Family systems theory was developed out of Murray Bowen’s turbulent relationship with his own family members. Bowen (Helm 2010) believed that family members are emotionally interdependent and functional in reciprocal relationships with one another. Bowen's (Helm 2010) family therapy is often referred to as Bowen family systems theory or Bowenian therapy.
This study explores how members of the family distinguish themselves from their families of origin (Helm 2010). Through this, individuals learn how to still be a member of the family systems while still being separate individuals, emotionally and psychologically (Helm 2010). According to Helm (2010), Bowen also explored relationship alliances in families, called triangles. These triangles are considered the basic building blocks of an emotional system and begin with a relationship alliance between two people. Bowen theorized that when there is tension or stress in the relationship between these two people, a third person or thing is brought in to relieve this tension, known as triangulation, where two individuals are on the inside and another is on the outside of the relationship (Helm 2010). For example, if a married couple is having difficulty with each other, they may focus on their children instead of confronting the problems within their marriage (Helm 2010).
When addressing the healthy family structure versus an unhealthy family structure, Helm (2010) describes Salvador Minuchin’s structural family theory. According to Helm (2010), Minuchin describes a healthy family structure as one that shows some flexibility in boundaries over time. Helm (2010) presented an example of when young children become adolescents, they are usually allowed more freedom in making decisions than they were as children. However, Helm (201) states that Minuchin described dysfunctional families as inflexible and unchanging over time.