Spring Conference 2025: Sexual Diversity and the Human Family

This two-day conference will focus on sexual diversity as a variation in natural systems, including the human family. The topic will be viewed through the lens of Bowen theory, evolution, biology, genetics, hormonal processes, and the environment.

Joan Roughgarden, PhD, will be the distinguished guest scientist speaker at the Bowen Center’s 2025 Spring Conference on Sexual Diversity and the Human Family: A Bowen Theory Perspective. Dr. Roughgarden is an American ecologist and evolutionary biologist. She is Emeritus Professor at Stanford University, Department of Biology. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. She has written numerous books and articles regarding sexual diversity and evolution such as Evolutions Rainbow and The Genial Gene: Deconstructing Darwinian Selfishness. She also authored a chapter in the book, On Human Nature titled “Homosexuality and Evolution: A Critical Appraisal.” .

The Spring Conference will be held both in-person and online April 25-26, 2025.

Spring Conference Dates:

• Friday, April 25th, 2025: 9am - 4:35pm EST

• Saturday, April 26th, 2025: 9am - 4:10pm EST

Location: Hybrid.

In-Person Venue: *To be announced in the winter months.

Online via Zoom: *Attendees who select this ticket option will be sent a Zoom link closer to the conference!

Conference Rates:

• General Admission: $435 (In-Person or Online via Zoom). *All tickets are for the two-day full conference. There are no single day ticket options available due to the nature of the conference being carefully curated for the two-days.
• In-Person tickets include lunch on-site at venue
• *All tickets (online and in-person) include an hour long pre-screening of a documentary of Joan Roughgarden’s work before the start of the conference. .

• Full-time and Part-time Student Rates: $130. Please contact Emma Voorhes to gain access to student tickets. A current copy of your schedule or similar verification is required. For students experiencing financial hardship, please reach out to and she will assist with a fee modification.
• CE’s for this two-day conference: $30. Purchase Continuing Education Credits in the “Add-On” section on Eventbrite, when registering for the the conference. *Please and add when registering for the conference. .
  Questions:
• A 15% off per person group rate: $369.75 is available for 3 or more registrants purchasing tickets together (includes either all in-person tickets, or all online tickets)

SCHEDULE: , or below.

9:00 Welcome and Introduction
Randall T. Frost, MDiv, Director of the Bowen Center
Conference Moderator Amie Post, MA, LCMFT

9:10 Human Sexual Variation and Bowen Theory
Kent Webb, LCSW, PCC and Ashley Mader, PhD

9:40 Discussion: Mr. Webb and Dr. Mader with Ms. Post (Moderator)

10:10
Debunking myths that females are “inferior” and being queer is “unnatural,” Second Nature follows trailblazing trans Evolutionary Biologist Dr. Joan Roughgarden as she meets other groundbreaking scientists exploring the 1500+ animal species who engage in same-sex sexual behavior and parenting, change sex, form matriarchies, and more…Joan Roughgarden, PhD and Drew Denny, Producer

10:25 Break

10:40 Second Nature Documentary

11:40 Discussion: Dr. Roughgarden and Ms. Dennywith Ms. Post (Moderator)

12:10 Lunch on site provided by the Bowen Center

1:30 Social Selection and Sexual Selection as Alternative Sex/Gender Systems for Explaining Sexual Reproduction
Joan Roughgarden, PhD, Guest Lecturer

2:30 Discussion: Dr. Roughgarden with Ms. Post (Moderator)

3:00 Break

3:15 The Human Family as a Crucible for Sexual Diversity
This presentation will address how families handle tension and differences by excluding individuals different from the family norm. Looking at the family system across generations can allow individuals with sexual diversity to gain perspective about their place in the family and make thoughtful choices about how they wish to interact and connect.Anne McKnight EdD, LICSW

3:45 Beyond the Birds and the Bees: Creating a Family Diagram with a Sexual History
Through case examples, this presentation will demonstrate how incorporating a detailed sexual history into the family diagram can be beneficial for understanding and treating sexual functioning-related issues. These examples will illustrate how family dynamics, emotional cutoffs, triangles, and patterns of fusion and differentiation impact an individual's sexual functioning.Ashley Mader, PhD, LICSW

4:10 Discussion: Dr. McKnight, Dr. Mader, and Dr. Roughgarden with Ms. Post (Moderator)

4:35 Conference Day Ends

9:00 Introduction and Housekeeping Kent Webb, LCSW, PCCModerator Amie Post, MA, LCMFT

9:05 Gender Diversity, Differentiation, and Social Emotional Process
This presentation will address the diversity of gender, its etiology, and biological examples in adult humans in the United States. It will explore differentiation and social emotional process in morality among family and religious communities who have experienced a member who has expressed gender diversity.Corey L. Meier, MDiv, PsyD

9:30 Gender Related Distress: A Systems Perspective
The way a therapist thinks about a phenomenon such as gender dysphoria or transition informs how they will respond clinically. A broader understanding of gender dysphoria will be presented that considers not only variations within the individual, but also the family and relationship system, the amount of anxiety in that system, and the ways the family manages tension.Joe Berger, LICSW

9:55 Trying to Live Your Own Life
What would a family's emotional process using Bowen family systems theory look like if it included a scientific biological understanding of the gender and sexual diversity inherent in nature? This presentation explores a case study of an Australian family navigating their teenage child’s gender transition, using Bowen family systems theory. Rochelle Oshlack, Psychotherapist

10:20 Discussion: Dr. Meier, Mr. Berger, and Ms. Oshlack with Ms. Post (Moderator)

10:45 Break

11:00 A Conversation with Dr. Roughgarden
An in-depth dialog regarding Dr. Roughgarden’s extensive research over many years in the field of sexual diversity and ecology. Dr. Smith will create an arc between Bowen theory and Dr. Roughgarden’s work.Dr. Roughgarden and Kathleen Smith, PhD

12:00 Discussion: Drs. Roughgarden and Smith with Ms. Post (Moderator)

12:30 Lunch on site provided by the Bowen Center

1:15 The Building Blocks of a Gay Man’s Identity: Biology, Family and Society
The complex and often lengthy process of a gay man developing a gay sexual identity and sexual orientation, in addition to becoming a solid, well-defined man is identified and examined. The above process will utilize a Bowen theory and natural systems lens that includes a broad body of knowledge; scientific and observational research, biology, evolution, family systems theory, and societal emotional process.Kent Webb, LCSW, PCC

1:45 The Steps Towards Differentiation of Self in a Same Sex Partnership
Dr. Millikin will present a coaching case involving a same-sex partnership. In this presentation, he will discuss partner reciprocities, triangles, family of origin dynamics, and this client steps towards differentiation of self. He will also highlight differences between same-sex and heteronormative partnerships in the clinical process.John Millikin, PhD, LMFT

2:10 Discussion: Mr. Webb, Dr. Millikin, and Dr. Roughgarden, with Ms. Post (Moderator)

2:35 Break

2:50 Family Tolerance and Acceptance of Sexual and Gender Diversity
Today more than ever people are recognizing sexual and gender differences. Family history dictates family reactions to sexual and gender differences. Studying family emotional patterns is critical in predicting how families will react these differences.Carrie Collier, PhD, LPC

3:15 The Coming-Out of an Adolescent Child as Non-Binary: A Father’s Odyssey Toward a Higher Level of Maturity
The presentation will highlight the effort of a father to navigate the intense reactivity of his family-of-origin following the coming-out of his adolescent child as non-binary. Over several years, this will become a springboard for higher maturity in self.Vincent Randy, BS

3:40 Discussion: Dr. Collier, Mr. Randy and Dr. Roughgarden with Ms. Post (Moderator)

4:10 Conference Adjourns

Event Venue

Online