Launch of the qualifying level (QLT) course 2025 cohort
We are delighted and proud to announce that, from April 2025, the Institute of Family Therapy and Systemic Social Action (IFT) will be collaborating with the Centre for Systemic Studies (CSS) in Wales in order to run a United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) accredited 2-year Professional Qualifying Level Training (QLT) in Family and Systemic […]
Action Against Conversion Therapy
It is with outrage and sadness that we write this update, following the news from UKCP last Friday of its decision to withdraw from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on conversion therapy https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/news/ukcp-update-on-conversion-therapy/#background. We feel outraged and saddened because we know that this is having a direct and harmful impact on people’s lives, and […]
A letter from the future to counselors and psychotherapists followed by a heartfelt connection from IFT
This is a letter that we received from Gail Simon, Gwyn Whitfield, Elizabeth Day and Amanda Middleton. We share it here in its entirety, as well as our response. In posting this we are inviting you to connect and join in this conversation, in whatever ways you wish. Dear Counsellors and Psychotherapists, This is […]
Supporting Families Practice Model Pilot Study
IFT is delighted to announce that we will be working with Coram to deliver this exciting project with the Dept. for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Dept. for Education: Supporting Families Systemic Family Therapy Pilot Study IFT has been commissioned to lead the training elements of this project by the Department for Levelling Up, […]
Update on the QLT, with clarity regarding accreditation and employability
Introducing the IFT Qualifying Level Training in Systemic Psychotherapy Core belief, values and legacy We believe that training should be tailored to fit the communities that we serve. A core value at IFT is the importance of meaningfully increasing diversity and inclusivity of clients, trainees, ideas and contexts where we practice. Systemic psychotherapy was born […]
IFT remembers Matthew Ganda
All at IFT and in the UK systemic practice community will be greatly saddened to learn of the recent death of Matthew Ganda; everyone who met him professionally and personally, over the last 35 years, was struck by his humility, compassion and huge intelligence. Matthew was originally from Zimbabwe. He came to the UK on […]
Introducing IFT’s Family and Systemic Psychotherapy Qualifying Level: MSc Equivalent
Our core beliefs, values and legacy We believe that training should be tailored to fit the communities that we serve. A core value at IFT is the importance of meaningfully increasing diversity and inclusivity of clients, trainees, ideas and contexts where we practice. Family and Systemic Psychotherapy was born as a movement away from intrapsychic […]
Writing for Publication
IFT LAUNCHES THE WRITING FOR PUBLICATION COURSE “If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.” Margaret Fuller Knowledge, as we know, is not static but a living and fluid body of ideas and experiences, of which we are all a part. Some of you, and many students, have been asking us for […]
National Supervision Conference
After a long time in the making, The 3 Day National Supervision conference held at IFT in May 2023, and hosted by Karen Burgess, was a very special experience for all involved. Just as we had hoped feedback was overwhelmingly positive with participants describing it as well organised, well executed and powerfully experiential. To highlight just […]
Leadership Update FEB 2023
LEADERSHIP UPDATE FEBRUARY 2023 Taiwo Afuape – Training Director Nana Bonsu – Leadership Director Sumita Dutta – International Learning Director Rachel Watson – Strategy Partnerships Director Ashley Reid- Chief Operating Officer LEADERSHIP UPDATE AT IFT WE WANT TO DEVELOP OUR TRAININGS WITH POSITIVE ACTION TO INCREASE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY OF PEOPLE, IDEAS, AND CONTEXTS WHERE WE […]
Leadership Update
LEADERSHIP UPDATE DECEMBER 2022 LEADERSHIP UPDATE AS YOU KNOW, THIS SEPTEMBER WE STARTED THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR WITH A BRAND-NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM AND STRUCTURE. At IFT we want to develop our trainings with positive action to increase diversity and inclusivity of people, ideas, and contexts where we practice. We have invited and co-ordinated systemic professionals […]
Director’s Update
Leadership Changes and Onwards into the Future New Shared Leadership Taiwo Director:Training Nana Director:Leadership Sumita Director: International Learning Rachel Director: Strategy Partnerships Robyn Business Support Manager: Training Annamaria Business Support Manager: Clinical Nadia Director of Operations Ashley COO: Chief Operating Officer This September we start the new […]
We Celebrate You, Angela Vanriel
Angela is celebrating 20 years at IFT here today! We just want to thank her for all her contributions over the years.
Bhawna Bharakda
We are delighted to welcome Bhawna Bharakda to our team! She will be taking on the role as our Lead for Training Content Development.
GOODBYE DORA BLACK
Goodbye and thank you to Dora Black We were all very sad to learn that Dora Black, psychiatrist and family therapist, born 2 July 1932, died on 16 December 2021. Dora was a founder member of IFT and remained involved with our work ever since. Her continued challenge “but what about the children?” in situations […]
Director Update January 2022
New Year: Keeping moving! I last updated you in September 2021 when we were ready to welcome the new trainees to the building. We had a great first term, with new trainees and new tutors, as well as welcoming old friends to our great new location. Our lovely lunch spot…..St. Dunstans in the East Inductions […]
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 […]
Couples and Sex: A Multi-Dimensional Perspective
Don’t miss the opportunity to work with Desa Markovic and her ground-breaking work on working with couples on sexual issues. Desa has developed a model of working that unites elements of psycho-sexual understandings and systemic approaches to enable therapists of all persuasions to be able to tackle this challenging issue. Please book your place for […]
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. […]
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 […]
Therapeutic Activism
Therapeutic Activism. Monday 11th October, 9:30 to 4:30, IFT Zoom Join Charlotte Burck, Gillian Hughes, Gwyn Daniel and Belinda Milani for this crucial workshop to keep psychotherapeutic knowledges and social justice approaches connected and find spaces in your own practice for therapeutic activism. Charlotte and Gillian will share what the Refugee Resilience Collective has learnt […]
Peter Stratton introduces our new lunchtime research seminars
Thursday 16th September 12:30 to 2pm. Peter Stratton, emeritus Professor of Family Therapy at Leeds University, kicks off our new season of lunchtime research seminars. Peter will ground his presentation in how research can be of great use in helping clients in our current political climate. He says, ‘outcome research can be thought of as […]
Building Communities of Practice
An invigorating morning with the Communities of Practice groups was held today at IFT. Participants and facilitators joined together to explore the learning and developments during the months since the creation of the COP in December 2020. People generously shared their ideas, experiences and hopes for the journey that has been and the journey(s) ahead. […]
Autumn CPD News
Happy September and welcome to the start of the autumn season CPD programme at IFT. This autumn we have a rich and varied programme of events, something for everyone! General news As previously announced our CPD offerings will be staying online for the rest of the year, whilst the Institute opens our new premises at […]
Communities of Practice Workshop
Hear Sonia Kalia, Beth Levy and Natalie Shoreman invite you to this exciting morning exploring the social graces in practice! This dynamic set of groups are joining together around aspects of social difference and understanding how systemic practice can grow and develop around these topics. This is a free workshop with an option to make […]
Judy Hildebrand’s obituary
Readers will remember that we posted news of the death of our colleague and long time friend of the Institute, Judy Hildebrand, some weeks ago. Judy’s obituary, written by Bebe Speed, appeared in Saturday’s Guardian. Here is the link. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/aug/01/judy-hildebrand-obituary?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other. Her contribution to the humanity and rigour of our systemic practices reverberates down generations of […]
CPD BIG news!
You might not have heard that from September our CPD programmes will be available to participants as recordings. This means that you can catch up on missed sessions if you for some reason you must miss one. This will give you the option to attend at your leisure. Just sign up! AFT members will have […]
BIG news from IFT CPD!
Recordings available from September! We are delighted to announce that we are now able to make our recorded CPD sessions available to participants. So if you sign up for a workshop, whether it is a single or multi-session workshop, and for any reason cannot attend, you will be able to access the recording! We hope […]
PATHS THROUGH MENTAL ILLNESS IN A PARENT: A FAMILY SYSTEMIC APPROACH
Before you head for the beach hear Alastair Campbell on the work of this stunning project. Paths Through Parental Illness in a Parent: a Family Systems Approach is unique in this country if not in the world. Alan Cooklin is joined by a number of experts by experience as well as professionals to explore the […]
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 […]
Services for Judy Hildebrand
Judy’s funeral service will be on Monday. Those who knew her and want to attend can do so following the link below. Service order for Judith Hildebrand k/a Judy 21-Jun-21 at 12:00 West – Golders Green https://watch.obitus.com user name: goja6266 password: 268755 Live Webcast Please send this username and password exactly as above to family […]
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 […]
Free book launch event: When They Came for Me, the Hidden Diary of an Apartheid Prisoner
John Schlapobersky is a training analyst, supervisor and teacher at the Institute of Group Analysis, London and Research Fellow, Birkbeck, University of London. His importance to IFT is his close relationship and collaboration with Robin Skynner, a founder of the Institute of Family Therapy. He is in private practice and has trained generations of group analysts, […]
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 […]
Judy Hildebrand
We were so saddened to learn of the death of Judy Hildebrand. Judy was one of the early pioneers who established IFT’s reputation for authenticity and humanity in practice. She was both challenging and nurturing for emerging practitioners. Judy said it like she felt it, like she believed it to be. She was the Clinical […]
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!
CPD -Summer Update
Easter is coming and spring has sprung. There is optimism in the air at IFT and many workshops to help you during the summer term and the lifting of lockdown restrictions. Have a look at what is on offer. Hendrix Hammond and Juma Woodhouse will start us off on Friday 23rd April with Systemic Work […]
Announcing a new MSc intake for 2021-2023
You may have come across the announcement from Rachel Watson, Director, informing you of a historical development at IFT of a yearly cohort for our MSc programme, commencing in September 2021! We are hopeful that going to a yearly intake will offer both choice and access to those of you considering training at this level. If […]
Julian Leff
We at IFT were so sorry to hear that Professor Julian Paul Leff, aged 82, died at home on Tuesday 23 February, 2021. Dr Leff had a huge impact on the adult mental health field and family therapy, being a pioneer in social psychiatry. He was an advocate of issues related to migration and the […]
Happy International Women’s Day!
At IFT we are proud to celebrate the women family therapists who spoke out against the status quo and gave voice to the unequal experience of many women in families. Many of those pioneers remain very influential and are on our reading lists, lecture on our courses and appear in our Continuing Professional Development programme. […]
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.
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.
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.
CPD News January 2021
All of us at IFT wish you a healthy and safe new year. Although the year is starting with a challenge we are hopeful that it is indeed the beginning of the end. Meanwhile we have a very full CPD programme to offer you for this winter and spring. We will shortly be posting our […]
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 click here.
Director Update November 2020
Director Update November 2020 It is such a privilege to work in IFT, where we are in conversation with so many different organisations also working hard to respond to families in the current climate, and extending their practice into new areas. Our recent conversations with our charity sector friends in Family Action for example have […]
November CPD update
Our CPD is now well established on the Zoom platform. Although of course we value the face to face experience, and miss being able to chat in the breaks and reconnect with old friends who work in other places, zoom has brought unexpected benefits. It is possible for people to join us from anywhere in […]
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 […]