles, and he coached
them to be able to extricate themselves
from existing triangles and avoid being
pulled into new ones
making one change in one part of the
triangulated relationship created
reactions in other parts of the triangle
Differentiation of Self Scale
scale from 0, or no self, to
100 (highest level)
Genogram (Family Diagram)
organizes
information; indicate
conflict and
emotional issues
elucidate multigenerational family
processes and track changes in
triangles over course of treatment
Watchel (1982) highlights uses
Assumed that what
people reveal varies
depending on
circumstance
Projective Hypothesis
can also focus the family
on the total picture
Emotional Cut-Off
includes geographical
move, results in
minimizing contact
among family members
More likely to be replicated
in nuclear family
Role of therapist important
Must be sufficiently differentiated
from his/her own family so
reactivity minimized
Triangulates him/herself between a dyad
decrease level of emotional reactivity
asks process questions
Family members sent back
home to gather additional
information about family history
then establish person to person
relationships with each member
Person to Person Relationships
characterize differentiated relationships
Coaching
teaches clients about family
process and coaches them
in their efforts to change
I Position
coaching family members to make
statements that reflect their own thoughts
and feelings, instead of blaming others
Therapist's stance and tasks
1. Controls the emotional tone in session
2. Maintains a de-triangled stance with the couple
3. Estabilishes a
differentiated I position
with them, opening the
way for them to take I
positions with each other
4. Teaches them how emotional
systems operate and initiates the
work of differentiation from their
respective families of origin