About Us

The origin of the theory, our role, and our objectives and purposes.  Please join with Bowen Theory Academy’s efforts to continue Murray Bowen’s odyssey toward a science of human behavior.

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Who We Are

Bowen Theory Academy was founded based on the goals of maintaining the unique thinking of Bowen family systems theory and illustrating the difference it can make when understanding and acting on a systems view of human behavior.

Dr. Murray Bowen was clear about the theory he had been researching and using in his work with families for many years. He was director of the Georgetown Family Center where professionals could learn about Bowen theory, their own family systems, and their own functioning as well as their clients’ functioning.

Michael Kerr MD worked with Dr. Bowen for 20 years and took over the position of Director of the Georgetown Family Center. Kathleen Kerr, MSN, MA, CNS had developed a virtual program to provide webcasts with Dr. Kerr presenting to groups around the country.

 

Who We Are

Bowen Theory Academy was founded based on the goals of maintaining the unique thinking of Bowen family systems theory and illustrating the difference it can make when understanding and acting on a systems view of human behavior.

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Dr. Murray Bowen was clear about the theory he had been researching and using in his work with families for many years. He was director of the Georgetown Family Center where professionals could learn about Bowen theory, their own family systems, and their own functioning as well as their clients’ functioning.

Michael Kerr MD worked with Dr. Bowen for 20 years and took over the position of Director of the Georgetown Family Center. Kathleen Kerr, MSN, MA, CNS had developed a virtual program to provide webcasts with Dr. Kerr presenting to groups around the country.

 

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Board Members

When the Kerrs moved and were no longer available at Georgetown, three former postgraduate trainees who were interested in hearing more from the Kerrs suggested continuing the virtual webcast series from the Kerrs’ home in Islesboro Maine. They agreed and Bowen Theory Academy was founded.   Over time the BTAS webinars have offered presentations by both Michael and Kathleen Kerr.  Programs have been added and Bowen Theory Academy continues to provide strong theoretical leadership in order to 1) Address the distinction between cause and effect thinking and systems thinking 2) Highlight the erosion of Bowen theory 3) Contribute to the extension of Bowen theory into the future 4) Continue Bowen theory’s odyssey toward a science of human behavior.

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Objectives and Purposes

  • To educate the public about Bowen Family Systems Theory and its application to a variety of human problems;
  • To maintain communication with professionals in the fields of science, mental health, medicine, the humanities and other fields that deal with research in human development and behavior;
  • To produce educational programs and materials about Bowen theory concepts and applications
  • To make educational offerings available as resources to Bowen theory educational programs nationally and internationally
  • To engage in other activities relating to educating the public about Bowen Family System Theory

Our Work

Construction Theory of Emotion and BFST

Bowen family systems theory is a theoretical view of relationship process and symptom development. It contains concepts that were developed independently of neuroscience as the current research was not available.

A Perspective on a World on Fire: Societal Regression

I write this Op-ed piece after hearing New York Times journalist David Brooks express surprise at the closeness of the recent presidential election. He had not realized America was such a deeply divided, polarized nation.

Brief Book Review “How to Tame a Fox,” Lee Alan Dugatkin & Lyudmila Trut

Two reasons for my interest: Desire to anchor the individuality-togetherness concept in evolution, and develop a systems theory of the individual. The brain beyond the long-term research this book describes was Russian geneticist Dimitri Belyaev. Lyudmila

Brief Revisiting of TOFT and its Importance To Bowen Theory

Bowen theory is a natural systems theory that leads the therapist to ask a family different kinds of questions than those guided by individual psychodynamic theories.

A Bowen Theorist in Public Administration

A public service administrator is embedded in societal emotional process, and Bowen theory is about trying to enhance regulation of emotional process based on an understanding of natural systems. This presents difficulty. If it has been addressed in the

A Little More Systems Rationality: Bayesian Reasoning

Bayesian reasoning assigns probabilities of certainty/uncertainty to hypotheses about various parts of reality. Then it uses any additional new information to update the probabilities of these hypotheses

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