Author Description

Growing up physically is automatic for most of us. It is not automatic that we grow up emotionally. Emotional growth begins in our family of origin. Living with them for about the first 20 years of life instills within us both emotional strengths and limitations. Sometimes the limitations are quite powerful and hinder our full emotional development as mature human beings. Bowen family systems theory explains how this process happens in families and how we can grow up to greater emotional maturity. In this book, therapist Ron Richardson shows how he addressed his emotional limitations through his own family of origin work. This work, based on Bowen theory, is guided by the eight concepts in the theory. Ron shows, in detail, what it took for him to do this work, the challenges he faced, and what he was able to accomplish with his family. It was life-changing and rewarding work. In three autobiographical chapters, Ron lays out the family and developmental groundwork for doing his work. He remained distant from his family of origin until, at age 38, he realized what he needed to do to “grow up” as an adult. He shows the pitfalls of the work, the specific steps he took in doing family of origin work, and how the eight concepts of Bowen theory apply specifically to his work.