Professional Training Programme in Bowen Family Systems ... · 2 Bowen Family Systems Theory Bowen family system theory was developed by Dr. Murray Bowen, the late American psychiatrist

Professional Training Programme in

Bowen Family Systems Theory & Therapy

2018 - 2020

國際社家庭學院ISS Family Institute

1

ISS Family InstituteThe ISS Family Institute was established in October, 2002 to enhance individual and family functioning through training, public education, research and counselling. Bowen Family Systems Theory (or Bowen theory) is the theoretical framework guiding these services.

Our MissionTo promote the use of Bowen theory in dealing with human relationships through training programmes, public education, research and counselling services.

To promote the application of Bowen theory in different settings.

To foster the understanding and application of Bowen theory in Asian culture and the local society.

To connect with scientists and social scientists in Asia (particularly Hong Kong, Mainland China and Taiwan) to share applications of systems thinking in our respective domains.

2

Bowen Family Systems TheoryBowen family system theory was developed by Dr. Murray Bowen, the late American psychiatrist (1913-1990).

Bowen theory provides a new perspective to understanding human dilemma. Instead of seeing problems in a simple linear way as cause and effect, Bowen theory takes a broad view and sees human problems and relationships as the interplay and interaction of many players in the system. Individuals are not seen as independent or autonomous psychological entities, but as part of an emotional unit.

The family is conceptualized as an emotional unit, marked by the individual members’ emotional interdependence and impact on each other. The family is also viewed as an emotional system governed by life processes common to other living organisms. Positioning oneself in a thoughtful and rational way in the systems that one is in and undertaking actions / decisions based on sound and well-thought out principles in the interest of both oneself and the larger group is a major goal of Bowen theory.

3

Instructors

Peggy ChanMrs. Peggy Chan started her study of Bowen theory in the early 1990s in Vancouver. She continues her study of Bowen theory through attending 5 years (2008-2013) of the Postgraduate Programme in Bowen Family Systems Theory and Its Applications at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, Washington DC, U.S.A, and its Research Seminar group since 2013. She is a member of the Bowen Center ’s Network Programme for the Advancement of the Bowen Theory, and collaborates with other Bowen theory training centers around the world to promote better teaching and learning of Bowen theory.

Mrs. Chan presents work based in Bowen theory at the Bowen Center and throughout the world. She had presented at the 51st Annual Symposium of the Bowen Center in Nov., 2014, and was a plenary speaker of the First International Conference on Bowen Family Systems Theory, Pittsburg, U.S.A. in August, 2015.

Mrs. Peggy Chan was trained as a social worker (B.Soc.Sc., HKU), and counsellor (M.Ed., U. of Toronto) prior to her family systems training. She has over 20 years of experience in counselling individuals, couples and families, and training of professionals. Her areas of specialization include marital and women‘s issues, sexual issues, loss and grief, parent-child relationship difficulties, and cultural adaptation. She is Honorary Assistant Professor of the University of Hong Kong, teaching and supervising M.Soc.Sc. (Counselling) students since 2002. She is Associate Fellow and Approved Supervisor of the Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association, and also Approved Supervisor of the Hong Kong Marriage and Family Therapy Association (HKAAMFT).

4

Mrs. Peggy Chan is a frequent speaker and trainer on Bowen theory to helping professionals, teachers, parents, church groups and non-governmental organizations. She has conducted many workshops on the systemic way of seeing relationships, and the applications of Bowen theory in clinical practice, work situations and family. She has developed a parenting programme based on Bowen theory to the local Chinese community, as well as to parents of substance abusers through partnering with a local non-governmental organization. Mrs. Chan is interested in working with parents to develop greater emotional maturity and subsequent better connection with children.

Peggy CHAN, MEd, RSWDirector of Programme

ISS Family InstituteInternational Social Service Hong Kong Branch (ISS-HK)

Guest FacultyTo enhance the learning of the students, presentations to the class may also involve senior learners of both the ISS Family Institute and the Bowen Network.

5

This is a 2-year part-time training programme designed to teach Bowen theory and its applications in our lives, families, and work.

Goals1. To enhance the systemic perspective to viewing human relationships and to facilitate the development of the solid self.

2. To help clinicians to apply Bowen theory in clinical work.

Participants will...... 1. Learn to take a broad view of situations, and not only focus on the symptoms.

2. Learn the basic concepts and clinical strategies of Bowen theory.

3. Learn to apply systems thinking to dealing with the challenges arising from daily life and work situations.

4. Undertake research of their own families, and develop better understanding of their functioning patterns in families and important relationships.

5. Learn the connection between the family systems theory and the natural sciences.

Professional Training Programme

Bowen Family Systems Theory & Therapy

in

6

This programme has the following components......1. Theoretical component – a. the natural systems theory, and b. the clinical theory

2. Research of one’s family – to apply the theory to understanding one’s family and learning to change one’s functional pattern in it.

3. Clinical consultation – to apply the theory in clinical work

Training format

Practicum

。 Lectures/presentations/discussions of theory, teaching videos, group and individual supervision, clinical conferences, and Institute conferences.

The programme also provides a practicum at the Family Institute for trainees to work with clients to apply Bowen theory in their clinical work. Trainees can have the option of working with cases in their own clinical settings.

Trainees can have the option of undertaking practicum to learn the application of Bowen theory in clinical work.

Trainees must show sufficient personal and professional maturity in order to see clients. Ethical guidelines for clinical work are based on the Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association (HKPCA) Code of Ethics (2011 Revision). Trainees are advised to review this material thoroughly.

Trainees are expected to undertake 150 hours of clinical practice within 2-5 years from the start of the programme. Trainees can take about 2 interviews per week, and start to take cases in January, 2019.

Trainees can have the option of working with cases in their own clinical settings.

Trainees can accumulate the clinical hours and supervision hours for application as Certified Counsellor from the Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association (HKPCA).

。

。

。

。

。

。

7

Assignments

Successful completion of the first year requires the completion of both the verbal presentation and the written paper.

Trainees are required to do a 20-minute presentation, showing efforts to apply Bowen theory to work, personal and family life.

Trainees are also required to do a paper of 5,000 - 7,000 words expressing understanding of Bowen theory, and application of the theory to clinical/work/family situations at the end of the first year.

Trainees are required to do a 20-minute presentation on a special area of interest / academic or clinical research project to show understanding and integration of Bowen theory.

Trainees are also required to submit a paper of 5,000 – 7,000 words to illustrate their integration of the Bowen theory in the selected subject.

Certificate of Completion (Professional Training Programme on Bowen Family Systems Theory ) for trainees who have fulfilled all the requirements of the Programme.

Certificate of Completion (Professional Training Programme on Bowen Family Systems Theory and Therapy ) for trainees who have also completed all the requirements of the practicum.

Certificate

A certificate of completion outlining the hours and content of learning will be awarded to the trainees who have successfully completed the two years of training and all the required assignments. 100 % attendance of all the course components (as listed on p. 11) is required.

a.

a.

a.

b.

b.

b.

8

Masters degree in Counselling, Psychology, Social Work, and related human services. This programme is designed to professionals in mental health, social services, pastoral care, human resources, and organizational management.

Motivation to learn and practice Bowen theory in one’s work, and family.

Applicants should have basic understanding of Bowen theory, and should have received at least 36 hours of teaching on Bowen theory from the ISS Family Institute (including Basic Course on BFST, plus any of the following courses/workshops: Clinical Applications of BFST, BFST Level 2, Journey into Family-of-Origin, Couple Counselling- the Family Systems Approach, Differentiation in Action, Coaching, Delayed Webcast lectures, conferences, supervision.)

BFST Level 1, Intensive Course on BFST, Family Therapy course (HKU M.Soc. Sc.): may be counted as comparable to Basic Course on BFST.

(Note: BFST stands for Bowen Family Systems Theory or Therapy.)

Admission Criteria

Admission Procedure

。

。

。

Applicants should complete the attached application form, and send it to the ISS Family Institute together with an application fee of $100 before August 18, 2018. Prospective applicants will be interviewed and assessed by the Programme Director as to their suitability to enroll in this programme.

9

Fundamentals of the Bowen family systems theory – - The family as a natural system - The family as an emotional unit - The counterbalancing forces of togetherness and individuality - Family and the brain in evolution

Chronic Anxiety and Differentiation of Self in the family emotional system

Other emotional processes in the family system - - Triangles - Anxiety binding mechanisms in the nuclear family system - Multigenerational Transmission Process - Sibling Position - Emotional Cut off

Symptom development – - the systems model of disease - unresolved emotional attachment - family systems variables in symptom development - Maintenance and resolution of symptoms

Evaluation of the Family emotional system – - family diagram - The family evaluation interview - Interpretation of data - Therapeutic focus and prognosis

Course Contents

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

10

Clinical Practice – - Bowen’s perspectives of the helping relationship - Defining the relationship processes and reducing anxiety - Detriangling - Neutrality and objectivity - Teaching the functioning of family emotional systems - Defining an I-position - Coaching the individual towards self- regulation and self-change in the family

The therapist and his/her family system – - Patterns and triangles in one’s family system - Chronic anxiety and managing emotional reactivity - Multigenerational Transmission Process - Emotional self-regulation - Defining self in one’s family system

This will involve -Examination of the above areas at a deeper level.

Specific topics of interest to the participants will be selected for deeper study, e.g. families with marital difficulties, abuse, addiction, and child-focused families. The emotional processes and clinical strategies for working with these families will be examined.

Application of Bowen theory in other emotional systems

Anxiety and the larger society

6.

7.

1.

2.

3.

4.

11

This is a ten-month training programme which involves 4 hours of class (Theory/presentation/discussion), 4 hours of group supervision, and 1 hour of individual supervision per month, plus 2 clinical conferences (6 hours) for the school year, totaling 80 hours a year. Class time usually takes place on the last Saturday afternoon of each month, except when it is a public holiday. This will involve lectures, teaching videos, dialogue, presentations by trainees on different aspects of the theory and its applications.

Trainees are also expected to attend the Institute conference. Date to be confirmed.

Clinical conference

32 hrTheory /presentation /discussion

Group supervision

Individual supervision

32 hr

10 hr

6 hr

Year 1September 2018 - July 2019

(Saturday) 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Course Schedule

Theory /presentation /discussion

Group supervision

Individual supervision

Clinical conference

Year 2

32 hr

32 hr

10 hr

6 hr

12

Theory / Presentation / DiscussionSept. 29, Oct. 27, Nov. 24, 2018

Jan. 26, Feb. 23, Mar. 30, May 25, June 29, 2019

2:30 pm – 4:00 pm Presentation by Mrs. Peggy Chan, Programme Director4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Bowen video and discussion5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Presentations by trainees

Small Group Supervision sessionSept. 2018 – July 2019

date and time to be arranged between group members and instructor

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Discussion of readings3:30 pm – 6:30 pm work systems, or other applications.

Group SupervisionEach group will consist of 5-6 members. Group supervision sessions will take place on other Saturday afternoons (2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.), or Saturday mornings (9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m). Group members will fix the schedule of their group supervision sessions according to their availability and the availability of their supervisor.

Group supervision will focus on application of the Bowen theory in clinical work, management of self in family-of-origin, work settings and important social relationships.

Individual SupervisionEach trainee will have individual supervision with the supervisor once (1 hour) (outside the class and group supervision time) every month during the school year. Trainees will examine their understanding of the theory, and application of the theory in clinical work, family-of-origin, work settings and social relationships. Trainees will also practice doing research of their families.

Supervision re: clinical practice, family of origin work,

13

Clinical ConferencesDec. 15, 2018 , and April 27, 2019 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

There will be 2 clinical conferences each year. The instructor or guest faculty will present a lecture on a particular theme followed by discussion of a clinical case that illustrate the theme. Discussion will focus on the application of the theory in conceptualizing the problems and in implementing the clinical strategies and techniques with the clients.

The Institute ConferenceTo enrich the exposure of the trainees to system thinkers from the broader Bowen network, the Family Institute organizes conferences led by faculty members of the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family (Washington DC, U.S.A.) or leaders of approved network programmes of the Bowen Center. Trainees are expected to attend the Institute Conference. Date to be confirmed.

Texts and reading materialsTrainees will be given a reading list on Bowen theory. Trainees of this programme have access to the library of the Family Institute which consists of books, articles, audiovisual resources on Bowen theory produced by the Bowen Center and other network programmes. Trainees are expected to do much personal reading on the theory.

14

Year 1: HK$24,000*(COF/One-off payment before August 31, 2018: HK$23,000)

Year 2: HK$24,000*(COF/One-off payment before August 31, 2019: HK$23,000)

Payments can be made annually by two installments (half of the annual fee), to be paid before September 15, and January 15 of each year.

*The amount includes an annual subscription of Family Systems Forum, a publication of the Center for the Study of Natural Systems and the Family, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

Fees

One person bringing the best to relationships: having “the courage to define self, who is as invested in the welfare of the family as in self, who is neither angry nor dogmatic, whose energy goes to changing self rather than telling others what

they should do."

( Murray Bowen, M.D., 1978, p. 305 )

Bowen, M. (1978). Family Therapy in Clinical Practice . New York: Aronson

An entire family can be changed through the effort of one person. ( Murray Bowen, M.D., 1978 )

一人改變可轉化整個家庭。( 梅利‧博域醫生 1798)

6/F, Southorn Centre

130 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong

香港灣仔軒尼詩道 130 號修頓中心 6樓

電話 Tel: (852) 2834 6863

傳真 Fax: (852) 2834 7627

網址 Website: www.isshk.org

國際社家庭學院ISS Family Institute

香港國際社會服務社International Social Service Hong Kong Branch