Journal 17.2- Observations of Change While Working on Differentiation of Self: Harrison

Volume 17.2

OBSERVATIONS OF CHANGE WHILE WORKING ON DIFFERENTIATION OF SELF: A CASE STUDY BASED IN BOWEN FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY AND THERAPY
Victoria Harrison, MA, LMFT
This case study describes and documents changes in symptoms and functioning that occurred over a three-year period for an individual, her spouse, and children while she was enrolled in the Bowen Center’s Postgraduate Training Program and learning Bowen family systems theory and practicing its application in her family. Careful records about symptom occurrence and intensity, nodal events, and family work, combined with quarterly physiological measures of sympathetic nervous system activity, cortisol and brain wave activity provide a framework for evaluating the difference that one person’s work on differentiation of self can make for the nuclear family. The qualitative and quantitative design of this study allows for correlation of changes with nodal events in the family as well as with various activities involved in working on differentiation of self.
Key words:  therapy outcome; Bowen family systems psychotherapy; family therapy; health and mental health; stress reactions; biofeedback; differentiation of self