國際社家庭學院

ISS Family Institute

Professional Training Programme in

Bowen Family Systems

Theory & Therapy
2018 - 2020
 ISS Family Institute
The 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 Mission
To 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 theor y 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.

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Bowen Family Systems Theory
Bowen 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.

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 Instructors
Peggy Chan
Mrs. 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).
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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, RSW

Director of Programme
ISS Family Institute
International Social Service Hong Kong Branch (ISS-HK)

Guest Faculty
To 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.

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 Professional Training Programme
in

Bowen Family Systems

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

Goals
1. 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 theor y 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.
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 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
。 Lectures/presentations/discussions of theor y, 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.

Practicum
。 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).
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Assignments

a. Trainees are required to do a 20-minute presentation, showing

efforts to apply Bowen theory to work, personal and family life.
b. 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.
Successful completion of the first year requires the completion of
both the verbal presentation and the written paper.

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

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Course Contents

1. 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

2. Chronic Anxiety and Differentiation of Self in the family

emotional system

3. Other emotional processes in the family system -

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

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

5. Evaluation of the Family emotional system –

- family diagram
- The family evaluation interview
- Interpretation of data
- Therapeutic focus and prognosis

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6. 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

7. 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 -

1. Examination of the above areas at a deeper level.

2. 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.

3. Application of Bowen theory in other emotional systems

4. Anxiety and the larger society

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Course Schedule

Year 1
September 2018 - July 2019
(Saturday) 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
32 hr
Theory /presentation /discussion Year 2

32 hr Group supervision 32 hr
Theory /presentation /discussion
Individual supervision
10 hr 32 hr
Group supervision

Clinical conference
6 hr Individual supervision
10 hr

Clinical conference
6 hr

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.

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 Theor y / Presentation / Discussion
Sept. 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 Director

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Bowen video and discussion
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Presentations by trainees

Small Group Supervision session

Sept. 2018 – July 2019
date and time to be arranged between group members and instructor

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Discussion of readings

3:30 pm – 6:30 pm Supervision re: clinical practice, family of origin work,
work systems, or other applications.

Group Supervision
Each 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 Supervision
Each 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.

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 Clinical Conferences
Dec. 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 Conference

To 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 materials

Trainees 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.

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Fees

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.

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

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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)

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

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