CFC’s 27th Annual Day of Workshops
Early Bird Tickets Currently Available
Keynote presentation from CFC faculty member Kelly Matthews-Pluta:
Emotional Inheritance: Bowen Theory and the Multigenerational Transmission Process
“The family of origin is a resource for learning more about oneself” (Kerr, 275). Humans seem to have a love/hate relationship with the emotional interdependence we have with one another, particularly in our families. When relationships are going smoothly, we have plenty of warm, comfortable feelings about our connections. When relationships are strained, we can feel anxious and stressed about our own and other’s intentions, concerns and commitment to the relationship. The emotional interdependence is seen at all levels of intensity. This presentation will explore the multigenerational emotional process that all families experience, some of the ways it presents clinically, and discussion of the challenges to seeing the process amid symptoms.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
- 8:30 – 9:00 Registration and coffee
- 9:00 – 10:15 Keynote Address
Kelly Matthews-Pluta, MSW
“Emotional Inheritance: Bowen Theory and the Multigenerational Transmission Process”
- 10:15 – 10:30 Break
- 10:30 – 12:00 Video
“Multigenerational Transmission Process and Sibling Position”
discussion moderated by: Sydney Reed, MSW
- 12:00 – 1:30 Lunch
- 1:30 – 2:45 Workshop session 1
John Bell, MDiv
“Bowen Theory and Leading in Nonprofit Organizations”
Robert J. Noone, PhD
“Triangles and Differentiation of Self”
Pamela Hanson, MD
“Toward the Differentiation of Self in Administrative Systems”
Lisa Friedstein, MSW
“A Picture Tells a Thousand Words (Family Diagram as a Cornerstone Tool for Bowen Theory)”
- 2:45 – 3:00 Break
- 3:00 – 4:15 Workshop session 2
Eric Weiner, MSW, PhD with Pail Hood, Jr., JD, LLM
“Family Relationships and Estate Planning”
Terri C. Pilarski, MDiv, LMSW with Jim Gettel, Church Consultant
“Christian Leadership in An Anxious World: Adaptation, Bowen Theory, and Culture”
Caitlin Baldauff, MA, LPC, SAS
“Becoming a Family of Four: Navigating a Growing Family Using Bowen theory”
Beth Lindley, LCSW
“Calming Down and Thinking Triangles: How Coaching and Self-Leadership has Helped Me Manage Family Relationships and My Role as a Leader.”
DESCRIPTIONS OF PRESENTATIONS
Caitlin Baldauff, MA, LPC, SAS
“Becoming a Family of Four: Navigating a growing family using Bowen theory”
Something new, like the birth of a child, can increase anxiety in a family. It can give the family more anxiety to manage, and deprive it of an old familiar way of managing its inherent anxiety. Under these circumstances, a family system strives to find a suitable balance between individuality and togetherness, and develop the life energy to direct one’s own life and be invested in the nuclear family relationships.
Ms. Baldauff describes the increase in anxiety experienced in her family during the first three months after giving birth to her second child. Drawing on Bowen theory’s concepts of individuality and togetherness and the family projection process to describe what was occurring in the family, how the family becomes child focused, and how she used her knowledge of Bowen theory to navigate all that comes with a growing family system.
John Bell, MDiv
“Bowen Theory and Leading in Nonprofit Organizations”
Bowen theory offers a lens to see how society functions and how one person can make a difference for family and society. This presentation will focus on those who lead or work in nonprofits. It will explore the challenges one is up against in working with colleagues, clients and other institutions and how Bowen theory is useful. When one is working on differentiation of self, it can significantly improve the work of the nonprofit.
Lisa Friedstein, MSW
“A Picture Tells a Thousand Words (Family Diagram as a Cornerstone Tool for Bowen Theory)”
The family diagram is a cornerstone tool in Bowen Family Systems Theory, offering clinicians a powerful means to visualize and understand complex family patterns across multiple generations. This presentation will explore the crucial role of the family diagram for clinicians in bridging theoretical concepts with practical therapeutic applications.
Ms. Friedstein will discuss how the diagram goes beyond a simple family tree to become a representation of emotional processes, illustrating how anxiety flows throughout the system, and the patterns that emerge to manage that anxiety. This presentation aims to deepen clinicians’ appreciation for the family diagram as an essential instrument in applying Bowen Family Systems Theory.
Pamela Hanson, MD
“Toward the Differentiation of Self in Administrative Systems”
“…differentiation of self principles apply in…work relationships.” Dr. Murray Bowen, Family Therapy in Clinical Practice, p 495
“…people prove Bowen theory to themselves by applying it successfully and getting a predicted result.” Dr. Michael Kerr, Bowen Theory’s Secrets: Revealing the Hidden Life of Families, p 178
Dr. Hanson applied Bowen theory principles to group emotional process after a significant change in the leadership constellation of a medical clinic. The predictions of Bowen Theory were borne out as evidenced by immediate improvement in staff functioning. Using Bowen Theory principles including differentiation of self, sibling position and group emotional projection process, Dr. Hanson describes her experience in one clinic, which included
- Observing functional facts of group emotional process
- Planning and implementing an intervention
- Immediate improvement in clinic manager functioning
- Immediate testing behaviors
Beth Lindley, LCSW
“Calming Down and Thinking Triangles: How Coaching and Self-Leadership has Helped Me Manage Family Relationships and My Role as a Leader.”
Ms. Lindley will explore the application of Bowen Family Systems Theory in both a personal and professional context, focusing on the concepts of emotional regulation and the use of triangles in navigating family relationship dynamics and leadership challenges. Beth will discuss the way coaching and the use of theory can enhance self-management and self-leadership, strengthen one’s understanding of relationships, improve emotional responses and develop healthier interactions at home and in the workplace. During the workshop, she will present the following:
- Brief review of relevant Bowen Family Systems Theory concepts as they relate to self-development.
- Share personal experiences and case studies illustrating the application of these concepts in the management of relationships.
- Discuss the role of coaching in developing self-leadership skills and emotional intelligence.
- Provide practical tools and strategies for participants to implement in their own relationships.
Robert J. Noone, PhD
“Triangles and Differentiation of Self”
Central to the process of differentiation of self is the observation and awareness that we are a part of triangles. Bowen theory postulates that triangles are a ‘building block’ in all relationship systems. They can be observed in all of our relationship systems which include our families, work systems, and other social systems. Psychotherapy based on the family systems theory developed by Bowen entails the ongoing effort to detriangle and define oneself in relation to clients and their families.
Examples of this process will be included in this presentation.
Terri C. Pilarski, MDiv, LMSW with Jim Gettel, Church Consultant
“Christian Leadership in an Anxious World: Adaptation, Bowen Theory, and Culture”
One definition of adaptation in Bowen theory is that it is the ability to respond to life challenges without participating in an escalation of chronic anxiety in the relationship system. One of the greatest challenges facing human beings in the world today is the increased experiences of differences between one’s self and others. These differences are sometimes large and obvious but often they are small and impact people outside of our conscious awareness. Although this affects many people and organizations, this workshop will consider how Christian leadership is challenged by shifts in culture including declining attendance on Sunday morning. As a result, there is increased anxiety in leaders and church members.
This workshop asks the question, ‘How might the church’s mission define its purpose and shift anxiety toward productive relationships?’ It offers insight from Bowen theory and the presenters’ work in an intercultural church partnership that created an intercultural community center and its impact on the wider community. Key concepts considered are differentiation of self and emotional process in society.
Eric Weiner, MSW, PhD with Paul Hood, Jr., JD, LLM
“Family Relationships and Estate Planning”
The basic tenets of Bowen Theory can help people navigate through the relationship challenges often seen during estate planning and implementation. In this workshop, Dr. Weiner and Dr. Hood highlight two relevant aspects of Bowen theory: differentiation of self and triangles. In addition, they will review a method of physical asset distribution that is rooted in neutrality and calm family leadership.
CONFERENCE INFORMATION
Date: Friday February 28th, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. (check-in at 8:30 a.m.)
Location: In-Person conference held at
First Presbyterian Church of Evanston
1427 Chicago Ave. Evanston IL (directions)
Continuing Education Credits: 5.5 credit hours for full-day attendees approved for Social Workers Professional Counselors/Clinical Counselors Marriage and Family Therapists, and Clinical Psychologists.
REGISTRATION
Early bird registration open through February 3rd
Early Bird Pricing: $140.00 general, $120.00 per registrations for organizations (3 or more), $85.00 for students with current I.D.
Regular Pricing: $160.00 general, $135.00 per registrations for organizations (3 or more), $95.00 for students with current I.D.
Deadline to register: Thursday, February 27th, 2025
Registration: Via Eventbrite
For additional information, call the Center for Family Consultation 847-868-2654
