Bowen Center for the Study of the Family

05/19/2026

Applications are now open for the Bowen Center's Learning & Development Programs!
Learn more about the Learning & Development programs on our website thebowencenter.org.

We invite you to watch a short recording with Differentiation at Work program heads, Kathy Wiseman and Jake Morrill, describing their program. https://youtu.be/UwKJaeOH1bE

Watch Program Heads Jake Morrill and Kathy Wiseman discuss the structure and value of the Differentiation at Work program in this short video. Differentiatio...

04/21/2026

This Thursday!
April 23, 2026 | 7:00 - 8:30 PM ET Online | The Professional Lecture Series.

Professional lectures are free and open to the public. Learn more and reserve your spot at https://www.thebowencenter.org/professional-lectures

Rob Dunn, PhD will present "The Role of Mutualisms with Other Species in Human Mental Health and Well-Being"

Dr. Dunn is the author of Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live.
Learn More about him at https://robdunnlab.com/

Dr. Dunn's presentation will explore:
-The extent of human dependence on other species
-Some of the ways in which our daily interactions with other species affect well-being
-An understanding of the speed with which these interactions have changed
-Examples of successful interventions to better human relationships with the rest of life,

This series of speakers focuses on the family as a natural system and on knowledge from the study of other natural systems and the sciences. A distinctive feature of this meeting is the length of time the presenter is given to develop and illustrate ideas followed by audience discussion. The ideas p...

01/09/2026

Our next Clinical Conference is Friday, January 16, 2026 Online.
Faculty member Kenton Derstine, MDiv, DMin will present "The Effort in Family and its Impact Upon Workplace Effectiveness." The conference will explore the idea that the effort for differentiation of self in one's family contributes to enhanced functioning in the workplace. Learn more and register!

The Clinical Conference Series focuses on the clinical applications of Bowen theory. Each month, a different faculty member selects a topic of their own professional interest. The conference includes video interviews. It is designed for mental health and other professionals. CEs are offered for som

01/05/2026

Reserve your spot for the January Professional Lecture!
Thursday, January 15, 2026. 7-8:30 pm. Online. Free and open to the public.
Five Misconceptions of Bowen Theory and Clinical Practice
Vanessa Roulette Ellison, MSW, MDiv, LCSW

Learn more and register!

This series of speakers focuses on the family as a natural system and on knowledge from the study of other natural systems and the sciences. A distinctive feature of this meeting is the length of time the presenter is given to develop and illustrate ideas followed by audience discussion. The ideas p...

11/18/2025

Sign up before December 5th for the Bowen Center's Clinical Conference Package, which includes the December, January, March, and May Clinical Conferences at a discounted price. You may also sign up for individual conferences. CEs are available. Conferences are online from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm Eastern Time.

Our next Clinical Conference is Friday, December 5, 2025 "Mistakes Made Lessons Learned- Applying Bowen Theory to Family Business and Families of Wealth." Kathleen Wiseman, MBA
Learn more and register on our website at https://www.thebowencenter.org/clinical-conferences
Questions: [email protected]

About the Clinical Conferences. Using presentations, videotaped interviews with family members, and ample discussion time, the conferences illustrate the interplay of Bowen theory and technique for a variety of human issues. The goals of each conference are to illustrate the application of theory in practice and to enhance people’s understanding of differentiation of self.

10/23/2025

Tonight! (Thursday, Oct 23, 2025 7 - 8:30 pm). The Professional Lecture Series. Guest speaker: Nathan H. Lents, PhD.

Online. Free and Open to the Public. Learn more and reserve your spot!

This series of speakers focuses on the family as a natural system and on knowledge from the study of other natural systems and the sciences. A distinctive feature of this meeting is the length of time the presenter is given to develop and illustrate ideas followed by audience discussion. The ideas p...

10/23/2025

The Annual Symposium is November 7-8 in Washington, DC and Online! We invite you to watch this short video in which the Symposium guest lecturer, Dr. Amy Arnsten, describes the important functions of the prefrontal cortex of the human brain and the impact of uncontrollable stress on its functioning.

For more information about the Symposium, visit our website thebowencenter.org.
https://youtu.be/2xrQZkWNq74?si=SDqzrs02zVV_Bcrc

In this video, Symposium Guest Speaker Dr. Amy Arnsten describes the important functions of the prefrontal cortex of the human brain and the impact of uncont...

03/06/2025

Check out this article, "The Adoptive Family as a Natural System," from faculty member Laura Brooks, recently published in the American Journal of Family Therapy.

Emotional and epigenetic processes in adoptive families have a profound impact on the adopted child’s development and life course. A common view of the family as a social or psychological unit with...

03/04/2025

Join us Thursday evening at 7pm EST as Lauren Errington from The Family Systems Institute presents "Tracking Emotional Process in Relationship Interactions in Clinical Practice."

Tracking Emotional Process in Relationship Interactions in Clinical Practice  Lauren Errington, MCFT Human emotional reflexes operate largely out of awareness in response to a huge range of stimuli. In relationships, the automatic reactivity that is stirred up in the stimulus-response s

02/27/2025

Faculty member Dr. Carrier Collier appeared on the Elevator Systems podcast. Give it a listen.