Elevator Systems - Bowen Family Systems Theory

Matt Steele, Bowen theory coach and ordained Anglican minister who works with pastors through Change Room. He explores religion and relationships using Bowen family systems ideas. Short, sharp takes on faith, doubt, anxious reactivity in congregations, clergy roles in triangles, and ways to pause and avoid impulse-driven ministry. Practical metaphors and systems thinking illuminate how belief and emotion interact.

Amie Post, a marriage and family therapist and longtime Bowen theory practitioner, explores how sports expose emotional systems. She discusses anxiety, automatic patterns, differentiation of self, and how individual changes ripple through teams. Conversations include coaching qualities, the social role of sports, and real-life stories from youth basketball to Ted Lasso examples.

Maybo Lui, a Registered Clinical Counsellor who studies Bowen family systems and draws on her Chinese immigrant background. Conversations center on cultural and family expectations as multigenerational narratives. Short stories and metaphors explore pressure to conform, differentiation, living between cultures, and practical ways to decide what to keep or let go.

Dr. Patrick Stinson, a psychologist and AI engineer who built the Family Diagram App and studies Bowen theory with 25 years of software architecture experience. He discusses using AI to formalize Bowen concepts, how society emotionally reacts to new technology, workplace chaos around AI mandates, tools like timelines and diagrams, and why thinking for yourself matters when engaging with AI.

Today’s episode explores the application of Bowen family systems theory in understanding mental health. Dr. Sam Stokesberry is our guest looking at the role of the counsellor in navigating their own emotional processes while supporting clients and differentiation of self in therapy. The discussion highlights a nuanced understanding of mental health that considers the interplay of individual and systemic factors.Samantha Stokesberry, PhD, LPC, NCC is a licensed professional counsellor, consultant, and speaker. Her professional path was shaped by four years living in South Africa, where playing professional soccer and coaching at a futsal academy led her into nonprofit work and her first real world exposure to the human trafficking industry. Today, she provides counselling to individuals and families in Texas and offers consultation and training services internationally. Sam specializes in working with trafficking survivors and their families, as well as families impacted by incest, sexual abuse, and chronic anxiety. Sam has trained at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family and her doctoral research, which will be published this upcoming year, examines the relationships between differentiation of self, family unit functioning, and post-traumatic growth in adult female survivors of trafficking in the United States.Resources:Dr Sam Stokesberry’s practice Dr Michael Kerr - Bowen Theory’s SecretsDr Jenny Brown - Worry Cycle Podcast EpisodeKathleen Kerr - (1999). The Projection Process in Health Care Systems. Family Systems, 5(1).Stephanie Ferrera - (1999) What is help: a theoretical and personal perspective. Family Systems, 5(1).Stephanie Ferrera - The evolution of helping: from altruism to empathy to differentiation of self. In P. Titelman (Ed.) Differentiation of Self: Bowen Family Systems Theory Perspectives. Want to speak with a counsellor? Click hereBuy us a “coffee” at https://ko-fi.com/elevatorsystems and support the production of the podcast!Terms you don’t understand? We have episodes on all 8 concepts of Bowen theory and other ideas in Elevator Systems Seasons 1, 2 & 3Season 4 episodes will be released every two weeks starting Tuesday March 3rd.Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Like, subscribe, and comment.Living Systems Counselling and Training provides educational material for those interested in learning more about Bowen family systems theory: https://livingsystems.caKey Topics:#BowenFamilySystems #LivingSystems #MurrayBowen # #SystemsThinking #Polarization #Differences #Trauma #HumanTrafficking #Abuse #Recovery #MentalHealth #Relationships #DifferentiationOfSelf #DifferentiationDISCLAIMER: This podcast is general information about Bowen family systems theory and is not considered the practice of counselling or therapy.  The information presented are the views of the people who say them. Any information used from this podcast is used at your own risk.

Dr. Barbara Laymon, family systems consultant, writer, and researcher, explores polarization through the lens of individuality versus togetherness. She uses examples from families, prairie dogs, COVID-19, and the Olympics. Short, practical conversations cover maturity, decision-making under stress, cooperation versus competition, and keeping the goal of balanced relationships in mind.

Welcome to the Season 4 kickoff of Elevator Systems! In this episode, Dixie Vandersluys and Katie White share a sneak peek into the themes and topics being explored this season: the tough conversations and topics we often avoid! Join us as we dive into what makes a topic ‘hot’, how to engage more thoughtfully, and how Bowen family systems theory is helpful when tensions rise. Whether you're familiar with Bowen theory or new to these ideas, this season promises lots of ideas and engaging discussion on managing differences in relationships. Dixie Vandersluys is a Canadian Certified Counsellor based in Manitoba, Canada. She has undergraduate degrees in history and philosophy and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Providence Theological Seminary.  Dixie enjoys seeing clients across Canada in her private practice. Dixie is also a faculty member at Living Systems and the creator and host of the Elevator Systems podcast.  Katie White is a Marriage and Family Therapist registered in the US and Canada.  She has been working with individuals, couples and families in schools, clinics, and non-profit centres for twenty years in the US, Australia and Canada. In 2010, Katie began focusing her practice using Bowen family systems theory and has attended the Post-Graduate Program at the Bowen Center.  Katie is currently the Executive Director of Living Systems in Vancouver Canada. Katie teaches and supervises interns there, as well as managing a private practice.Season 4 episodes will be released every two weeks starting Tuesday March 3rd. Buy us a “coffee” at https://ko-fi.com/elevatorsystems and support the production of the podcast!Terms you don’t understand? We have episodes on all 8 concepts of Bowen theory and other ideas in Elevator Systems Seasons 1, 2 & 3Resources:Living Systems Counselling and TrainingElevator Systems at the Bowen Center Professional Lecture SeriesSubscribe on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Like, subscribe, and comment.Living Systems Counselling and Training provides educational material for those interested in learning more about Bowen family systems theory: https://livingsystems.caKey Topics:#BowenFamilySystems #LivingSystems #MurrayBowen # #SystemsThinking #Polarization #Differences #HotTopics #Communication #MentalHealth #Relationships #TherapyPodcast #DifferentiationOfSelf #Differentiation #Therapy #BowenTheory #ElevatorSystems #FamilySystemsTheory #ElevatorSystemsPodcastDISCLAIMER: This podcast is general information about Bowen family systems theory and is not considered the practice of counselling or therapy.  The information presented are the views of the people who say them. Any information used from this podcast is used at your own risk.

Monica McGoldrick, Director of the Multicultural Family Institute and a leading voice in family therapy, shares her insights into the family life cycle. She discusses how individual lives intersect with family histories, using genograms as powerful tools to reveal relationship dynamics. Monica emphasizes the importance of considering both ancestors and future descendants in therapy, illuminating how our actions echo through generations. She also explores changing life phases, the challenges of poverty and caregiving, and her memories of the esteemed Murray Bowen.

Priscilla Friesen, a seasoned family consultant and Bowen theory expert, shares her insights on navigating death through a family systems lens. She discusses how the dynamics of grief shift family roles and highlight the importance of open relationships in managing loss. Her perspective on emotional flexibility during grief encourages families to focus on practical solutions rather than solely on feelings. Additionally, Priscilla elaborates on how generational patterns of anxiety and loss can ripple through family systems, influencing behaviors and relationships.

Selden Dunbar Illick, a longtime scholar of Bowen family systems theory and founder of the Princeton Family Center for Education, shares her insights on aging. She discusses how emotional connections influence aging and the balance of support within families. Illick explores concepts like emotional cutoff and differentiation, illustrating them through personal and cultural examples. She emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning and engaging in open conversations about end-of-life preferences, advocating for intergenerational connection to improve family dynamics.