Doing difference differently

Our collaborative seminar brought systemic practitioners together for a day of rich discussion, under the guidance of our faculty and renowned guest speakers.

On Thursday 27 June, we hosted ‘Doing difference differently’, a ground-breaking, collaborative seminar for systemic practitioners, at the Tavistock Centre in London.

Open to systemic psychotherapists, researchers and ethnographers, the free event was designed to foster innovative thinking and transformative approaches within the fields of systemic therapy and social anthropology.

Through a series of presentations and interactive dialogues, the seminar explored new and experimental areas within systemic enquiry and practice. Course facilitator and presenter, Julia Jude, explained: “The event created a space for anthropology, systemic, and decolonial ideas to meet, pause, linger, make connections, and correspond. The goal was to explore the applications of these ideas, encouraging participants to think beyond traditional boundaries and embrace innovative methodologies.”

The seminar also offered an in-depth look at our celebrated professional doctorate in Advanced practice and research: systemic psychotherapy (M10). As the longest standing systemic doctorate in the UK, this programme has a rich history of pioneering advanced practices and research in this area. Attendees gained insights into the programme’s unique approach and the impactful work of its graduates and faculty.

Central to the seminar’s theme of “Doing difference differently” was the application of philosophical ideas to explore various dimensions of difference – with an array of distinguished speakers addressing aspects of this topic:

• David Mosse, Professor of Social Anthropology at SOAS University of London, and Director of the new Centre for Anthropology and Mental Health Research in Action (CAMHRA)
• Inga-Britt Krause, Social Anthropologist, Consultant Systemic Psychotherapist and M10 course lead
• Julia Jude, Systemic Psychotherapist, Supervisor, Trainer, Filmmaker and M10 lecturer
• Keir Martin, Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Oslo
• Maria Esther Cavagnis, Director of Studies at the Family Therapy Foundation, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Nikita Simpson, Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at SOAS, University of London, and the Co-Director of the new Centre for Anthropology and Mental Health Research in Action (CAMHRA)
• Pietro Barbetta, Clinical Director of the International School of Systemic Therapy, Bergamo, Italy
• Umberta Telfener, President of the European Family Therapy Association, and in private practice in Italy.

Reflecting on the day, M10 course lead and event organiser, Britt Krause, concluded: “This seminar represented a unique opportunity to expand both our theoretical and practical horizons – ultimately contributing to the evolution of systemic therapy and social anthropology. I am grateful to all our speakers and participants.”