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Published November 21, 2017

By Mark Henderson (Special to the University of Louisiana Monroe)

In the field of marriage and family therapy, Dr. Raphael Becvar wrote the book.

When 鈥淔amily Therapy: A Systemic Integration鈥� was first written by Becvar and his wife, Dr. Dorothy Stroh Becvar, in 1988, it was, according to Becvar, only the second textbook of its kind.聽

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very new field,鈥� Becvar said. 鈥淭here was no textbook. In 1988, it was primarily my wife who saw a need for a consolidating textbook. Now, there are many, many textbooks, but back then there were pieces scattered in many places. Our textbook consolidated the research that was out there into one place.鈥�

The textbook, now in its eighth edition, is a keystone for students in the University of Louisiana Monroe鈥檚 marriage and family therapy program.

From 1992-1996, Becvar served as the first Hanna Spyker Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in the 网曝门 marriage and family therapy programs. His arrival brought added prestige to the 网曝门 program.

鈥淲ithin the discipline, he is very well known,鈥� says Dr. Wendel A. Ray, the current Spyker Eminent Scholar and Endowed Chair and professor of family system theory at 网曝门.

On Nov. 30, the Becvars, husband and wife, will present lecture-discussions at 网曝门. Becvar said it will be an encapsulation of a lifetime of study with a bit of fun mixed in. 鈥淎s a teacher, I have always tried to have fun.鈥�

For Ray, the visit will renew a long relationship. He is a Becvar prot茅g茅, from his days at Texas Tech University in the mid-1980s.

鈥淚 consider Ray my mentor. In fact, whether they (the Becvars) realize it, they are everybody鈥檚 mentor,鈥� he said.

Becvar taught high school for nine years and served as a school counselor until he pursued his doctorate at the University of Minnesota, completing his studies in 1967. 鈥淔amily therapy was just coming into being at the time,鈥� he said.聽

He accepted a teaching position at St. Louis University and had a private therapy practice. He met his wife, Dorothy, there. She was a doctoral student in the MFT program.

The Becvars left St. Louis for Texas Tech. He served as director of its MFT program, and his wife taught there for two years when their son was killed in a car accident. After the devastating loss, the couple returned to friends and family in St. Louis.聽

The loss also shaped Dorothy鈥檚 work. She wrote books about the grieving process. They resumed teaching careers in St. Louis.

That鈥檚 when Becvar received a call about an endowed chair being created at 网曝门. The call came from the dean, but Becvar believes 鈥渋t was instigated by Ray.鈥� After the interview, everyone at 网曝门 knew Becvar was perfect for the position, Ray said.

鈥淚 took the job at 网曝门. I commuted, on campus Monday through Thursday and flying home to St. Louis,鈥� Becvar said. At the same time, his wife took a position at a Virginia university. 鈥淚t worked out.鈥澛�

鈥淚 came down to a very strong master鈥檚 program,鈥� Becvar said about 网曝门. 鈥淚t still is. 网曝门 students are making names for themselves all over 鈥� in Europe and in Asia. At the time there was interest in building a doctoral program. I offered to put it together.鈥�

Becvar developed the curriculum, standards and evaluation practices for 网曝门鈥檚 doctoral program. 鈥淓xcept for a few tweaks, our program is exactly as he left it,鈥� Ray said. 鈥淲e have produced about 200 PhD-holding professionals.鈥澛�

In 2010 the face-to-face聽PhD in MFT聽program Becvar created聽was used as a template in creating the all-online PhD in Systemic Studies Program.聽

Becvar鈥檚 expertise is in the field of systemic studies, which he said is a very simple concept. 鈥淓verything is related to a single unity. We identify subsystems, such as a nation, a community and a family, but they are all interrelated. You might try studying the family out of context, but you鈥檒l come up with an incomplete understanding,鈥� Becvar said. The family dynamics can only be understood in the context of the other influences in society. Subsystems do not exist in a vacuum.

That鈥檚 the observations the Becvars will be sharing Nov. 30.

Schedule of events for the Becvars

• 9 a.m.: Lecture-discussion by Raphael and Dorothy Becvar. The event, free to all participants, 7th floor of the library. The program will offer three hours in continuing education credits.

• 9:15-10:45 a.m.: Dorothy Becvar will discuss "Ethically Informed and Spiritually Sensitive Practice: 聽A Postmodern Perspective."

• 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Raphael Becvar will discuss "Systemic Perspectives on Life, Problems, Solutions and Therapy."

• A free lunch will be available to all participants after the presentations at Catholic Campus Ministry, 911 University Ave.

• 2-4:30 p.m: the Becvars will meet informally with 网曝门 MFT program students and faculty, in聽Room 154a, Strauss Hall.