Elevator Systems - Bowen Family Systems Theory

Elevator Systems is back for Season 5. This season’s theme connects with the Bowen Theory International Conference happening in Vancouver, BC (and online) in July 2027. The conference title is Bowen Theory Beyond Borders: Exploring Current Applications and Growing Global Connections. See the link below for more information on that conference. Season 5 welcomes Bowen thinkers and practitioners from around the globe to discuss different areas they are using and expanding the theory. 
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 Counselling from Providence Theological Seminary.  Dixie enjoys seeing clients across Canada in her private practice and doing workshops with different groups. Dixie is 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 5 episodes will be released every two weeks from Tuesday October 6th til the International Conference in July of 2027. 
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 to 4.
Resources:
Kerr & Bowen, Family Evaluation
2027 International Conference, July 7-9, 2027
Oct 23rd Living Systems Conference, Thinking Big About Family Challenges
Nov 6-7th Bowen Center 63rd Annual Symposium 
Living Systems Counselling and Training
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.ca
Key Topics:
#BowenFamilySystems #LivingSystems #MurrayBowen #SystemsThinking #Relationships #TherapyPodcast #DifferentiationOfSelf #Differentiation #Therapy #BowenTheory #ElevatorSystems #FamilySystemsTheory #ElevatorSystemsPodcast

The Season 4 bonus episode is a conversation with Dr. Anne McKnight on beliefs, relationships, and Bowen family systems theory. It looks at how emotional pressures influence how people think, act, and believe, and how slowing down, getting curious, and examining one’s position in a relationship system can help clarify beliefs and how one wants to live out beliefs.

Dr. Anne McKnight is a long time student of Bowen theory and has worked as a clinician using the theory in her practice for forty years. She is a Director Emerita of the Bowen Center, which she led from 2010-2020 and the author of Thinking Systems: Applying Bowen Theory in Clinical Practice — which Katie and I both recommend. Anne has presented nationally and internationally on Bowen theory, but most importantly it has been useful in her own life with her family, three children, and nine grandchildren.

Resources:
Anne S McKnight, Thinking Systems: Applying Bowen Theory in Clinical Practice
Murray Bowen, Family Therapy in Clinical Practice
Michael Kerr & Murray Bowen, Family Evaluation 
Robert L Williamson, Family Thoughts: Studies of the Function of Beliefs within the Family Unit
Robert L Williamson, The Beliefs Chart and Walter Inglis Anderson, Family Systems Forum, Fall, 2008 Vol 10, No.3: https://csnsf.org/family-systems-forum/article-index/
Victoria Harrison, “The Belief Paper Assignment” Family Systems Forum, Fall 2022, Vol 24, No.3: https://csnsf.org/family-systems-forum/article-index/
Interested in the Submitting an Abstract for the International Conference? Email: conferences@livingsystems.ca

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 & 3

Look for Season 5 coming this fall.

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.ca

Key Topics:
#BowenFamilySystems #LivingSystems #MurrayBowen #SystemsThinking #HotTopics #Anxiety #Beliefs #Values #Differences #Conversations #Dialogue #Growth #Maturity #MentalHealth #Relationships #TherapyPodcast #Differentiation #DifferentiationOfSelf #Differentiation #Therapy #BowenTheory #ElevatorSystems #FamilySystemsTheory #ElevatorSystemsPodcast

DISCLAIMER: 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.

This episode explores how money is linked to family and relationship processes. Kathy Wiseman shares her personal and professional experience from across the decades in a conversation about how Bowen family systems theory is helpful for individuals, families, and organizations to be more thoughtful about their financial situations, struggles, and goals. 

Kathy Wiseman trains and coaches people who live, work, and govern in family business, family foundations and family offices. Kathy is a faculty member at the Bowen Center and was adjunct faculty at the George Washington University School of Business and the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. She also served as President of the Family Firm Institute and Dean of the Family Office Exchange Learning Academy and founded Working Systems. Kathy has co-authored three books: Understanding Organizations, The Emotional Side of Organizations, and Trustworthy.

Resources:
Kathy Wiseman: Understanding Organizations
Kathy Wiseman: The Emotional Side of Organizations
Kathy Wiseman & Hartley Goldstone: Trustworthy
Mariana Martinez & Peter Bloom: Seeing the Blindspot: A Guide for Advisors Working with the Family Enterprise
Victoria Harrison: The Emotional Side of Money, Family Systems Forum No. 4, Winter 2007
Victoria Harrison: The Emotional Side of Money Part 2, Family Systems Forum No. 4, Spring 2008
Eileen G. Pendegast: Wealth, Inherited or Acquired - A Multi-Generational Family Issue in The Family, Vol 11, No.1
Interested in the Submitting an Abstract for the International Conference? Email: conferences@livingsystems.ca
Living Systems programs: https://livingsystems.ca/
Want to speak with a counsellor? Click here

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 & 3

Season 4 episodes are released every two weeks.

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.ca

Key Topics:
#BowenFamilySystems #LivingSystems #MurrayBowen #SystemsThinking #HotTopics #Money #Wealth #Inheritance #FamilyMoney #Anxiety #GenerationalWealth #FinancialDynamics #WealthTransfer #MoneyConversations #MentalHealth #Relationships #TherapyPodcast #DifferentiationOfSelf #Differentiation #Therapy #BowenTheory #ElevatorSystems #FamilySystemsTheory #ElevatorSystemsPodcast

DISCLAIMER: 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.

This episode discusses Bowen family systems theory and sexual diversity. Kent Webb joins to share his personal journey and research on the topic. The conversation explores how curiosity and open dialogue can encourage understanding and growth in relationships as well as in Bowen theory itself.

Kent Webb works in both the organizational and mental health worlds with practices in each field. He is an executive coach and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who has obtained broad experience and education as both a chief executive officer and a mental health coach. Kent trained in the Postgraduate Program at the Bowen Center and became a faculty member there in  2020. His publications include a chapter in Chronic Illness and Death in the Family, two articles in Family Systems Forum on Sexual Diversity and a chapter in The Emotional Side of Organizations: Applications of Bowen Theory.

Resources:
Kent Webb: Chronic Illness and Death in the Family (Ed. Titleman & Reed)
Kent Webb: The Emotional Side of Organizations: Applications of Bowen Theory
Kent Webb: Family Systems Forum articles
Frans de Waal: Different: Gender Thru the Eyes of a Primatologist
Bowen Center Spring 2025 conference link: Sexual Diversity & the Human Family
Nathan Lents links
Interested in the Submitting an Abstract for the International Conference? Email: conferences@livingsystems.ca
Living Systems programs: https://livingsystems.ca/
Want to speak with a counsellor? Click here

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 & 3

Season 4 episodes are released every two weeks.

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.ca

Key Topics:
#BowenFamilySystems #LivingSystems #MurrayBowen #SystemsThinking #HotTopics #SexualDiveristy #Gender #GenderDiversity #LGBTQ+ #Curiosity #Conversation #MentalHealth #Relationships #TherapyPodcast #DifferentiationOfSelf #Differentiation #Therapy #BowenTheory #ElevatorSystems #FamilySystemsTheory #ElevatorSystemsPodcast

Today’s episode looks at how Bowen family systems theory is useful in the complex area of sexual abuse scandals. Kathleen Cotter-Cauley joins this episode to discuss the many groups involved in scandals and how an eye on the family and relationship systems is a lens that can add clarity and understanding to this complicated and relevant topic.

Kathleen Cotter-Cauley is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has a private practice in both Virginia and Florida. She’s been a faculty member of the Bowen Center since 2012, was involved in founding the Florida Family Research Network, and has been on the faculty of Extraordinary Leadership and Systems Leadership seminars. Some of her community service efforts include working with guide dogs and being part of review boards for sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church.

Resources:
Dr. Bowen: Family Therapy in Clinical Practice
Dr. Walter Smith: Child Abuse in Family Emotional Process, Family Systems Journal 5.2
Interested in submitting an abstract for the 2027 International Conference? Email: conferences@livingsystems.ca
Living Systems programs: https://livingsystems.ca/
Want to speak with a counsellor? Click here

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 & 3

Season 4 episodes are released every two weeks.

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.ca

Key Topics:
#BowenFamilySystems #LivingSystems #MurrayBowen #SystemsThinking #HotTopics #Abuse #SexualAbuse #Scandals #Secrets #WomenTalking #SpotlightMovie #Epstein #EpsteinFiles #MentalHealth #Relationships #TherapyPodcast #DifferentiationOfSelf #Differentiation #Therapy #BowenTheory #ElevatorSystems #FamilySystemsTheory #ElevatorSystemsPodcast

DISCLAIMER: 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.