Dear Friends, the Lyon Congress has just ended and it has been an incredible event: many people (1660), many different formal encounters and presentations (505), an atmosphere of curiosity, energy, responsibility and awareness. Energetic alertness, fun to meet and many emotions in the many pause moments. I would love to bring all these moods and emotions in the next three years of our work together!

I am personally very satisfied also of the past three years, I only wish for more participation from each of you. I would like you to share with us your necessities and your workwise desires. What can we help you making come true? Who could we invite because you think it would be an enrichment for you and all of us? Which theme are you interested in?

The congress has started and ended with two videos about what is happening in the world. This does not mean I wish to “politicize” EFTA but that we need to be aware of what is happening, since each client brings the world with her/himself, even if it does not talk about it.

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Rivers and Crossroads
Lyon is a city that thrives on crossroads. Where the Rhône and the Saône meet, the landscape is constantly reshaped. The rivers divide the city, yet they also bring it together: water as boundary and as connection, as separation and as confluence.
That image stayed with me during my days in Lyon at the EFTA-Relates Conference. A city of crossings, just as the conference itself became a place of crossings: of people and stories, of research and practice, of theory and improvisation, of Europe and Latin America, of controversy and confluence.
The theme — “Confluences and Controversies in Systemic Practice, Theory and Research” — found a tangible embodiment in this environment. Just as rivers first search for their own course, with force and resistance, and then merge into a larger stream, the same we did as systemic therapists navigating a world that iwas at once fractured and interconnected.
Like the rivers that divide and connect the city, the environment itself helped us live the theme. We moved together through buses and streets, we ate and danced together, we lost and found each other again. The conference was not a closed event, but a living process extending into the city itself: a system within other systems — open, fluid, organic, in motion.

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As you all know, every three years, we hold the EFTA Conference. It’s a special moment when we shine a light on the work achieved over the past three years, honoring members of the Board with an award — usually two from each Chamber. This tradition is close to our hearts, as it gives us a chance to celebrate our journey, reflect on what we’ve accomplished together, and look ahead to what’s still to come.
This year, during the Lyon Congress, we have brought to the forefront:

Valerie O’ Brien, in recognition of her work in Chairing the Task Force charged with the development of European Training Standards for Family Therapy and Systemic Psychotherapy 2022 – 2025. This work marks a major development for the future of the training of psychotherapists and family therapists, especially given the changing landscape for the profession across Europe. Valerie is particularly thankful to the Task Force members which also includes Federico Ferrari; Julia Hardy; Lucie Hornova; Teresa Moratalla Gellida; Martine Nisse; Yvain Piketty; Marie Jeanne Schon; Shan Tate.

Mathias Ochs, for his pioneering contribution in establishing and popularizing EFTA research Cafés and his vital role in making the EFTA-RELATES 2025 congress so special, as the Chair of Scientific Committee

Hans Christian Michaelsen, for his long standing work for EFTA and his contribution to being connected and enjoying being an efta member. He has an appreciative,trustworthy and honest approach to everyone.

The whole CIM board (M. Nisse, V. Sallay, M. Frisina, F. Ferrari, M. Cassen, M-J Schon, I. Ursini) for the outstanding and exemplary team-work that allowed the revitalization of CIM through sharing participation among members within the chamber and in the relationship with the other two chambers; for the capacity to plan, organize and realize an international conference in bordeaux in 2024.

Slavica Gajdadzic Knezevik, for her outstanding contribution for developing systemic practice in the region and across different professional contexts

Fabienne Dardenne, our historic secretary, the heart of EFTA

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This handbook examines digital systemic psychotherapy and counseling for individuals, couples, families, and groups. It addresses online supervision for professionals working in mental health services as well as online training in systemic family and couple therapy. The handbook explores the dramatic changes in the use of digital technology since the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides a theoretical perspective on the impact of digital technology on family life as well as therapeutic work. The volume offers state-of-the-art practical recommendations to trainees, therapists, supervisors, and trainers for implementing online systemic practices.
Maria Borcsa & Valeria Pomini Editors

7th Volume: Handbook of Online Systemic Therapy, Supervision, and Training

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1. Reflection from Umberta Telfener : As Social Justice and Systemic Thinking Task Force we met the first time at the NFTO in Sofia in June 2023, we created a whatsup group and exchanged some “fast” thoughts wondering what to deal with. Too many issues seemed important and focus was needed. Then life took over but right now we decided to start meeting and discussing again regularly. These words are just some reflections on the too many terrible and unjustified wars we are surrounded by.

Few days ago a client of mine posed this question: “Are we more violent compared to Medieval times?” I was stunned since I was questioning myself about the horrors of war in a time of enhanced consciousness: why does a civilized country become violent and destroy others? How can individuals de-humanize and do things that are despicable and they would judge as horrendous in times of peace? I started searching ….

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