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Category: Bowen Theory

Can anxiety be bound

July 15, 2024Anxiety, differentiation
Anxiety builds up

YES. And anxiety binding has positive and negative aspects to it.

Dr. Kerr wrote a lot about anxiety binding behaviour. He is the author of Family Evaluation, one of the original “source materials” on Bowen Family Systems. The system’s idea that a behaviour can bind anxiety is important when trying to improve one’s functioning.

Don’t Fear Forgiveness

June 23, 2024Define self, forgiveness, triangles
Hands in Hands emotional Contact
Why is forgiveness important? Because it's good for us, whether it's forgiving someone else or yourself. But adopting a systems perspective around a wrongdoing is a big shift for anyone. The more intense the situation, the harder it can be. (Before y

Emotional Connection Theory

May 14, 2024emotional contact, fusion, togetherness
Emotinal connection starts with Mom and baby
Emotional Connection Theory - what is it? Emotional Connection theory is an attempt to explain the mother infant bonding process. The authors believe that the mother infant bonding is a learned or conditional response. This learning occurs during the

Change a preterm brain

April 24, 2024emotional contact, fusion
Infant benefits
The Power of Emotional Connection (Please note: This post could create powerful feelings in some individuals. The research references are listed below and will provide a more complete description of the material. They are quite easy to read and under

What’s missing in best relationship advice?

March 25, 2024Uncategorized
Relationship advice - Ideas from a systems viewpoint We are learning more about how good relationships are important to optimal functioning and health. The research on loneliness is making this clear, for example. A recent NY Times article offering t

Be a better observer

March 14, 2024Uncategorized
Observe, Evaluate, Interrupt: Being More Thoughtful in Real-Time Being a better observer is essential for becoming more differentiated, a fundamental concept of Bowen family systems theory. Differentiation of self has two parts. The first is distingu

Polyvagal Theory – An Introduction

February 23, 2024Uncategorized
When the Anxiety Increases: An Introduction to Polyvagal Theory Dodgeball I was never very athletic growing up. Often I came in last or second to last in school races. I was usually picked last for teams unless I made persuasive, pleading eyes at a

Stress and the Shower Curtain

February 8, 2024Uncategorized
stress
A Story of Stress and a Shower Curtain A few years ago I got very sick after an incredibly stressful series of weeks in my life (a common response to stress for me). After being sick for an entire weekend, my teenage daughter commented to me, “I kn

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