Issues involving relationships, grief and communication within the family will be explored at DePaul University by psychotherapist Harry A. Allen during a three-lecture series entitled “The Family's Response to Life Transitions.” The program will be held at 2 p.m., March 30, May 18 and June 22 at DePaul's Naperville Campus, 150 W. Warrenville Rd.

The lecture series is open to the public. Individual lecture registration is $20, with an option for discounted registration fee of $50 for all three lectures. Post-lecture refreshments will be provided.

The initial workshop on March 30 will examine key family interactions, such as family constellation, adaptability, cohesion, boundaries and relationship patterns. Attendees will examine several of the primary components of family organizational patterns and will learn how to identify coping behaviors in their own families.

The May 18 lecture on “Family Communication Processes” will address the nature and functions of communication and its patterns, as well as family rules of communication and behavior.

“Loss and Grief and The Family” will be the final lecture of the series presented June 22. This lecture will explore various types of loss, the psychological manifestation of grief, anticipatory grief, grief work and the family’s role in the perception and response to loss.

A former adjunct professor in the Rehabilitation Services Program at DePaul, Allen currently is professor emeritus of the Counseling and the Doctoral Studies programs of the Rehabilitation Institute at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill., where he taught for 28 years. Allen has more than 35 years in practice as a psychotherapist and has received local and national recognition and awards for his teaching and service.

Allen counsels individuals, families and groups who are working to better cope with three general problem areas: significant life transitions, relationship and personal growth and professional development. He has expertise in helping people cope with significant life transitions, such as pain, life-threatening and/or chronic disease, loss and bereavement, reactive depression, interpersonal relationship challenges and stress management.

For more information or to register, call Judi Bartik at 630/548-9378.