Skip to content Skip to main menu Site Map spider trap - don't go here
. . . . .
Site Map   
The FSI home page
Grosvenor Cottage
30 Grosvenor Street, Neutral Bay
Sydney, NSW 2089 Australia
Ph: 02 9904 5600
Fax: 02 9904 5611
Coming to grips with family systems theory in a collaborative, learning environment.
Home > Events > Annual Conference 2004 Report
 

2004 Conference Report

You Can Go Home Again

On June 5th, 2004, 75 people attended our inaugural conference titled "You Can Go Home Again", which focussed on Family of Origin Coaching.
Murray Bowen's theoretical concepts were illustrated via the stories of therapists' own efforts to define themselves less reactively in the families they grew up in.
A powerful presentation of a client's own experience of therapy and family of origin coaching, illustrated the usefulness of the letter writing tool to process intense emotions and to find a way to take a clear "I" position with family members. The client's letter to her family to disclose childhood sexual abuse was presented, as well as her reflections on the therapy process.
Finally a lively panel discussion was held to reflect on the impact of culture on the way togetherness and autonomy is expressed in families.
 
Here is a sample of the feedback the conference received:
"Thank you for a very warm, low key environment but professional presentation... The whole day has given my brain much to reflect on both personally and professionally."
"I loved the personal account of the therapists' family dynamics. This is a much more enjoyable and informative way of learning about family systems."
"It was really, really good to have a chance to reflect on theory through personal stories. The cultural part for me was very useful - being a person who identifies as being Croatian, struggling with Bowen theory."
"In particular I appreciated the session on cultural / social context influences. It was refreshing to see that a school of thought is critical and open to reflection"
"I thoroughly enjoyed the day and thought the personal contribution of the presenters' stories was a great introduction to the family triangle concept."
"This has been a very enriching day: to be able to sit and be immersed in your stories, so selflessly shared, has been great."
"The client's story with her courage and pain was an extremely moving experience. Her sharing it was very generous."
 
A sample of suggestions for the future:
*     To follow up with a seminar on Bowen therapy with couples.
*     To provide more input on the theory.
*     More information on the process and goal of therapy during the letter writing process.
*     To explore some aspects of coaching further.
*     More on cultural differences and family of origin work.
 
Thanks for the encouraging and thought provoking feed back.
Stay tuned for the completion of tapes and CDs of the presentations - available for purchase soon. (Please send us an email (info at thefsi.com.au) if you would like to be advised of availabilty.)
2004 Conference Team
L to R: Lily Mailer & Christine Schwedhelm (presenters), Joanne Wright, Ruth Foley (organiser) & Jenny Brown.
 
The Family Systems Institute
30 Grosvenor Street, Neutral Bay
Sydney, NSW, 2089
ABN: 49 082 618 808
Ph: 02 9904 5600
Fax: 02 9904 5611
To contact The FSI or subscribe to our newsletter (issue 3 or 4 times per year) please email or phone us
email of the fsi - please phone +61 2 9904 5600
Construction and management by
bpresent
.
.