Dr. Roberta M. Gilbert, Director

Dr. Roberta Gilbert is a psychiatrist whose special interest is Bowen family systems theory and its extensions and applications to individuals, families and organizations. She is founding director of the Center for the Study of Human Systems and is on the faculty of the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family (formerly Georgetown Family Center.) She is a member and life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Gilbert is the author of five books concerned with applying Bowen theory to life. The first book, Extraordinary Relationships, published in 1992 by John Wiley & Sons, grew out of her work with families and individuals. Her second book, Connecting With Our Children, published in 1999 by John Wiley & Sons, is an application of the principles of Bowen family systems theory for parents. Both books have received wide acclaim. Her newest books, The Eight Concepts of Bowen Theory, Extraordinary Leadership, Thinking Systems, Making a Difference and the Cornerstone Concept, In Leadership, In Life were written as texts for the Extraordinary Leadership Seminar.

Her column "Through the Lens" appears in two periodicals. 

In addition to  Extraordinary Leadership Seminars and writing, Dr. Gilbert maintains a private practice. 

Faculty

Kathleen Cotter Cauley, M.Ed. LMFT,  is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Her work in Catholic Charities included adoption, counseling and clinical work. She was also Deputy Director of a branch office. She is in private practice in Falls Church, VA as well as Tampa FL (three weeks out of the year). She is a founding member of the Florida Family Research Network, bringing training in Bowen family systems theory to the state of Florida.  She has sat on two diocesan boards and her practice has increasingly attracted the clergy.

She has been using Bowen family systems theory in her work for many years.  Her office in the Center for the Study of Human Systems has enabled her to assume a key position in Extraordinary Leadership Seminars. In addition to her regular coaching and lecture responsibilities in the seminar, she takes primary responsibility for the registration process of new members and organizing guest and faculty lectures and participant papers. 

She has a keen interest in one other species besides the human--dogs.  Since 1990, Ms. Cotter and her husband have been involved in several different ways with guide dogs for the blind. They have instituted a prison training program for guide dogs and they keep "ambassador" dogs themselves, who go with them into the community to acquaint the public with their mission.  

Kenton T. Derstine, M. Div., is certified a CPE Supervisor and an ordained Mennonite minister. He has served as a chaplain, CPE Supervisor and CPE program manager at a hospital. Since 2000 he has served as Director of  Clinical Pastoral Education and Field Education at  Eastern Mennonite Seminary.

He has been an avid student and practitioner in Bowen family

Systems theory for many years.

David Scott Hargrove, Ph.D., ABPP is a psychologist. He holds the Kulynych/Cline Distinguished Professor of Psychology chair at Appalachian State University, Boone, N. C. He is also Professor Emeritus of the University of Mississippi, having served as chairman of the department of psychology there for many years. He is an ordained Presbyterian minister, with experience as parish minister in Georgia and campus minister at both the University of Georgia and Emory University. He was founding director of a community mental health center in Mississippi. He directed the clinical faculty at the University of Nebraska. Dr. Hargrove has been involved in the training of judges in the behavioral sciences at several levels. His many positions include member and fellow of the American Psychological Association, chairperson of the Board of Educational Affairs and the Committee on Accreditation. He is former president of the Mississippi Psychological Association and member and chairman of the Mississippi Board of Psychological Examiners. He has also served as president of the American Orthopsychiatric Association. 

Dr. Hargrove's studies and research in Bowen family systems theory have led him into becoming sought after as a coach and presenter, especially for judges, the clergy and in education.   

Lee Kelley, LCSW, worked with families and adolescents at a unique family-oriented program at a juvenile and domestic relations court, and in a county mental health center in emergency services as well as in substance abuse.  Her clinical practice is in Falls Church, Va. includes families and individuals. She is on the advisory board of the Center for the Study of Human Systems. She has been a student and regular presenter in Bowen family systems theory for many years.  

Her lively lectures in the Extraordinary Leadership Seminar are eagerly absorbed. 

Rev. Nicholas Lubelfeld has been an ordained deacon and priest in the Episcopal Church since 1978. He has served churches in Lansing  Michigan, Arlington Virginia, Falls Church Virginia and Aldie Virginia.  He has instructed in both New Testament and Liturgics in the Whitaker School of Theology

He has been a student of Bowen family systems theory for many years.

Reen H. Lyddane, LPC, LMFT, is both a professional counselor and a marriage and family therapist.. She retired from her position in a juvenile and domestic court family program. She is presently in clinical practice in McLean, Virginia. Bowen family systems theory has been a major interest for many years. It informs her clinical work as well as her lively presentations and lectures. 

Patricia Hanes Meyer, LCSW, is a psychiatric social worker whose training and paradigm for understanding human functioning and human change is Bowen family systems theory.

She was on the faculty of the Georgetown University Family Center for several years.

Ms. Meyer is the author of several book chapters, many papers and articles presented at scientific meetings and is the author and lecturer of Journey to Solid Self seminars.

In addition to writing and lecturing, she maintains a private practice in Reston, Virginia.

Bonnie R. Sobel, RN, LCSW, is both a nurse and a social worker. She has worked with children, adolescents and adults in both inpatient and outpatient public and private settings. She uses both biofeedback and psychotherapy in her clinical practice in Falls Church, VA.  She is on the advisory board of the Center for the Study of Human Systems. She is also on the board of the Mid-Atlantic Society for Biofeedback and Behavioral Medicine. 

Ms. Sobel, a student of Bowen family systems theory for many years, is particularly interested in utilizing the principles of the theory to understand the interplay of physical, emotional and cognitive systems within individual, family, work and societal systems.