MICHAEL EDWARD KERR

Dr. Kerr is a family psychiatrist and Director of the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family in Washington, D.C. The Center’s mission is to further develop and disseminate information about a new theory of human behavior, Bowen Family Systems Theory. Psychiatrist Murray Bowen originated the theory based on extensive family research, but it can be applied to organizations, communities, and to society as a whole. The central components of the theory are its use of natural systems thinking and its view of the human species as a part of all life. The most important practical application of the theory is the process differentiation of self. Differentiation is a blueprint for changing oneself in ways that have a constructive impact on others and on the overall functioning of a group. Such change depends on recognizing how families and other groups function as relationship systems and guiding one’s actions based on that knowledge.

Dr. Kerr worked closely with Murray Bowen until his death in 1990. He co-authored with Dr. Bowen a widely used text entitled, Family Evaluation: An Approach Based on Bowen Theory. The book was excerpted in The Atlantic Monthly in 1988. He has also published many book chapters and journal articles, including articles that apply the theory to work systems and to social groups in other species. Besides more than thirty-five years of practicing family therapy with the full range of human problems and occasional organizational consulting, he has lectured on Bowen theory and its various applications all over the United States and overseas. Most in his field regard him as the world’s foremost expert on the theory. One of his strengths is presenting theoretical ideas in a way that most people can identify as relevant to their interests and activities, most particularly to their own families.

EDUCATION:
High School: (1958) Swarthmore HS, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
College: (1962) University of Notre Dame, B.S. (chem. & biol.).
Medical School: (1966) Georgetown University, M.D.

MEDICAL & PSYCHIATRIC TRAINING:
Internship: (1966-67) Georgetown University Hospital, Straight Medicine.
General Psychiatric Residency: (1967-69) Georgetown UniversityHospital.
Fellowship: (1969-71) Georgetown University Hospital, Child Psychiatry (included training in family theory and family psychotherapy under Dr. Murray Bowen).

PSYCHIATRIC EXPERIENCE:
Military Service: (1971-73) Naval Hospital, Great Lakes, Illinois. Psychiatric medical officer with rank of Lieutenant Commander, USNR. Worked in inpatient psychiatry with full range of clinical problems.
Teaching Appointment: (1971-73) Faculty member at the Family Institute of Chicago, Oak Park, Illinois. Taught and supervised family therapy.
Private Practice: (1973-present) In Washington, D.C. Specialization in family psychotherapy to treat full range of clinical problems.
Academic Appointments: (1973-74) Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry, Georgetown University Medical Center; (1974-85) Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, GUMC; (1985-2004) Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry.
Administrative Appointments: Director, Bowen Center for the Study of the Family / Georgetown Family Center (private, not-for-profit institution) October 1990-present; Director of Training, Georgetown University Family Center, while part of Georgetown University, 1977-90.
Consultantship: National Institute of Mental Health, 1978-79.

BOARDS:
Board of Directors, American Family Therapy Association (1981-84).
Board of Directors, Minnesota Institute of Family Dynamics (1981-1).
Editorial Advisory Board, The Family (1977-1986).
Editorial Advisory Board, Family Systems Medicine (1982-90).
Editor, Family Systems (1990-present). Family Systems is a new journal that publishes articles relevant to Bowen theory and its applications.

ORGANIZATIONS:
American Psychiatric Association, Distinguished Life Fellow.

LICENSES & CERTIFICATION:
Medical licenses: District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
Diplomate (Psychiatry), American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology.

PUBLICATIONS
(Listed in reverse order of publication)

Kerr, M., “Why Do Siblings Often Turn Out Very Differently?” in Fogel, A., King, B. & Shanker, S. (eds.), Human Development in the 21st Century: Visionary Policy Ideas from Systems Scientists, Cambridge, U.K., Cambridge University Press, 2007

Kerr, M., One Family’s Story: A Primer on Bowen Theory. Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, Washington, D.C. 2003

Kerr, M., “Multigenerational Family Systems Theory of Bowen and Its Application,” in Sholevar, G.P. (ed.), Textbook of Family and Couples Therapy, Washington, D.C., American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., 2003.

Kerr, M., "Bowen Theory and Evolutionary Theory," Family Systems 4:119-179, 1998.

Kerr, M., "Murray Bowen: Family Therapy in Clinical Practice," in Crown, S. & Freeman, H. (eds.), The Book of Psychiatric Books, Northvale, N.J., Jason Aronson, Inc., 1994.

Kerr, M., "Physical Illness and the Family Emotional System: Psoriasis as a Model," Behavioral Medicine 18:101-113, 1992.

Kerr, M., "Darwin to Freud to Bowen: Toward a Natural Systems Theory of Human Behavior," Georgetown 21:16-19,44-45, 1989.

Kerr, M. & Bowen, M., Family Evaluation: An Approach Based on Bowen Theory.  W.W. Norton & Co., New York, 1988.

Kerr, M., "Chronic Anxiety and Defining a Self," The Atlantic Monthly 262: 35-58, 1988.

Kerr, M., "Obstacles to Differentiation of Self," in Gurman, A. (ed.), Casebook of Marital Therapy, New York, The Guilford Press, 1985.

Kerr, M., "Theoretical Base for Differentiation of Self in One's Family of Origin," Clinical Supervisor, 2:3-36, 1984.

Kerr, M., "Family Evaluation and Diagnosis," Amer. J. of Family Therapy, 11:62-64, 1983.

Kerr, M., "Cancer and the Family Emotional System," in Goldberg, J. (ed.), Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Cancer Patients, New York, The Free Press, 1981.

Kerr, M., "Family Systems Theory and Therapy," in Gurman, A. & Kniskern, D. (eds.), Handbook of Family Therapy, New York, Brunner/Mazel, 1981.

Kerr, M., "Bowen Theory and Therapy," in Sholevar, G. (ed.), A Handbook of Marriage and Marital Therapy, New York, Spectrum Publications, Inc., 1981.

Kerr, M., "Emotional Factors in Physical Illness: A Multigenerational Perspective, The Family, 7:59-66, 1980.