Margaret Otto, LSCSW

Director; Senior Theoretical Consultant

Margaret Otto, LSCSW received an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Bethany College, Bethany, West Virginia and a master’s in Social Work from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.

Her career began as a non-medical professional in hospital, nursing home and home health settings including being the Director of Social Services in the home health setting. From health care she moved into the community mental health arena and established a BFST full time private practice in 1988 which has continued until today. For four years she taught family practice residents about how families work. Her postgraduate education began at the Menninger Family Therapy training program. From there she trained at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family where participation involved postgraduate seminars, research seminar and the National network. She has been studying and applying Bowen family systems theory for over 25 years which includes studying under Murray Bowen, MD and Michael Kerr, MD.

In 1996 she co-founded and became the Director of the KC Center. Under her leadership, a federal grant was achieved to study families and educational programs were developed to meet the mission of the KC Center. BFST was utilized to design the research on low-income unwed expectant or new parents.

Margaret is a national and regional presenter on families with particular interest in clinical applications, remission, and theoretical concepts. She carries local and national responsibility for the leadership of the KC Center in representing Bowen family systems theory. She is a faculty member for the Postgraduate Education & Training Series and Program Director for the Webcast Series, the Heartland Conference and the Annual Summer Conference. She is also on the Board of the Bowen Theory Academy.

Lona Hardy, MSED, MSW, LCSW

Faculty

Lona Hardy, MSED, MSW, LCSW began private practice in family psychotherapy in 1985 when she received an MSW from the University of Connecticut. She was a therapist and faculty member at the Family Institute of Maine from 1985-1994 where she provided supervision and training in family therapy, including Bowen family systems theory. She had three years of postgraduate training at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family. She had a private practice in Maine from 1994-2004 and in Napa, CA from 2004-2015.  She has been a member of the Education & Training Committee since 2016 as well as a guest lecturer in the Postgraduate Education & Training Series.

Mary Bosch, LMSW

Program Coordinator

Mary is Licensed Master Social Worker in Kansas and Missouri, Postgraduate Trainee for Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker in Missouri. Mary’s approach to counseling is with the understanding that individuals are part of a family, marital, social and work system. We are all emotional attached and can impact or influence each other. Sometimes it’s difficult to know how to act, think or respond that can resolve the issues or lessen the tension. Having a neutral, understanding therapist to process and clarify thinking is vital. Working towards seeing the whole picture can help stuck behavior by finding practical, beneficial ways of movement or problem-solving. Experienced with life issues such as infertility, adoptions, life-altering health diagnosis, parenting challenges, family conflict, grief and loss of parents/spouse, life after divorce, anxiety, struggles of life purpose or direction. Mary loves road trips, travel, reading, yoga, pickleball and entertaining friends.

Whitney Robinson

Director of Operations

Whitney joined KC Center for Family Systems in September 2022 after a move from Dallas, Texas. Whitney developed a strong sense of devotion for the nonprofit sector through volunteerism and local outreach. She desires to utilize her skills in organizational operations, administration, and development to help support the mission of KC Center for Family Systems.