S3 Ep5 Dating with Joe Berger

Welcome to Elevator Systems! Therapist Joe Berger joins Dixie Vandersluys and Katie White to think about how Bowen family systems theory is useful in the dating world. Joe Berger is a therapist who works with individuals, couples, and families and previously worked for several years in community mental health. He received a Masters in Social Work from the University of Vermont in 2012, and has completed two years of postgraduate training at the Bowen Center in Washington. He is currently a faculty member at the Vermont Center for Family Studies.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:A Bowen theory approach to dating emphasizes focusing on oneself rather than the other personBeing clear about one's goals and guidelines in dating helps maintain authenticity and self-awarenessThe influence of societal and familial expectations on dating behaviours and relationship choicesKeeping a sense of fun and curiosity is important in the dating process, alongside serious considerationsExamples shared from personal experience, clinical cases, and the entertainment worldCounsellors, parents, and anyone navigating the dating world will find useful ideas for further thinking in this episode.Terms you don’t understand? We have episodes on all 8 concepts of Bowen theory and other ideas in Elevator Systems Seasons 1 & 2.Recommended Resources:The Murray Bowen Archives Project Dr. Jenny Brown: Growing Yourself UpDr Ronald Richardson: Jane Austen’s Guide to Good RelationshipsDr Kathleen Smith: Everything Isn’t TerribleAvrum Nadigel: Learning to CommitAvrum Nadigel: It Takes More than LoveEsther Perel: Mating in Captivity New podcast episodes released every Tuesday this season—stay tuned as we explore relationships across the lifespan! Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts so you don’t miss a weekly release.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment.Living Systems Counselling and Training provides educational material for those interested in learning more about Bowen family systems theory: https://livingsystems.caLiving Systems Hybrid Conference: October 17–18, 2025Conference theme: Aging—Individual Challenge or Family Opportunity?Learn more: https://livingsystems.ca/education/conferences/fall-2025-conference-on-aging/Key Topics:#BowenFamilySystems #LivingSystems #MurrayBowen #Therapy #SystemsThinking #Family #Dating #Couples #AuthenticDating #RelationshipInsights #RelationshipGoals #Single #Love #Marriage #BeingLiked #Monogamy #Polyamory #Divorce #TherapyPodcast #MentalHealth #Relationships #DifferentiationOfSelf #Differentiation #BowenTheory #ElevatorSystems #FamilySystemsTheory #ElevatorSystemsPodcast #MurrayBowenArchives #TMBAP #TheMurrayBowenArchivesProjectDISCLAIMER: This podcast is general information about Bowen family systems theory and is not considered the practice of counselling or therapy.  The information presented are the views of the people who say them. Any information used from this podcast is used at your own risk.