Lowen’s bio

No one can know what was meant to be in this bio about Lowen. A traumatic irruption at age 8 pushed him onto a lifelong path to express, describe, enact, and theorise trauma, PTSD and dissociation. 

The journey led him to become an author and researcher through degrees in classics, theology, writing, organisation dynamics and a doctorate in research into trauma. Decades ago, he described ‘mediated dissociation’ in How Media and Advertising are Killing You, enacted 'existential dissociation' and 'hemispheric structural dissociation’ in very early writings. 

His favourite creation, a children’s book ‘Sam the Tram’s Dance Club’  and his adult ‘Missing Persons Bureau’ were honoured by the ISSTD. Both were written in Empowerment Script. This is a reading format Lowen discovered which can activate both hemispheres, and mirror EMDR. 

Lowen has served as Chair of the Ethics Committee of the Victorian Government Dept of Health, is a member of the National Association  of Poetry Therapy and secretary of the Creative Arts Therapy Special Interest Group of the ISSTD. He was honoured by the National Trust for helping to save Melbourne’s W-class trams. Believing trauma can be healed, he continues to work for change - from action in family violence, to facilitating an account of the earlier traumatic environment for his fellow students.

Lowen and his partner Adrian live in regional Victoria, where they are restoring a Butter Factory. Outside the professional sphere, he delights in railway modelling, animation, sport and their garden — all a reflection of the hemispheres that learned to heal, create, and imagine.

Both present workshops at conferences internationally to show people how to understand trauma and dissociation using art, words and bilateral activities.

Driving support for women

Lowen will continue to prioritise family safety. He founded 16 Days Maryborough and has written and distributed a series of books about family safety. These are free to the local Maryborough, Bendigo and Ballarat communities.