CPD News – December 2021
It will soon be holiday time and this is the last CPD news of the year! There is still time to book for John Burnham and Parveen Kaur’s supervision workshop on Friday 10th December. SYSTEMIC SUPERVISION AND THE SOCIAL GGRRAAAACCEEEESSS….S: SHARING, CARING AND DARING TO BE CREATIVE. Sharing of knowledge; skills and experience is an […]
Hope Still Springs: Working With Older Couples with Matthew Ganda
IFT is inviting you to join Matthew Ganda on 4th November for this novel workshop on therapy with older couples, a neglected area of systemic practice and one which is becoming more and more prominent in today’s world. Matthew will explore special and unique aspects of working with couples in the later stages of life. Please note the price […]
Queering Couple Therapy with Amanda Middleton
Don’t miss this second workshop in our working with couples series. So many of the ideas that underpin couple therapy are based on standardised gendered expectations and heteronormative forms of relating, and so our trainings rarely equip us well to work alongside LGBTQI people. Amanda Middleton engages us with queer theory, social constructionism and narrative […]
Come Let Us Reason – Clinical Interventions And Structural Changes
Dr Nick Banks invites you to his workshop in the Come Let us Reason series. July 1, 2, 8 & 9. In this short clip he addresses the enhancement of service delivery to clients through cultural awareness and the better service delivery which results. These workshops are highly relevant for anyone and are provided […]
Trauma Sensitive Leadership
Tania Rodriguez will be presenting her work on Trauma Sensitive Leadership in the O Come Let Us Reason! Series. Don’t miss this ground breaking work based on her contribution to the International Handbook of Black Community Mental Health. This series of workshops is being presented as part of our support for the Black Lives matter […]
Academic tutors
An exciting opportunity has arisen to increase capacity in the teaching team in the Institute of Family Therapy (IFT), the leading independent family therapy organisation in the UK. This coincides with the relocation of IFT’s London office to its new premises in the City of London, transformations in our staff team, and our reconfiguration of […]
Come Let Us Reason! Community Collaborative Interventions: Black Community Mental Health.
As part of our commitment to the principles of black lives matter, IFT is proud to include this workshop as part of its Come Let Us Reason! series. Here Karen Carberry introduces her workshop which draws on over 9 years of ‘hope’ collaborating and equipping constellations of families and communities in the UK and the […]
Black Community Mental Health: Come Let Us Reason! Workshop introduction with Sharon Walker
IFT is happy to present a series of 4 workshops by authors in the ground-breaking International Handbook of Black Mental Health. Sharon Walker will present on the British incidences of black people who have died while in police custody. She asks Is Allyship the Answer? Other presenters are Tania Rodrigues on Trauma Sensitive Leadership, Karen […]
Standing up for Adolescents Against Covid 19 workshop introduction from Matthew
Although the pandemic itself is subsiding it has left a wake of mental health difficulties for our adolescents and their families. With his blend of originality and enthusiasm Matthew Selekman returns for two afternoons of inspiration for working in these challenging times. Once we start to view COVID-19 as an opportunity for both us and […]
CPD News – May 2021
We look forward to welcoming Karl Tomm back in June, see below. The IFT summer programme is ready to roll and we have quite a line-up for you season. So on these unexpectedly cool afternoons and evenings you can snuggle up with a warm zoom connection even if we can’t yet have that shared cup […]
Systemic work in Schools with Hendrix Hammond and Juma Woodhouse
Don’t miss this chance to work with Hendrix and Juma to develop your skills in using systemic ideas in educational settings. This Institute of Family Therapy workshop is relevant for anyone working with children in school settings whether residential or foster care or in mainstream. This lively event introduces ways to work relationally to help […]
Supervision in the Swampy Lowlands Workshop Video Introduction from Karen Partridge
Rediscover your creativity in supervision with Karen Partridge on Monday 26th April. The Institute of Family Therapy is delighted to present this opportunity to work with one of the most creative innovators in our field. Don’t let this one pass you by!
Constructing Couple Connections: the Intercultural Exeter Model
This workshop provides a new model both for effectively working with couples, and for how to effectively focus on cultural, racial, ethnic, and class differences so couples can both bridge and honour them. Read more
CPD News from IFT
CPD News from IFT – some snug winter warmers coming up! Those of you who received the February Context this weekend will have seen the back cover with the list of our 2021 spring programme. We are confident that there will be something for everyone. An opportunity not to be missed! Coming up fast […]
Focus on Race
IFT continues our focus on race. We are working on understanding how we are (or are not if that is the case) privileging and foregrounding race in our learning and practice contexts. We have a responsibility to foreground race in every setting, as an organising principle, and need to continue to work towards being an […]
Developing culturally sensitive practices to engage marginalised groups
The workshop is designed to give practitioners opportunities to think about how they engage clients from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. We will examine approaches which foster good engagement but also allows us to better understand the lived experiences of our clients. Click here to book your place on this workshop
Open Days and our Back Yard
It was wonderful to meet so many people on 11th February who came to talk to us about joining the Foundation course next year. Talking to them reminded us of how much we enjoy welcoming new people into IFT where so many in the systemic community feel they are ‘home’. People become part of a […]
On Holocaust Memorial Day
We must remember the Holocaust so that we never repeat the crimes committed. Hatred starts with words and we must challenge the words of racism, discrimination and oppression. Learn more here The UK Holocaust Memorial Day 2021 ceremony will be streamed online at 7pm. This will be a fully digital ceremony. you can view it […]
Director Update January 2021
Happy New Year to you in these (still) strange times. I hope you are all finding ways to look after yourselves and each other in these complex days. Remembering Barry Mason We were sad to let you know that on Saturday 16th January Barry Mason died. He was an incredible supporter of this organisation and […]
Remembering Barry – Rest in Hope, ‘walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart’
It is with deep sadness that we let you know that our former Director, Barry Mason, died on Saturday 16th January 2021. Barry’s work profoundly influenced many people, and he fundamentally helped to shape our profession through his creative work grounded in practice that made it accessible and relevant. His inspiration will continue as the […]
5 related workshops: Systemic work in Adolescent In-patient Units
Working in adolescent tier four in-patient units brings rewards as well as challenges. This series of five workshops brings together systemic thinkers and practitioners who between them have well over 100 years of experience in this complex arena.
Taiwo Afuape’s A radical systemic approach to trauma Workshop
A radical systemic approach to trauma – a school based intervention that goes to the root, linking trauma with oppression and consciousness with action
Director Update December 2020
Director Update December 2020 Coming towards to end of the year invites reflection. What a year it has been. As an organisation we have moved premises (and students, staff, tutors, and supervisors managed multiple locations); managed staff changes; and then put all courses, training and CPD online due to COVID restrictions. In this time we […]
Reflective Systemic work with Eating Disorders
This is part one of our new venture to provide accessible focused workshops on specific applications of systemic practice. Here Viv Gross, Sylvia Metzer and Marilyn Brennan give you a brief taster for what the workshops will hold. For more information http://ift.org.uk/news/reflective-systemic-work-with-eating-disorders/
Creating inclusive conversations Workshop Introduction Video
This workshop provides a golden opportunity to hear about new developments and reinvigorate the use of systemic ideas in your work in social care or the voluntary sector. It is relevant for all levels of work. Three of the presenters are directly from social care organisations which are committed to getting the most up to […]
There is still time for Families to celebrate Black History month with a book or two!
Black history month – a time for families to celebrate diversity. The Black Lives Matter movement has had a profound effect across the globe on families of all colours and cultures. Here at the Institute of Family Therapy we see black history month as a golden opportunity to celebrate diversity at all levels of […]
FINDING ONE’S PLACE: THEORY AND PRACTICE OF SYSTEMIC DIALOGICAL THERAPY WORKSHOP
This is a unique opportunity to join with Paolo Bertrando and Claudia Lini in an exploration of systemic dialogical therapy . This new development incorporates the emotions of the therapist as therapeutic information and a way of making therapy a truly extending experience for all members of the family. Rooted in Milan and Dialogical approaches […]
Supervision as Improvisation in Uncertain Times workshop postponed
Unfortunately, due to an unforeseen family circumstance, Karen is unable to do this workshop for us in October. She will present it for us in the new year. Please watch for the new date.
Director Update September 2020
Where did the summer go?! We are well into our preparations for the new academic year and with our learning partner agencies there is renewed vigour in working together to press on in understanding how systemic practice can help us to face challenges and make the most of new opportunities in our different agency contexts. […]
1.5 Order Systemic Therapy: The Conundrum Of Power In The Therapy Room Workshop
This workshop will focus on the tensions between 1st and 2nd Order Therapy: the positions of the therapist being a powerful expert who knows the truth, compared with the later versions of systemic theory which posited a more “Not Knowing” approach and where therapy was more collaborative. View workshop here
BBC Radio 4 Interview with Joanne Hipplewith on Woman’s Hour
Joanne Hipplewith, one of IFT’s Clinical Supervisors for the MSc Family Therapy course, had the opportunity to share her expertise on family therapy with BBC Radio 4 listeners in Woman’s Hour last week. We are well aware that many families are going through very emotional, often painful, shocking and tough times. Breakdowns in family relationships […]
Co-creating Cooperative Partnerships with Reluctant and Demoralised Parents Workshop
In this “hands-on” practice-oriented workshop, participants will learn a collaborative strengths-based family therapy approach that rapidly fosters cooperative partnerships and integrates the best elements of empirically-supported family therapy approaches with clinical evidence-based practice wisdom to carefully tailor fit the treatment experience with the goals, preferences, theories of change, expectations, and unique needs of each family […]
Self Care in Continuing Personal and Professional Development
Attending to self-care requires a constant shift between and within personal and professional identities over a professional career. Presented at the crossroads of the Covid-19 pandemic this online workshop explores Continuing Professional and Personal development using a Professional Life Cycle approach towards self-care. Attending to self-care, may help stave off burnout, secondary PTSD and cynicism. […]
Cut the cr*p: Language, Risks and Relationships in Systemic Therapy
All relationships contain some element of risk. This workshop concerns the use of language in both therapy and supervision, and how it contributes to the necessary risk-taking that will be a part of therapists’ and supervisors’ repertoires. The ways in which we create a safe enough context in therapy, through the uses of language as […]
Directors Update July 2020
Anti-racist practices and building learning cultures We continue to be reminded of our pledge to oppose racism and hate. In the last two weeks we have held conversations with staff and students about their experiences of IFT, and I have been moved, and humbled, as people have acted into these spaces with hope, love, and […]
Working With Family Violence workshop
This workshop explores the opportunities offered by a systemic approach for mental health professionals and psychotherapists working with domestic violence in intimate relationships. Arlene and Jan draw from a broad field of family psychology and systemic psychotherapy to distil the theories, methods and techniques most helpful to practitioners working in modern public and voluntary organisations. […]
IFT Co-director job opportunity
Co-Director – Job Share (3 days a week) An exciting opportunity has arisen to share an increase in capacity in the post of Director of the Institute of Family Therapy (IFT), the leading independent family therapy organisation in the UK. Alongside the current Director, the post holder will be responsible for renewing and refreshing IFT’s […]
Directors Update June 2020
Welcome to our new website! We are very excited to have this up and running and hope it will make all our communications easier and smoother. We hope you enjoy using it, and that we will see you here often. ‘No meaning without context…’ It is a turbulent time. IFT has a long history of […]
Director’s Update April 2020
What a time it is! For the duration of last term, since our move from Stephenson Way, IFT has been hard at work ensuring all our courses continued without disruption while getting the new premises in Great Tower Street ready for our arrival this April in time for the new term. This was an incredible […]
IFT’s new home
At last IFT has a home to got to!! We are very happy for everyone to know that we will be moving to 1-4 Great Tower Street, London EC3R 5AA. We will be in the heart of the City, very near the Tower of London – (quite a strong legacy of family located there!) There is […]
IFT has a home….
We are very happy for everyone to know that we will be moving to 1-4 Great Tower Street, London EC3R 5AA. We will be in the heart of the City, very near the Tower of London – (quite a strong legacy of family located there!) There is a bit of construction work to be done […]
IFT is on the move
As many people already know we are moving from our current premises during the week of 16 December. We are working to establish a new home that is a really good fit for IFT and will enable us to develop our training and systemic practice. In the meantime we have ensured that all the courses […]
Director of IFT
We are delighted to announce that Dr Rachel Watson has now taken up the post of Director of the Institute of Family Therapy. Rachel is an experienced systemic family psychotherapist, supervisor, trainer, and leader. Rachel trained at IFT, and taught on the foundation level courses between 2005-2009, so in this sense the appointment is a ‘homecoming’. […]
The next Director of IFT
I am really pleased, on behalf of the staff, members and trustees, to announce that we have successfully appointed Dr Rachel Watson to be the next Director of the Institute of Family Therapy. She will be taking up the position in September. Rachel comes to us from a background in both health and social care, as […]
Director – Institute of Family Therapy
An exciting opportunity has arisen for the post of Director of the Institute of Family Therapy (IFT), the leading independent family therapy organisation in the UK. This coincides with the relocation of IFT’s London office to the Thomas Coram Foundation. The new post holder will be responsible for renewing and refreshing IFT’s activities that build […]
All that jazz
Last week those of us who attended the IFT AGM were treated to a sneak preview of a chapter of the book currently being written by Richard McKenny who delivered the Annual Robin Skynner memorial lecture on Reason, Metaphor and Theory in Systemic Thinking: The Case of the Jazz Metaphor. Richard’s philosophical know-how and expertise […]
Research advertisement: Couple therapy for Intercultural Couples
Are you experiencing a difficult time or conflict in your couple relationship? Are you thinking about seeking couple therapy to address these issues? We are looking for intercultural couples, who are willing to attend couple therapy as part of a research study. Our research broadly focuses on couple cohesion and satisfaction amongst intercultural couples in […]
Robin Skynner Memorial Lecture, 2016 given by Dr Barry Mason
Many of you attended the AGM on Thursday 21st January 2016 and enjoyed the Robin Skynner Memorial Lecture given by Dr Barry Mason based on his doctoral, and more recent, research. Barry has kindly provided a narrative account of the lecture which will continue to stimulate and expand our thinking in relationship to physical pain. […]
AGM 2017
The AGM will be held on Thursday, 19th January 2017 at 6.15. It will be followed by the Robin Skynner Memorial Lecture delivered by Lennox Thomas. The agenda and further information about the lecture will be emailed to members shortly.
Recent publications by IFT members:
Markovic, D (2017) Working with Sexual Issues in Psychotherapy. A Practical Guide Using a Systemic Social Constructionist Framework. Palgrave Higher Education. ‘This book is a timely and invaluable resource that will benefit systemic therapists, sex therapists as well as psychotherapists across disciplines. For practitioners torn between manuals and dialogical practices this book is a godsend – […]
Welcome to Hendrix Hammond
The Institute is delighted to announce the appointment of Hendrix Hammond to our in-house training team. Hendrix joined us in September and is taking over the reigns of our Families and Couples and Child Focused introductory and intermediate courses. Hendrix has a wide and varied background, having started in a YOT service with ‘hard to engage’ young people […]
Welcome to Iris Corrales, Assistant Director, IFT
I am delighted to welcome Iris Corrales to the Institute of Family Therapy as Assistant Director. Iris comes with extensive experience of working within other contexts, such as CAMHS services in East London where she was instrumental in building bridges between CAMHS and social care. She is well known to IFT through her work over […]
Graduation Ceremony in the Tri-Borough
The Institute of Family Therapy has completed the first wave of training in the Tri-Borough area of Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham and The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The Focus on Practice team arranged a graduation ceremony on the 9th of June for all of those who have completed their courses, both practice and […]
Summer arrangements at IFT 2016
Further to our email of 21st of June, may we remind members that due to building work access to the building will be restricted from 15th of July and the building will be closed to visitors completely for the month of August. The office remains open for business by phone and email between 9.30am and 5.00pm […]
Members’ recent publications
Chimera, C. (2013) Getting our mojo working – the magic of action methods therapy through a neuroscience looking glass. Context 126, April 2013 Dring, G.J. (2015) Finding a Voice: Family therapy for young people with anorexia. London: Karnac Dear IFT members: Please let us have details of your recent publications.
Robin Skynner Memorial Lecture January 2014
We were delighted to welcome Hugh Jenkins PhD, former Director of IFT, to deliver the annual Robin Skynner Memorial Lecture at our AGM in January. His presentation was entitled: Time: the silent guest at the therapeutic table. Hugh has kindly agreed for the lecture to be available for our members – read and down load […]
The Institute of Family Therapy and Frontline
Over the past three years the Institute of Family Therapy has constructed and delivered systemic courses embedded in the Frontline Masters in Social Work. This has been an interesting period in IFT’s development and consolidated the status of our institute as a leading systemic training partner in social care contexts. IFT has been associated with […]
Agency Based Training at IFT
Agency based training has become a significant pathway for the Institute to share systemic ideas and practices with Social Care and Health professionals. Since the publication of the Munro review in 2011 many local authority Social Service Departments have embraced the reports recommendations, introducing a more systemic model of Social Work practice. The Institute has […]
IFT connections ‘down under’
We are pleased to announce that IFT has formed a ‘twinning’ relationship with The Bouverie Centre, Melbourne. The Bouverie Centre is the leading family therapy training centre in Australia and, like IFT, has courses from introductory to MSc to Doctorate levels. The Centre also has a number of very well established, high calibre clinical services […]
IFT Members Publications
Gross, V. & Goldin, J. (2008) Dynamics and Dilemmas in Working with Families in Inpatient CAMHS. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry Hildebrand, J. & Markovic, D. (2007) Systemic therapists’s experience of powerlessness. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy. Vol.28 No.4, December. p.191-199. Jenkins, H. (2006) Inside out or outside in: meeting with couples. […]