Dear friends and colleagues

We know that COVID 19 has thrown a wrench into the world of conferences and broader than that, a wrench into the lives of all mankind. It is for this reason that we have decided to hold a completely online/virtual meeting this year.

We are disappointed that we not be able to join together in Athens, Greece as planned. But, we believe meeting online for 2021 is the safest, most inclusive option. We also realize that an online format will likely facilitate presentations by students who have had financial considerations, professionals who have been unable to attend in the past, and those who likely have to or are unable to come from afar for any number of reasons. We are looking forward to seeing many of you in this new virtual format.

With honour and pleasure we invite you to the “Creativity and Social Responsibility” – The 10th Conference of the European Association for Integrative Psychotherapy.

The topic of conference is inspired of how creativity is part of our integrative psychotherapy process. As we being in the healing professions can be very rewarding, but it can also be exhausting and draining. We give so much to others and are often faced with difficult stories and situations, leading to burn out and compassion fatique. In giving so much to others, most healing professionals do not prioritize their own self-care. But self-care is essential if we want to be able to continue helping others, as well as have lives of passion, joy, fulfillment and self-actualization.

In addition, our psychotherapeutic work is not in vacuum. Our psychotherapeutic work is influenced by a social, political, ecological, and economic context. Or even a philosophical dimension? We do have to recognize the impact of the political dimension on the client-therapist relationship; developing ideas about how social, economic, political, ecological and cultural issues can be integrated into theory and practice, Identifying and challenging adverse discrimination at all levels within and beyond our profession, generating action, launching campaigns, and seeking to influence political processes.

With the above questions and perhaps many more, we expect a three day conference to answer questions, to introduce new approaches, to develop panels discussing similar topics from different angles, to offer experiential workshops for making theory direct practice, etc.

A conference open to a dialogue between different approaches ranging from art to dreams, from philosophy to qualitative research, relational approaches and how they influence our decisions as therapists.

How leading psychotherapists and practitioners can see as the gain of psychotherapy integration in current psychotherapy practice, research and training.

For the local organizing committee
Dr Panos Asimakis
Former president, EAIP,
Director, Athens Synthesis Centre