Unorthodox TV Series from the Perspective of Bowen Family Therapy

Year 2025, Volume: 14 Issue: 4, 1240 - 1254, 30.10.2025

Yelda Yıldız Önal , Semra Uçar

https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.1647079

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Bowen Family Therapy , Sequence analysis , Document analysis , Family counselling

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