Dr Kate Owen

28/01/2026

What’s behind you doesn’t define you.
What’s ahead of you is out of your control.

What matters is what’s already inside you…the strength, resilience, and courage you bring into every moment.

Keep going.

You’re carrying more power than you think.

22/01/2026

What a week! Starting the week running Advanced Skills in Systemic Practice for Child and Youth Mental Health teams, and finishing the week running Working Systemically with Stakeholders for Youth Justice.

I love how systems thinking and practice applies to SO MANY areas!

And then ready to recharge and refresh over the long weekend.

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you are somewhere in the world with people you love or doing the things you love.

19/01/2026

Student who won't come to school.
Families and schools who've run out of ideas and energy.
Meetings that go in circles.

School attendance challenges are increasing, and the old approaches aren't cutting it.

Dr Kate Owen presents a one-day workshop on a strengths-based, systemic framework that actually works. Walk away with practical strategies you can use the following Monday.

📍 Brisbane | 📅 17 April 2026
🎟️ Early bird $265 (save $100) – ends 26 March

Includes full catering, printed handbook and CPD certificate.

6 CPD hours | ACA OPD approved | 4.83★ rating

Book today at:

https://www.compassaustralia.com.au/event/rethinking-school-refusal-rsrbne170425

19/01/2026

Looking forward to two days of training with Child and Youth Mental Health clinicians in the Brisbane area. It’s been such a privilege to support this health district implement systemic thinking and practice over time, and this year we deepen that learning with advanced training.

12/01/2026

Hello! It is my first day back to work and I need an afternoon nap 😂 Looking forward to reconnecting with my clients and supervision teams. Please be patient if you are awaiting an email reply from me.

16/12/2025

It’s hard to believe how quickly 2025 has flown by.

My practice will be closed from December 17th 2025 and will reopen on January 12th, 2026.

During this break I am looking forward to a few of my favourite things - slow days and long afternoon naps, time with my teenagers (if they’re willing to hang out with me!), the joy that fills my heart at Christmas when surrounded by family and friends, and chipping away at our ongoing home renovation project.

Thank you for the connection throughout 2025 - for reading, engaging, and being part of the ongoing dialogue that makes this work so fulfilling.

Wishing you a peaceful and restorative end to the year, and a gentle transition into 2026.

Take care
Kate
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04/12/2025

Last night I had the pleasure of being a guest lecturer for The Tavistock in the UK, speaking with Masters students studying Systemic Psychotherapy about systemic integrative practice.

My own energy for the topic kept me wide awake long after the session ended (…though maybe the two sips of coffee I no longer usually drink played a small part too!).

Not even a brief technical glitch with a temporary drop in the connection could stop the conversation - the discussion picked right back up with the same enthusiasm and curiosity.

Thank you to the students for their engagement. Lots of thoughtful questions and creative insights, especially when we explored how to bridge theory to practice through a case example. It is always inspiring to see new practitioners thinking systemically and compassionately about their work.

A heartfelt thank you to Shila and Sezer for holding the space as the teaching staff in the room and for supporting the learning and conversation.

I am grateful for the collaboration and reminded once again how rewarding it is to share and learn in our global community.

(Image created by Gemini)

27/11/2025

Getting ready for Empowering The Helping Professional workshop in Melbourne. What a great way to end the week!

I wonder which Keep Calm Cards strategy will be the favourite today?

Thanks for the collaboration 🌸

27/11/2025

I like to get things done and today was no exception!

Somehow, between running a workshop today, navigating the Geelong–Melbourne run in peak-hour traffic, juggling phone calls, replying to emails, and troubleshooting end-of-year school activities for my kids… I also managed to write and send out this month’s newsletter.

The topic? Differentiation - the capacity to stay calm, clear, and connected when life gets chaotic.

Let’s just say…today was a perfect opportunity to practice what I teach!

This month’s newsletter explores how emotional maturity helps us stay steady under pressure and how Bowen Family Systems Theory gives us a framework to do just that.

If you are curious about how to find your calm and clarity when everything around you feels a bit much, check your inbox or subscribe via www.drkateowen.com to get it straight to yours next time.

Clearly this photo is AI generated :)
Courtesy of Google Gemini

23/11/2025

Back from an inspiring few days in Mt Isa and Townsville where I had the opportunity to work alongside practitioners in the Youth Justice sector, exploring the topic of “Working Systemically with Stakeholders.”

We unpacked what it really means to think and act systemically - seeing the bigger picture, strengthening cross-agency collaboration, and aligning everyone’s efforts around what truly supports young people’s growth and accountability.

What stood out most was the practitioners were deeply connected to their communities and constantly seeking better ways to partner across systems for meaningful change.

A great reminder of how powerful it is when people come together with shared purpose and curiosity, even in the face of complexity.

Grateful for the chance to learn from such passionate teams and for the opportunity to keep building systemic approaches that create real impact for young people, families, and communities.

Thank you Compass Seminars AUS for arranging the collaboration.

17/11/2025

I have just published a new video exploring one of my favourite ideas in family therapy: Differentiation of Self.

It’s the concept that helps us understand why some people can stay calm and grounded in the middle of chaos…while others get swept up in emotional relational storms.

Differentiation isn’t about detaching or being “unbothered”, it’s about being able to stay connected while also staying true to your own thoughts, values, and beliefs.

If you are curious about emotional maturity, self-leadership, or strengthening your relationships, this video is for you.

Differentiation is the capacity to think and reflect, rather than automatically react to internal or external emotional pressures. It is the ability to maint...

12/11/2025

Recently I flew to Sydney for the Oasis concert, and while wandering through the airport I spotted Mel Robbins’ book “Let Them Theory”

It reminded me of the blog I wrote earlier this year that compared and contrasted Let Them Theory with Bowen Family Systems Theory, particularly the concept of differentiation - the ability to stay connected while maintaining your own sense of self.

Interestingly, the same theme came up again this week in a supervision session. It felt like the universe was nudging me to revisit the idea and do something more with it.

So, I enlisted the help of AI to create a short video explaining the essence of that blog - exploring how “Let Them” and “Lead Yourself” both invite us to step back from over-functioning and take responsibility for our own calm, clarity, and growth.

You can find the original blog here: https://www.drkateowen.com/post/let-them-or-lead-yourself

https://youtu.be/99XVJKxyFPQ

This video is based on a blog article written by Dr Kate Owen. It explores the parallels between Mel Robbins’ "Let Them" Theory and Bowen Family Systems Theo...