Families make us who we are. From our families we learn communication skills, emotions and how to form relationships. Murray Bowen developed the Bowen family systems theory. The Bowen family systems theory provides the opportunity to learn about complex family relationships and emotional relationships. The Bowen family systems theory can be integrated with religion and spirituality. Everyone can relate the Bowen family systems theory. I can integrate my personal experiences with concepts from the Bowen family systems theory. Sibling Positions is another factor in the Bowen’s Family Theory, However, this process involves siblings. According to Goldenberg (2013), “Bowen credits Toman’s (1961) research on the relationship between birth order …show more content…
Spirituality can be defined as ‘‘ways of relating to the sacred’’ (Shults and Sandage 2006, p. 161) that involve the experience of significance (Zinnbauer and Pargament 2005)”. (Jankowski and Vaughn, 2009, p.82). I believe Christianity and the Bowen family theory can be integrated as well, but it is the counselor who must properly integrate it. According to McMinn (2011), “Bring the Christian faith into the counseling office requires the counselor to evaluate carefully the goals of therapy and challenge the views of healing that surround us in the mental health profession” (p. 17). Both the Bowen family theory and Christianity are based on the functionality of families. The Bowen family theory and Christianity are based on focusing on the future and working though issues on the past. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV). God wants us to focus on our future and be better people, rather than focus on the …show more content…
“Families and other social groups tremendously affect how people think, feel, and act, but individuals vary in their susceptibility to a “group think” and groups vary in the amount of pressure they exert for conformity”( thebowencenter.org, p.1). The differentiation of self-concept is based on the views of others. Individuals are thoughts and actions are based on their group’s pressure. In Christianity, groups are used as a way to connect to God and grow closer to the community. Certain churches encourages groups to gather, to communicate and help each other through difficulties. In Christianity, “group think” is integrated as well. Christianity is based on what people express at church, we listen to the pastor and feel similar feelings of
If I were to look at my family through the lenses of Bowen’s family system theory mentioned in The Genogram Journey: Reconnecting with your Family by Monica McGoldrick, most of the time we would not follow the listed “norms.” Mike is the oldest and Bowen suggests that he should be serious, the leader, and ambitious. Mike is none of these attributes. Mike is the smartest of the siblings. On the science portion of the ACT, he made a 32. The quality Mike is missing tends to fall towards self-motivation. He has worked in multiple fast food careers but ends up quitting when the job gets difficult. His mother, Christine, tends to bend to his every need while our father does not talk to him about adult responsibilities.
Entwistle, D. E. (2010). Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity: An introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of integration (2nd ed.). Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers.
A difficulty that has occurred commonly is that a definition of spirituality cannot be agreed on. In a broad explanation of both religion as well as spirituality, religion constitutes the organization of faith, implementing prayer, ministry and theology. Spirituality could be viewed as a more individualized experience with a higher being, creator or idea (Walker et al., 2004, p. 70). These expressions allow a vision of client diversity that is found in all counseling classifications. While defining religion and spirituality properly seems trivial, when training counselors to properly apply the use of such variables in their therapies, a concrete explanation is imperative.
Murray Bowen that suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another, but rather as a part of their family, as the family is an emotional unit. Bowen family systems theory is a theory of human behavior that views the family as an emotional unit and uses systems thinking to describe the complex interactions in the unit. It is the nature of a family that its members are intensely connected emotionally. Often people feel distant or disconnected from their families, but this is more feeling than fact. Families so profoundly affect their member’s thoughts, feelings, and actions that it often seems as if people are living under the same “emotional skin.” People solicit each other’s attention, approval, and support and react to each other’s needs, expectations, and upsets. The connectedness and reactivity make the functioning of family members interdependent. A change in one person’s functioning is predictably followed by reciprocal changes in the functioning of others. Families differ somewhat in the degree of interdependence, but it is always present to some
When considering the development of emotional maturity or the concept of differentiation of self from a psychological perspective, the pioneer systems family theorist Dr. Murray Bowen remains of the most referenced sources. Bowen, starting in early 1974, was one of the first to advance the concept of differentiation of self, as one where ‘The emotional maturity of the individual to interact with others, his or her level of cognition, individuality, self, ego, independence and ability to detach from the emotional problems of others” can be measured, generally on a scale of 1 to 100 with 100 being the most desirable result. Bowen considered the struggle of differentiation to be a lifelong pursuit, and would later extend its application from
Becvar, D. S., & Becvar, R. J. (1999). Systems theory and family systems (2 ed.). Lanham, NY: University Press of America.
In the text, “The American Cultural Configuration” the authors express the desire of anthropologists to study their own culture despite the difficulty that one faces attempting to subjectively analyze their own society. Holmes and Holmes (2002), use the adage “not being able to see the forest through the trees” (p. 5) to refer to how hard it is for someone to study something they have largely taken for granted. The Holmes' article focuses predominately on paradoxes within our own culture, many of which we don't notice. In a paradox, two contradicting statements can appear to be true at the same time. This essay looks at two paradoxes commonly found in everyday life: the individual versus the family and religion.
Richardson, R. W. (2005). Bowen Family Systems Theory and congregational life. Review & Expositor, 102(3), 379-402.
Oman, D., & Thoresen, C. E. (2007). How does one learn to be spiritual? Westport, CT:
Since the 20th century, researchers have sought out solutions to help assist families and the individual components that make up family systems overcome the challenges and schisms that can inhibit individuation and stability. Two theoretical perspectives, the family-systems theory and the family-development theory, were conceived to gain as Balswick & Balswick (2014) noted, gain “a wide-angle view of family life” (p. 22). Though these two theories have merit, one I found to be more advantageous in gaining a better understanding of the family as an actively metastasizing organism, which needs to be approached more adaptively.
One of the most difficult aspects of counseling is accepting when boundaries can be crossed for the betterment of a client and knowing when those boundaries should be respected no matter the outcome. Incorporating religion and spirituality into counseling can often be problematic in the sense that not everyone has the same views on the matter. In fact, not all therapists in the field of counseling agree that blending therapy and religion is effective or appropriate. However, for Christians who seek assistance, gaining knowledge on their situation, learning new coping mechanisms, and still incorporating the Bible as a reference tools serves a an excellent therapeutic method.
Linda James, a Montreal clinical psychologist, says that in some cases, cults become families for the vulnerable while offering to fulfill an individual's fantasies. Explains James: “They can offer wealth or the perfect relationship.'' (1993). The conceptualization of affiliation as brainwashing has been an influential theory of involvement in nontraditional religious ... ... middle of paper ... ...
In Richard J. Petts American Sociological Review he focuses on not one, but two very large institutions, family and religion.
We will use a Bowenian/Multicontextual theoretical framework to assess and discuss our family. The family life-cycle stage is that of family with adolescents. The emotional process of transition is increase flexibility of family boundaries to permit children’s independence. Second order changes that apply to this family are for Mrs. Acosta to refocus on career issues and realign relationships in social/community system.
Spirituality has become a title of a section within the public library, but without God at the center of a spiritual experience, it is counter to life in the Spirit. True Spirituality has to do with recognizing our soul and spirit, and who it is in relation to God. Though physical attributes may result from this inner union with the Holy Spirit, the nature of what is seen will be an effect of that which is not seen.