Program Day 1 

• Fundamentals of relationships from a Bowen systems perspective - Understanding the family emotional system.

Morning Tea

• The Marital relationship in the family emotional system – unravelling the interplay of the process between spouses and the relationships to the broader family

Lunch

Seminar case studies –

• J Wright: The making of a couple therapist - A Family of origin Journey - the presenter will reflects on her growth as a couple therapist and consider how the development of confidence in key skills and competencies has paralleled her ongoing effort to participate more maturely on her primary triangle with her parents.
• J Brown: Exploring the journey of differentiating a self in a marriage - 2 Case studies – 1: a reflection on self in a marriage and what challenges this presents for the other. 2: Spouses reflections from their work to shift focus from changing the other to changing self.

Afternoon tea

• Tape of couple and Q & A 

Program Day 2: 

• Chronic anxiety, marriage and the family emotional system- reviewing the effects of anxiety/chronic anxiety on the family and on the marriage

Morning tea

• The clinical approach to marital difficulty- assisting people to rise up out of the fusion

Lunch 

• Seminar case studies - J Wright & J Brown (same choices as day 1)

Afternoon Tea

• Tape of couple part 2
• Q&A wrap up

Couple Therapy - A Systems Approach

“I can’t live with them and I can’t live without them!” 

 Attachment & Differentiation in Marriage

Key note speaker:  Dr. Dan Papero Ph.D LCSW

Dan Papero has been a popular engaging speaker at our conferences in 2006 and 2008. He demonstrates a unique ability to bring theory to life with both depth and clarity. Dan has been on the faculty at the Bowen Centre for the Study of the Family since 1982, working alongside Dr. Murray Bowen for some years.

 CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION:

Popular approaches to relationship counselling emphasize improving communication and trying harder to understand and meet the needs of our partners. Such approaches lead themselves to the view that personal unhappiness in marriage is the fault of our partner for failing to meet our needs. 

Bowen family systems theory offers a different approach. How do we maintain who we are as a person when in a committed relationship without destroying the relationship? How do we enhance the relationship without losing ourselves in the process? This conference will illustrate some of the differences between conventional approaches to marital difficulties and the fundamentals of relationship from the perspective of Bowen theory. The conference will include a discussion of conflict in relationships and ideas about how to address it. 

This conference is for anyone who would like to better understand the challenges of living in a committed relationship and to use this understanding in lending a hand to couples in clinical practice.

CONFERENCE SEMINARS EACH DAY :  

Presenting Case Studies and reflections on the Therapist's Own Family System influences.

*** This conference will address the following Focussed Psychological Strategies relevant to Medicare providers - 

• Psycho-education on relationship effectiveness for couples
• Relationship skills training (ways to develop improved personal boundaries in intimate relationships). Anger management and communication skills relevant to reducing marital fusion and strengthening spouses defining themself to the other. (“I” position)
• Interpersonal systems therapy as it relates to depression in one spouse.

Click here to Register Online