Looking back at all the choices, achievements, crises and transitions that have marked the Laboratory’s history, it is clear that its greatest success and uniqueness lies in being a space open to people and ideas, one that has always welcomed diversity and pluralism, and has grown into a burgeoning hub for creativity, innovation and the personal and professional development of mental health practitioners.<\/p>\n
The seeds that it sowed over three decades ago grew into tall and sturdy trees, bearing fruit and producing new seeds that with time spread in all directions and continue to flourish.<\/p>\n
At today’s 30-year landmark, the Laboratory constitutes a vibrant network of people and ideas that constantly expands its horizons.<\/p>\n
In attempting to provide an overview of the Laboratory’s 30-year journey, we quickly stumbled upon the impossibility of portraying its multifaceted activity in numbers.<\/p>\n
Perhaps because its founder Charis Katakis, when leaving the Athenian Institute of Anthropos and her teachers and pioneers of systemic thought George and Vasso Vassiliou, she forged a pathway of openness, committed to building networks of people, ideas and synergies.<\/p>\n
How many professionals have trained at the Laboratory to become mental health counsellors and psychotherapists?<\/p>\n
How many people have made use of its counselling and psychotherapy services?<\/p>\n
How many have attended the workshops, seminars, events and conferences organised within and outside its grounds?<\/p>\n
How many have read the more than 30 books in our popular series Human Systems, or the publications and interviews of our associates?<\/p>\n
In line with its synthetic approach and outward scope, in its 30-year history, the Laboratory often took the initiative to organise open events with internationally renowned scholars from the field of systemic family therapy and other areas of humanities and social science.\u00a0 Among them have featured Harlene Anderson, Mony Elkaim, Kenneth\u00a0J. Gergen, Lynn Hoffman, Frank Pittman, Ernest Rossi, Dan Siegel, Robin Skynner, Helm Stierlin, Paul Wachtel.<\/p>\n<\/div>
The trajectory began prior to 1983, on the street of Irodou Attikou in central Athens. This is where the first group of associates came together and formed the core team that would later set up the Laboratory for the Study of Human Relations. Among the people collaborating with Charis Katakis in those early years were Anna Voulgaraki, Manouela Plataki, Evi Psalti and others, who, three decades later remain involved, in various ways and roles, with the activities of the Laboratory.<\/p>\n
In 1983, Charis Katakis and a team from her first cohort of trainees decide to set up the Laboratory for the Study of Human Relations. It consisted of two main divisions: the training of mental health professionals and a clinical service providing counselling and psychotherapy to the public. Charis Katakis herself initially undertook the coordination of the academic component of the training program. Rena Konstantakaki and Gina Moraki engaged exclusively with the clinical service, Tessa Prattou specialized additionally in child and adolescent intervention and in art therapy, and Malvina Tsounaki in therapeutic assessment and diagnosis. Later, Alia Samara also joined the team. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> From 1983 to 1989<\/strong>, from its headquarters in an apartment in Chalandri, that first core team of associates sows the seeds that led to the Laboratory’s creative and long-lasting journey. Very soon, around the founding team gather colleagues and trainees who remain close companions of the Laboratory to this day, people like Peggy Athiniotou, Anna Voulgaraki, Eleni Nina, Vivian Griva, Aglaia Kotsaki and Evi Psalti.<\/p>\n The first official teaching team on the\u00a0 Systemic and Family Therapy Training Course was composed of Charis Katakis, Peggy Athiniotou, and Eleni Nina.<\/p>\n Since its inception, the Laboratory has consistently demonstrated its openness and outward scope by organizing or actively participating in seminars and workshops, and by launching the book series Human Systems in collaboration with KEDROS publishing house, through which 9 books were published.<\/p>\n In 1984, Charis Katakis\u2019 first book, The Three Identities of the Greek Family<\/em> is published and included in the series Human Systems. Today, three decades later, this book remains an integral part of the reading lists of all academic and vocational courses for mental health professionals in Greece.<\/p>\n In 1989, the Laboratory moves to Marousi, in the building where it remained for 28 years, until August 2017.<\/p>\n In 1992, LSHR’s founding members Rena Konstantaki, Gina Moraki, Tessa Prattou and Malvina Tsounaki depart from the Laboratory to spread, each in her own way, the seeds that took root and sprouted inside the Laboratory.<\/p>\n<\/div> Peggy Athiniotou and Eleni Nina take over in the clinical and educational sectors, and new colleagues join in, all graduates of LSHR: Marios Kirritopoulos, Katerina Kotsirilou, Maria Pyrounaki-Lyonis, Patrick Thomassin, Smaro Markou, Manolis Tsagarakis and Giorgos Economou.<\/p>\n In 1993, to mark the 10th anniversary since its founding, the LSHR organizes a one-day conference at the amphitheatre of Moraitis School in Athens. The topic of the conference is “Systemic Thought and Mental Health” and the Laboratory’s core associates conduct workshops and presentations.<\/p>\n In 1995, the children and adolescent intervention program is re-opened and directed by Giota Antoniou and Katerina Kotsirilou. Its scope widens to include counselling and psychotherapy groups for adolescents, parent counselling, and training courses for professionals working with children and adolescents with and without learning difficulties.<\/p>\n That same year (1995), Maria Pyrounaki-Lyonis launches the short (one-year or two-year) interdisciplinary courses on Introduction to Systemic Thought and<\/em> Applications in the Workplace,<\/em> that remain part of LSHR\u2019s activities to this day.<\/p>\n<\/div> The book series Human Systems incorporates the systemic children\u2019s tale \u00abThe Adventures of Loretta Mouse\u00bb by Alex Duve, adapted and translated by Evi Psalti, whose original children’s fables Paramithotragouda <\/em>are also published through the series. Both works are based on systemic concepts and have inspired theatrical productions, workshops for professionals, and other events.<\/p>\n In 1995, Charis Katakis\u2019 second book The Purple Liquid<\/em> is published by Ellinika Grammata. In it, she unfolds the two central theories she developed: “The Self-Referential Conceptual System” and the “Stages of Psychotherapy”.<\/p>\n Collaboration with the publishing house ELLINIKA GRAMMATA continues until the company closed in 2010. This partnership saw the publication of many works by Greek and foreign authors, which were subsequently incorporated in the long list of works published under the Laboratory\u2019s Human Systems Series.<\/p>\n In 1996, the Laboratory organises the 8th World Congress of the International Family Therapy Association (IFTA)\u00a0on “Global Dialogue: Diversity and Unity” in Athens, with satellite symposia in Macedonia, Santorini, and Crete. Once again, the contribution of LSHR\u2019s expanding network of associates through keynote addresses, presentations and workshops is substantial.<\/p>\n That same year (1996), the Greek Organization Against Drugs (OKANA) commissioned the Laboratory to design, organise and implement the “Three-Year Program for the Prevention of Substance Abuse and the Promotion of Health” in the regions of West Attica and Epirus (1996-1999).<\/p>\n Around that time the Laboratory becomes affiliated with the European Family Therapy Association (EFTA) and the International Family Therapy Association (IFTA). Its continuously expanding network of partners and associates is increasingly active in local and international events and conferences.<\/p>\n LSHR\u2019s President Charis Katakis is elected to serve on EFTA\u2019s governing board. She is awarded the title of Approved Supervisor at the founders’ level by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), thereby becoming one of the first certified family therapy supervisors in Europe.<\/p>\n In 1997, Peggy Athiniotou and Eleni Nina withdraw from the Laboratory smoothly and with exemplary professionalism, leaving the rest of the team at the helm until their departure in 1998.<\/p>\n More seeds are transplanted and the spreading continues.<\/p>\n In the coming years, new colleagues join the educational and therapy teams.<\/p>\n<\/div>1992 – 1999: \u00a0Building and Spreading<\/h2><\/div>