“A common struggle for professionals is developing clinical hypotheses which adequately explain how violence develops in some families but does not develop in others, even when these families experience similar events and circumstances.” W Smith  

Each day provides: A choice of collaborative workshops of case presentations

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Family Emotional Process - This role play presentation will demonstrate the effectiveness of a Bowen family systems theory approach with a Veteran and his family who have struggled to manage the devastating effects of PTSD, domestic violence and child abuse. Dr Linda MacKay. PhD.
• Applying a Bowen Theory lens to a case with violence by all family members - This presentation will discuss the case of a 7yo boy living with his mother & 2 siblings following parental separation.  He presents with dysregulated behaviour at school & home, and significant physical aggression towards his mother.  All other family members have used physical aggression in their attempts to manage in this situation.  The discussion will explore the triangles which help to understand the emotional processes which have resulted in this dilemma for this family, and provide some options for therapeutic engagement with this family.  Dr Lisa Newling (Child Psychiatrist Redbank House), and facilitator - Joanne Wright, Reg Psych.
•  Confronting the potential for marital violence - A case of a couple with young children who present with a concern about their escalating conflictual relationship.  Bowen's concept of nuclear family emotional process and the conflict - distance cycle will be used to discuss the case.  Discussion will also consider Bowen's description of the conflictual cocoon and the challenge of rising up out of fusion.  The exploration of each spouse's family of origin will also be considered.  Jenny Brown, MSW.

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