Interventions Integrating Bowen Family Systems Theory and Art Therapy Concepts for Multigenerational Client Systems

Bowen Family Systems and Art Therapy are separate therapeutic modalities, but can be combined to design creative and effective interventions for therapists. This utilizes the systemic and intergenerational perspective that Bowenian Family Therapy offers, while incorporating the expressiveness and freedom of Art Therapy. Merging these two models could produce a novel therapeutic experience for clients to increase insight surrounding their relationships. This paper dissects a case study involving an intergenerational household reflective of common issues in a family system. Each of the three integrated interventions are then applied to the family. The authors also propose ways in which the activities can be altered to best fit the needs of a particular system. Included in the interventions are the Bowenian ideas of differentiation, genograms, and the transmission of anxiety through generations. As well as the art therapy concepts of scribble drawing, the art materials spectrum, and collaborative art.