Encounters at the Congress: Europeans and Latin Americans connected in Lyon

The European Family Therapy Association (EFTA) congress was organized in collaboration with Relates (The European and Latin American Network of Systemic Schools), an association of Spanish-speaking therapists. Local partners included DIPHE (Développement, Individu, Processus, Handicap, Education) research unit for disabled and vulnerable people, and Université Lumière Lyon 2, whose university teaching and research focuses on the arts, literature and languages, law, economics and administrative sciences, humanities and social sciences, and health sciences and technology.

The theme of the congress was “Confluences and Controversies in Systemic Practice, Theory and Research,” which can be loosely translated as the convergences and contradictions of systemic theory, practice, and research. This is a timely theme in the current global situation, and it was emphasized in the congress’s joint program. We were all invited to do our part in bringing about systemic change so that we could build mutual understanding and peace worldwide. Creating and strengthening good connections was a common thread throughout the congress.

The congress began with an impressive and moving program number, in which Greek musicians and therapists Vassilis Charalambopoulos, Antonis Adoniou, and Nikos Kaitsas played and sang Sting’s song “Fragile.” The performance was accompanied by a video showing glimpses of world-shaking conflicts (this part of the opening ceremony can be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X6hBQoE2mI). At the end of the performance, there was a moment of silence so that everyone could reflect on how the performance had affected them. Next, participants were asked to consider what they needed or wanted to achieve from the congress. They reflected on these with those sitting nearby and were encouraged to arrange a meeting with a new acquaintance during the congress in order to establish connections with other participants. Participants were also asked to let go of any unnecessary fears and prejudices during the congress so that we could learn from each other and create something new together.

There were about 1,600 participants from 66 different countries, representing all inhabited continents. 87% were from Europe, 13% from Latin America; 60% from Western Europe, 39.5% from Eastern Europe; a few people from Asia/the Middle East, North America, and North Africa. There were 505 presentation proposals, comprising 300 sessions. There were eight invited keynote speakers. The largest number of participants came from France, Greece, and Italy, with over 100 participants. For the first time, the congress had a space where professionals offered work supervision and a space where participants could watch and share videos related to the themes.

The Finnish Association for Family and Couples Therapy was represented by the authors, who met six other Finns at the congress. It was a wonderful and memorable experience to be together with such a large group of family therapists and systemic therapists. In Europe and around the world, there is a lot of talk about family therapy as systemic therapy. Connections between participants were also created through numerous informal discussions, coffee breaks, lunches, and dinners.

Power and responsibility as therapists

After this, EFTA President Umberta Telfener opened the congress by talking about the social role of systemic therapists/family therapists: “We must give ourselves and our colleagues permission to feel vulnerable and fragile. We need to know where we stand. We need to take a stand on ethical issues. We need to become activists.” From our professional role, we must take responsibility, address injustices, and work to eradicate them. She encouraged us to take a multi-perspective approach to complex issues and situations, as there is no such thing as absolute truth. Telfener referred to Mason (1993) when talking about people as complex systems. The situations we encounter cannot be predicted in advance; they depend on history and processes. As systemic therapists, we represent “safe uncertainty,” ethical relativism, and cultural reflexivity. Through reflexivity, we can reach different perspectives and layers when we engage in an interactive dance with our clients. Telfener also quoted Foucault as saying: “Knowledge is not understanding, it is taking a position. Taking a position is inevitable when producing or using knowledge.” By acting as an activist, the chair meant utilizing professional skills, credibility, and one’s own position to promote justice, social change, and practices that improve the well-being of individuals and communities, while adhering to ethical practices. Issues related to social justice and solidarity are close to the chair’s heart. Reynaldo Perrone of Relates chaired the opening session, highlighting the basic pillars of systemic thinking together with Marcelo Ceberio. The discussion was further expanded by keynote speeches from Alexandra Vassilou and Eva von Redecker, who addressed the profound social, global, and planetary crises facing our society that require action. They called on all of us to take responsibility for the state of our world and our planet, highlighting Arne Mindel’s thinking on deep democracy as one perspective. Deep democracy is a concept of conflict resolution and community building based on awareness that goes beyond traditional political democracy by integrating the perspectives of marginalized and minority groups whose voices are not heard. It is a process of recognizing and valuing all voices, thoughts, and feelings, even those that are difficult or disturbing, in order to transform group conflicts and create more conscious and sustainable communities. In this context, there was also much talk about maintaining a sense of security—a feeling that should belong to everyone, but often the sense of security of the privileged is more important and valued than that of minorities.

Legends on stage

Maurizio Andolfi and Carlos Sluzki also spoke on the opening day. Sluzki spoke in a charming and humorous way about the appeal of constructing alternative narratives, and said that there were still many things he would have liked to bring to a conclusion in his career, particularly in relation to semiotics and cybernetics. He also asked the audience to consider what constitutes their own therapeutic self: who they have learned from and how (through reading, imitation, etc.) and how different ways of doing things have become internalized in their own therapeutic self. In his speech, he also introduced his late friend and colleague Eliseo Verón, who is better known in Spanish- and French-speaking countries. Andolfi’s theme was familiar: multigenerational family therapy, and in particular the position of children in family therapy. In the extensive program of this congress, only ten titles mentioned children – Andolfi had checked this. He has been highlighting the importance of children’s position in family therapy for 50 years. In his speech, he discussed building cooperative relationships with different family members and ways of making children’s voices heard in family therapy.

This wonderful opening day was followed by the actual congress program, which consisted of over 500 speeches, workshops, panel discussions with guest speakers, research reviews, presentations of working methods and techniques, and roundtable discussions. Work supervision was also offered by volunteer work supervisors. There was also a lot of artistic and creative programming. The opening ceremony featured a half-hour expressive dance performance by young people. The congress program was organized by numerous clinicians, researchers, and living legends, such as 91-year-old Carlos Sluzki, Maurizio Andolfi, who is over 80, and Peter Stratton, who is of the same age. Talks and research were presented on topics such as the effectiveness and creativity of therapy, which was understood in a broad sense in this context.

Finns played their part

Professor Juha Holma from the University of Jyväskylä gave a presentation on couple therapy in the treatment of intimate partner violence. Terhi Kotilainen participated in a roundtable discussion on good reasons why systemic therapists need (or do not need) research. Matthias Ochs from Germany, Ged Smith from the UK, Lucie Hornová from the Czech Republic, and Viola Sallay from Hungary/France participated in the discussion. The audience actively participated in the discussion, and together they considered what would encourage research and what the significance of research is for systemic therapists and educators. The limitations of research were also recognized: research cannot achieve everything, but it increases our awareness and understanding of the theories, themes, perspectives, and methods related to therapeutic work. It was also noted that conducting research facilitates the understanding of research conducted by others. On the other hand, active researchers considered what conducting research achieves in oneself as a reciprocal process. The discussion was attended by several representatives of international professional journals, who also considered how to attract more writers and, on the other hand, how to make articles more interesting to readers. Kotilainen also held a workshop on therapist well-being, professional empathy, and emotional regulation. Approximately 50 people from 22 different countries participated in the workshop.

Choices were made on the association front

For the first time, the congress hosted a joint discussion session for the EFTA chambers – previously, the chambers had operated more as separate units. The topic was the direction in which EFTA should develop in the future. During the congress, the EFTA General Assembly was held, at which the EFTA election results were also announced. Umberta Telfener from Italy will continue as chair. Martine Nisse from France was elected vice-chair. Hans Christian Michaelsen from Norway will continue as the representative of the Nordic countries in the NFTO chamber (chamber of national associations). Ilona Buza from Latvia and Júlia Hardy from Hungary left the chamber. Yara Doumit-Naufal from France and Cinthe Lemmens from Belgium were elected to replace them.

All in all, it was a well-organized congress that left many thoughts and the impression that family therapy is practiced around the world and that family therapy can also play a role in influencing society, not just in the treatment of individual families. At the closing ceremony, participants were asked what they were prepared to do to ensure that we would have no regrets when we meet again in three years’ time at the next EFTA congress. Chair Telfener wanted to engage all congress participants in this, reminding them that everyone must commit to acting differently than before: investing in a small plan, a global issue that they believe they can influence. This must be done together with families, friends, teams, and colleagues.
This year, a manifesto for peace was also created:
https://europeanfamilytherapy.eu/wp-content/uploads/Manifesto_peace_lemmens2025.pdf

written by Terhi Kotilainen and Mia Montonen, Finland (representatives of Finland in NFTO)