TY  - JOUR
T1  - Unorthodox TV Series from the Perspective of Bowen Family Therapy
AU  - Yıldız Önal, Yelda
AU  - Uçar, Semra
PY  - 2025
DA  - October
Y2  - 2025
DO  - 10.14686/buefad.1647079
JF  - Bartın University Journal of Faculty of Education
JO  - BUEFAD
PB  - Bartin University
WT  - DergiPark
SN  - 1308-7177
SP  - 1240
EP  - 1254
VL  - 14
IS  - 4
LA  - en
AB  - The television series “Unorthodox” was analysed through eight fundamental concepts of Bowen Family Therapy, which is a prominent theory in the field of family counselling. This analysis is particularly directed towards the narrative arc of Esty, the protagonist, whose trajectory is intricately interwoven with cross-cultural dynamics. The qualitative research method of document analysis was employed to illustrate concepts such as differentiation of self, triangles, the nuclear family emotional process, the family projection process, the multigenerational transmission process, sibling position, emotional cutoff, and the emotional process in society. The themes in the series center on Esty's journey to find a balance between the influences of her community, her process of self-differentiation, and her assimilation into a new culture, as well as the enduring impact of her mother-in-law and the decisive choices she has made in her life. The scenes, which provide examples of multiple concepts, serve as embodiments of these therapeutic approaches for mental health professionals working in the field. It is contended that analysing movies and series will contribute to the enhancement of learning process.
KW  - Bowen Family Therapy
KW  - Sequence analysis
KW  - Document analysis
KW  - Family counselling
CR  - Blasco, P. G., Moreto, G., Blasco, M. G., Levites, M. R., & Janaudis, M. A. (2015). Education through movies: Improving teaching skills and fostering reflection among students and teachers. Journal of Learning through the Arts, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.21977/D911122357
CR  - Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ0902027
CR  - Bowen, M. (1976). Theory in the practice of psychotherapy. In P. J. Guerin (Ed.), Family therapy: Theory and practice (pp. 42–90). Gardner Press.
CR  - Bowen, M. (1978). Family therapy in clinical practice. Aronson.
CR  - Bridge, N. E. (2019). Review of a case study in light of Bowen theory: Differentiation of self. Yaşam Becerileri Psikolojisi Dergisi, 3(5), 65–72. https://doi.org/10.31461/ybpd.556080
CR  - Brown, J. (1999). Bowen family systems theory: Illustration and critique. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 20(2), 94–103. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1467-8438.1999.tb00363.x
CR  - Carlson, T. D., & Erickson, M. J. (2001). Honoring and privileging personal experience and knowledge: Ideas for a narrative therapy approach to the training and supervision of new therapists. Contemporary Family Therapy, 23, 199–220. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011150303280
CR  - Champoux, J. E. (1999). Film as a teaching resource. Journal of Management Inquiry, 8(2), 206–217. https://doi.org/10.1177/105649269982016
CR  - Comella, J. (2001). Triangles: The glue of Bowen family systems theory. Family Systems: A Journal of Natural Systems Thinking in Psychiatry and the Sciences, 6(1), 67–76. https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.cloversites.com/ae/ae4d98d9-4f73-46c4-a095-c1a61c9a949a/documents/Triangles_-_The_Glue_of_the_BFST.pdf
CR  - Council of Higher Education. (2018). Yeni öğretmen yetiştirme lisans programları [New teacher training undergraduate programs]. https://www.yok.gov.tr/Documents/Kurumsal/egitim_ogretim_dairesi/Yeni-Ogretmen-Yetistirme-Lisans-Programlari/Rehberlik_ve_Psikolojik_Danismanlik_Lisans_Programi.pdf
CR  - Dermer, S. B., & Hutchings, J. B. (2000). Utilizing movies in family therapy: Applications for individuals, couples, and families. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 28(2), 163–180. https://doi.org/10.1080/019261800261734
CR  - Fennell, H. A. (2013). Reel stories of teaching: Film and teacher education. Action in Teacher Education, 35(5–6), 445–461. https://doi.org/10.1080/01626620.2013.846762
CR  - Gladding, S. T. (1994). Teaching family counseling through the use of fiction. Counselor Education and Supervision, 33(3), 191–200.
CR  - Haefner, J. (2014). An application of Bowen family systems theory. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 35, 835–841. http://doi.org/10.3109/01612840.2014.921257
CR  - Higgins, J. A., & Dermer, S. (2001). The use of film in marriage and family counselor education. Counselor Education and Supervision, 40, 182–192. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6978.2001.tb01251.x
CR  - Hudock, A. M., & Warden, S. A. G. (2001). Using movies to teach family systems concepts. The Family Journal, 9(2), 116–121. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480701092005
CR  - Jenkins, S. M., Buboltz, W. C., Jr., Schwartz, P. J., & Johnson, P. (2005). Differentiation of self and psychosocial development. Contemporary Family Therapy, 27(2), 251–261. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-005-4042-6
CR  - Kamm, H. (Executive Producer). (2020). Unorthodox [TV series]. Netflix.
CR  - Kavan, H., & Burne, J. (2009). Using film to teach communication concepts at university. The International Journal of Learning, 16(10), 429–440. https://doi.org/10.18848/1447-9494/CGP/v16i10/46655
CR  - Kerr, M. E., & Bowen, M. (1988). Family evaluation. Norton.
CR  - Koch, G., & Dollarhide, C. T. (2000). Using a popular film in counselor education: Good Will Hunting as a teaching tool. Counselor Education and Supervision, 39, 203–210. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6978.2000.tb01232.x
CR  - Lappin, J. (1997). Two thumbs up: A supervisor’s guide to the use of films. In C. L. Storm & T. C. Todd (Eds.), The reasonably complete systemic supervisor (pp. 159–166). Allyn and Bacon.
CR  - Lieberman, S. (1981). The “extended family” school of family therapy. In S. Walrond-Skinner (Ed.), Developments in family therapy (pp. 65–90). Routledge & Kegan.
CR  - McAuliffe, G., & Eriksen, K. (2011). Handbook of counselor preparation: Constructivist, developmental, and experiential approaches. Sage Publications.
CR  - McCollum, E. E. (1990). Integrating structural-strategic and Bowen approaches in training beginning family therapists. Contemporary Family Therapy, 12(1), 23–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00891815
CR  - McGoldrick, M., & Carter, B. (2001). Advances in coaching: Family therapy with one person. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 27(3), 281–300. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2001.tb00325.x
CR  - Mehrabi, S., & Veshki, S. K. (2021). The effectiveness of training Bowen’s family therapy approach on marital satisfaction of married women in the Aligodarz city (in the west of Iran), in 2019. Journal of Community Health Research, 10(4), 285–295. https://doi.org/10.18502/jchr.v10i4.8334
CR  - Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook (2nd ed.). Sage.
CR  - Naidu, S. (2012). A study on the usage of movies in making training fun based. A Journal of Radix International Educational and Research Consortium, 1(2), 1–15.
CR  - Nel, P. W. (2006). Trainee perspectives on their family therapy training. Journal of Family Therapy, 28, 307–328. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6427.2006.00354.x
CR  - Nichols, M. P., & Schwartz, R. C. (1998). Family therapy: Concepts and methods. Allyn and Bacon.
CR  - Peleg Popko, O. (2002). Bowen theory: A study of differentiation of self, social anxiety, and physiological symptoms. Contemporary Family Therapy, 24(2), 355–369. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015355509866
CR  - Rabstejnek, C. V. (2009). Family systems & Murray Bowen theory. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277814784_Family_Systems_Murray_Bowen_Theory
CR  - Sheperis, C. J., & Sheperis, S. F. (2002). The Matrix as a bridge to systems thinking. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 10, 308–314. https://doi.org/10.1177/10680702010003007
CR  - Skowron, E. A. (2005). Parent differentiation of self and child competence in low-income urban families. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(3), 337–346. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.52.3.337
CR  - Skowron, E. A., Stanley, K. L., & Shapiro, M. D. (2009). A longitudinal perspective on differentiation of self, interpersonal and psychological well-being in young adulthood. Contemporary Family Therapy, 31, 3–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-008-9075-1
CR  - Stratton, P. (2005). A model to coordinate understanding of active autonomous learning. Journal of Family Therapy, 27, 217–236. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6427.2005.00313.x
CR  - Tuason, M. T., & Friedlander, M. L. (2000). Do parents’ differentiation levels predict those of their adult children? And other tests of Bowen theory in a Philippine sample. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 47(1), 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.47.1.27
CR  - Winek, J. L. (2009). Systemic family therapy: From theory to practice. Sage Publications.
CR  - Yektatalab, S., Oskouee, F. S., & Sodani, M. (2017). Efficacy of Bowen theory on marital conflict in the family nursing practice: A randomized controlled trial. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 38(3), 253–260. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2016.1261210
CR  - Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2008). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri [Qualitative research methods in social sciences]. Seçkin Yayıncılık.
UR  - https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.1647079
L1  - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4641948
ER  -