Elevator Systems - Bowen Family Systems Theory

S3 Ep3 Pets with Kathleen Cotter Cauley

6 snips
Jul 22, 2025
Guest
Kathleen Cotter Cauley
In this engaging discussion, Kathleen Cotter Cauley, a licensed marriage and family therapist and faculty member of the Bowen Center, shares her insights on the pivotal role pets play in family dynamics. She explores how animals reflect family anxiety and can influence emotional bonds. Kathleen discusses the concept of reciprocity in human-animal relationships and how pets often act as mirrors of familial emotional states. The podcast delves into the effects of pet entries and exits, and even addresses the complexities of caring for sick pets within family systems.
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INSIGHT

Pets as Active Family Members

  • Pets act as active participants in the family emotional system, reflecting anxiety and calm.
  • The principle of reciprocity highlights mutual impact between humans and animals in relationships.
INSIGHT

Pets Reflect Family Tensions

  • Pets are integral to family emotional life and can influence major dynamics like marriage and divorce.
  • The positioning of pets within triangles can signal hidden tensions or future changes.
ANECDOTE

Guide Dog Tracks Family Emotion

  • A guide dog named Zipper tracked his owner's absence, signaling the shift in family dynamics clearly.
  • This demonstrated the dog's sensitive awareness of family emotional shifts during separation.
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