Human Variation: Sexual and Gender Diversity, Ethnicity, and Gender Study Group

This program is held online.

The Bowen Center’s Learning and Development Program is offering a new study group on natural human variation among individuals and families with regards to sexual and gender diversity, ethnicity, and gender. This is another step to continue the momentum of recent years to scientifically study aspects of human life, relationships, and behavior from a Bowen theory perspective that are factually incorporated into the theory.  

Over recent years there have been presentations related to gay men, their development, the family, society, and Bowen theory.  The Bowen Center took a major step with the 2025 Spring Conference being focused on the broader topic of sexual diversity.  Dr. Joan Roughgarden, a distinguished Stanford professor and evolutionist, was the featured guest scientist speaker and other presentations were made by Bowen thinkers on the topic. The October 2025 Professional Lecture featured Dr. Nathan Lents, another evolutionary biologist who spoke about the prevalence of sexual diversity across the animal kingdom and explored its potential evolutionary functions.

In addition, other Bowen Center faculty, Bowen Network faculty, and longtime practitioners of Bowen Theory are beginning to speak about human diversity through a Bowen theory lens. This study group seeks to build on that growing interest and momentum and further develop these efforts in ways that contribute to the future evolution of Bowen Theory. The group is committed to advancing the scientific study of human variation and diversity, examining how these factors may influence the development of Bowen Theory and, in turn, how Bowen Theory may enhance our understanding of them.

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Program Description & Objectives | Eligibility | Application & Fees | 26-27 Program Dates | Program Head | Questions

The study group will meet virtually for two hours, three times in 2026-27.  Each meeting will be facilitated by a member of the study group.  The topic and related readings, media and facilitation will be formatted into a syllabus for each meeting prior to September, 2026.  Formal presentations will not be made.  Each participant is responsible for and expected to have read the materials and contribute to the dialogue via questions and thinking.  The program is limited to 12 participants.

The following objectives were developed for the study group:

• To explore and identify what Bowen Theory can contribute to these fields and how;

• To explore and identify what these fields can contribute to Bowen Theory and how;

• To learn what and how other research efforts, areas of investigation, and fields of study are contributing to a body of knowledge related to this topic and how Bowen theorists might also contribute to the bodies of work;

• To identify how Bowen theory might be modified or extended to explicitly address variation as identified by this study group into the broader application of the theory to diverse individuals, families, communities, and society.

Participants will have had reasonable exposure to Bowen theory through the Bowen Center or Network programs and be similar in content to Introduction to Bowen Theory, Continuing Studies, Postgraduate Program, Differentiation at Work, Faith Leadership, Clinical Studies Seminar etc.

Each participant will complete a Bowen Center application and participate in any program evaluation initiated by the Bowen Center.

There is no charge for participating in the study group.

October 10,  2:00 PM-4:00 PM ET

January 16,  2:00 PM-4:00 PM ET

April 17,  2:00 PM-4:00 PM ET

Kent Webb, LCSW, PCC works in both the organizational and mental health worlds with practices in each field. He is an executive coach and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who has obtained broad experience and education as both a chief executive officer and a mental health coach. 

He is a Professional Certified Coach endorsed by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), of which he is a member. He has earned a Multidimensional Leadership Certificate from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management’s Executive Education program, and is a certified Korn Ferry Leadership Architect and 360 coach. For 12 years, he was CEO and principal of Psychotherapy Provider Network, PC, a statewide network of behavioral health care providers. There he was clinical director and manager of contracts with national health insurance companies.

After receiving a Master of Social work and an undergraduate degree in Music Therapy from the University of Kansas, Mr. Webb trained in the Postgraduate Program at the Bowen Center. He became a faculty member of the Bowen Center in the summer of 2020.

Kent is the Vice President and board member of The Murray Bowen Archives Project, and also served on the Denver Mayor’s LGBTQ Commission. Additionally, his background includes training, facilitating seminars, and speaking. He has been a trainer for the US Department of Justice, the Human Rights Campaign, and The Denver Center for Trauma and Resilience. He has given presentations at the National Bar Association, The National Managed Healthcare Congress, The National Employee Assistance Association, the Bowen Center,the Bowen International Conferenfes, and the Colorado State Mental Health Conference.

Mr. Webb’s experience as a trainer and facilitator also includes various aspects of organizational development and management. He has conducted such trainings at QWest Communications, Coors Brewing Company, and the Department of Behavioral Health for the District of Columbia.

His publications include a chapter in Chronic Death and Illness in the Family, a chapter in The Emotional Side of Organizations: Applications of Bowen Theory, and an article, “Sexual Diversity and Bowen Theory” in Family Systems Forum. 

Please contact Kent Webb for questions regarding the program. For administrative questions, please contact Cory Freeman, Learning & Development Coordinator, at cfreeman@thebowencenter.org.