For Clinicians

Specialized Training Bowen Family Systems Theory

Name: Living Systems Counselling and Training
Price range: $

Develop a clear, systems-based approach to clinical practice through a structured, nine-month program. Learn to understand clients in the context of their relationships, strengthen your assessment, and apply Bowen Theory in your clinical work, family, and professional life.

Program Details

Program Length & Schedule

9-month, part-time program (mid-September to early June) with bi-weekly Tuesday sessions and a monthly evening clinical meeting.

Format

Live, online training delivered in real time, with a small cohort to support discussion, supervision, and deeper learning.

Includes select hybrid events.

Start Date & Deadline

Applications open May 1

Interviews begin mid-May

Final application deadline: August 1

Start Date: September, 2026

Program Requirements

Master’s degree (completed or in progress) in counselling, social sciences, or a related field, or relevant professional experience. Applicants must demonstrate readiness for reflective and relational work.

Fee & Payment Options

$2,950 CDN total tuition.

Payment plans are available, with options to pay by credit card or e-transfer.

Program Overview

This program offers a rigorous, in-depth introduction to Bowen Family Systems Theory and its application in clinical practice. Developed over decades and recognized by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU), it has become a well-established training pathway for clinicians seeking a more grounded and comprehensive way of working.

Rather than focusing only on techniques or short-term interventions, the program supports the development of a clear, systems-based way of thinking. Trainees learn to understand how emotional systems shape behaviour across families, workplaces, and clinical settings, and how to work more effectively within those systems over time.

What the Program Covers

Foundational principles of Bowen Family Systems Theory and systems thinking
How emotional processes and relationship patterns develop and repeat over time
Clinical assessment from a systems perspective
Application of theory within clinical work, family systems, and professional settings
Connections between Bowen Family Systems Theory and the natural sciences
Introduction to systems research and its relevance to practice

What You Will Develop

A clearer, more consistent way of thinking in complex clinical situations
Greater ability to assess relationship dynamics beyond presenting symptoms
Increased awareness of your own functioning within family and professional systems
The ability to apply theory across different contexts, not just within therapy sessions
Stronger clinical judgement grounded in observation rather than reactivity

Meet the Faculty

Dixie Vandersluys

MA, CCC

Meet Dixie Vandersluys

Jennifer Hassard

MSW, MBA, MSc

Meet Jennifer Hassard

Leila Howard

MA, RCC-ACS

Meet Leila Howard

Katie White

MSc, RCC, RMFT

Meet Katie White

Policies

Develop a Different Way of Working

This program is not focused on adding techniques. It is focused on developing a clearer way of thinking about people, relationships, and clinical work. If you are looking for a more thoughtful and grounded approach, this is where that work begins.