EFPP

The EFPP was founded in 1991, during a period of profound political and social transformation in Europe, when increasing European integration created new opportunities for collaboration between professionals from different countries. The organisation was initiated by the British psychoanalyst and psychiatrist Brian Martindale, who, together with a group of colleagues, established a federation to unite the European psychoanalytic psychotherapy community. One of the main motivations was to safeguard the interests of psychoanalytic psychotherapy within a newly emerging European organisation that might otherwise have promoted legislative proposals incompatible with the principles of psychoanalytic psychotherapy. From the outset, one of the EFPP’s primary objectives was to create a shared European forum for the exchange of clinical, educational and scientific knowledge. This was particularly important for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, where psychoanalytic psychotherapy was developing following decades of political and ideological restrictions during the twentieth century. 

The successive Presidents of the EFPP have represented different European countries, reflecting the Federation’s international character: 

• Brian Martindale (United Kingdom) – 1991–1997  
• Serge Frisch (Luxembourg) – 1997–2003  
• Siv Boalt Boëthius (Sweden) – 2003–2007  
• Luc Moyson (Belgium) – 2007–2011  
• Anne Marie Schlöesser (Germany) – 2011–2019  
• María Eugenia Cid Rodríguez (Spain) – President since 2019  

The EFPP is a federation rather than an individual membership organisation. It brings together national psychoanalytic psychotherapy organisations and networks rather than individual psychotherapists. Each participating country may establish its own national network, which serves as the official structure representing that country within the EFPP. 

The Federation operates under its Constitution, originally adopted in 1991 and subsequently revised on several occasions. It is governed by the laws of England and Wales, and its official working language is English. 

The mission of the European Federation for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (EFPP) has always been to bring together psychoanalytic psychotherapy organisations across Europe to promote and expand access to psychoanalytic psychotherapy within its member countries. An equally important objective is to support the development of psychoanalytic psychotherapy training programmes in countries where such training has not previously been available.  The Federation also seeks to strengthen the recognition of the psychoanalytic approach, both at the level of the European Union and within individual member states.

* Several working groups operate within the EFPP:

• Training Working Group – develops and regularly reviews training standards, including recommendations regarding the required number of hours of theoretical seminars, clinical seminars and personal psychotherapy. Over the years, the PTPP Adult Section and the Child and Adolescent Section have drawn upon these standards when developing their own training programmes.  The developing Couples and Families Section (PIR), which is currently establishing its own training programme, actively participates in ongoing discussions concerning the standards and training requirements for psychoanalytic couples and family psychotherapists. 
• Research Working Group – promotes the development of research in psychoanalytic psychotherapy and examines the scientific evidence supporting the use of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, particularly in relation to other therapeutic approaches. 

Link to current research: EFPP Research – EFPP [https://efpp.org/resources/efpp-research/]

Each year, the EFPP awards a research prize for published research. The competition is open to all EFPP members. 

* EFPP e-Journal 

The EFPP publishes the EFPP e-Journal, a biannual online publication. Any member of the national organization may submit an article for consideration. If accepted following editorial review, the article may be published in the journal. Contributions may be written in the author’s native language.  Current issues are distributed to PTPP members through the Society’s newsletter. 

* EFPP Book Series 

The EFPP Monographs is the official book series of the European Federation for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, published in partnership with Routledge, one of the world’s leading publishers in psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health and the humanities. The series brings together volumes devoted to contemporary psychoanalytic psychotherapy and represents one of the principal ways in which the EFPP promotes professional dialogue, clinical exchange and theoretical reflection among psychoanalytic psychotherapists throughout Europe. Each volume focuses on a specific theme and includes contributions from authors representing a wide range of European countries. The series reflects the Federation’s commitment to fostering communication across national, cultural and professional boundaries, as well as between its four clinical sections: Adult Psychotherapy, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Couples and Family Psychotherapy, and Group Psychotherapy.  The Editor-in-Chief of the series is Cristina Călărășanu.

Link to the book series: EFPP Book Series – EFPP [https://efpp.org/resources/efpp-book-series/] 

* EFPP Conferences 

The EFPP provides opportunities for the exchange of ideas by organising scientific conferences. In its early years, each Section held its own annual conference, while a joint conference of the three Sections took place every four years. Over time, these initiatives were brought together into a more integrated conference programme.

• 2004 – Group Section Conference, Lisbon 
• 2005 – Adult Section Conference, Dresden 
• 2006 – Child and Adolescent Section Conference, Berlin 
• 2007 – Three Sections Conference, Copenhagen 
• 2008 – Group Section Conference, Prague 
• 2009 – Couple and Family Section Conference, Florence 

Following the establishment of the fourth Section – the Couple and Family Section – the conference schedule was revised to include joint conferences of different Sections.

• 2011 – Joint Conference of the Adult and Child & Adolescent Sections, Kraków 
• 2012 – Joint Conference of the Group and Couple & Family Sections, Athens 
• 2015 – Four Sections Conference, Berlin 
• 2018 – Joint Conference of the Group and Couple & Family Sections, Belgrade 
• 2024 – Four Sections Conference, Warsaw 

Each conference is organised by a Local Organising Committee working in close collaboration with the EFPP Board Conference Coordinator and the Scientific Committee.

The most recent Four Sections Conference, entitled “A Different World? Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and Relatedness in Stormy Times” took place in Warsaw. Many members of the PTPP played an active role in organising the event and contributed as presenters in lectures and workshops. Among them was Katarzyna Skrzypek, whose keynote lecture was one of the four main plenary presentations.

A distinctive feature of EFPP conferences is the Large Group, held after each plenary session, providing participants with a space to reflect collectively on the conference experience. Morning programmes also include Social Dreaming Matrix sessions, where participants share dreams and freely associate to explore the unconscious dynamics emerging within the conference community.

* Delegates’ Meetings

The EFPP Delegates’ Meeting is held annually alternating between an in-person meeting and an online format every other year. These meetings provide delegates from member countries with an opportunity to report on developments in psychoanalytic psychotherapy within their respective national contexts. The most recent meeting focused on Ukraine and on supporting psychotherapists working under the extreme conditions created by war. 

* International Infant Observation Workshops 

Infant Observation has long been a distinctive area of interest within the EFPP. In 2004, a dedicated working group was established to expand activity in this field. Its first initiative was the organisation of the First International Infant Observation Workshop, held in Athens on 9–10 December 2005, and since then Infant Observation has maintained a regular presence within the scientific programmes of EFPP conferences. The working group currently includes two representatives from Poland: Monika Jaroszyńska-Szymczuk and Monika Jakubowicz.  Subsequent International Infant Observation Workshops have been held in: Pisa, Italy (2008), Stockholm, Sweden (2010), Tallinn, Estonia (2013), Oslo, Norway (2019). These international workshops typically last two to three days and are dedicated to promoting the method of Infant Observation, its application within psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and its contribution to supporting child development.  The next International Infant Observation Workshop will take place in Warsaw in April 2027. 

*Large Groups 

One of the EFPP’s distinctive initiatives is the organisation of monthly online Large Groups, providing a shared space for reflection, dialogue and mutual support for all EFPP members.  Following the meeting held on 19 February 2026, the Large Group programme was temporarily suspended. It has since been replaced by Temporary Reflective Groups, which remain open both to previous Large Group participants and to new members wishing to join. 

A defining feature of the EFPP is its structure, which is organised around four autonomous clinical sections: 

1. Adult Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Section

The Section organizes regular delegate meetings (every 2-3 months) to discuss current issues relevant to individual national societies, and to organize joint scientific initiatives (including Study Days) and social initiatives (most recently, support programs addressing the current needs of psychotherapists in Ukraine). The current Chair of this Section is Gianfranco Buonfiglio from Italy.

As part of the Section’s activities, delegate meetings are held to exchange information on the situation in individual countries and to inform colleagues about interesting events open to EFPP members.

• Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Section

The Chair of the Section and Honorary Secretary of the EFPP is Odile Gaveriaux from France. The Section’s representative on the EFPP Council is Alix Vann-Nicollier from Switzerland.

The Section’s goal is to exchange clinical experiences and develop standards for working with young patients. This is achieved by organizing meetings for Section delegates, where clinical and organizational issues are discussed, and individual delegations present training standards in their own countries. The report of the Working Group on Training Regulation for 2025 was also discussed. Children & Adolescent Study Day is held annually in September.

• Couples and Family Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Section

The Chair of the PCFP Section and its representative on the EFPP Board is Cristina Călărășanu from Romania, with Michael Stasch from Germany serving as its deputy.

The Section’s goal is to foster international cooperation and exchange experiences and reflections on the theory and practice of psychoanalytic couple and family therapy. Delegates from individual countries meet on average every six weeks to work on joint initiatives, such as open lectures, an annual Study Day, and other educational events. The Section also develops training standards and leads discussions on clinical practice standards.

It is worth noting that our Society’s representative, Marta Łączyńska, presented her clinical material at the Study Day in November 2025. The panelists were two distinguished couple psychoanalysts: Mary Morgan, representing the object relations approach, and Elisabeth Palacios, associated with link theory.

The PCFP Section Study Day takes place annually on the last Friday in November and is open to all interested parties.

• Group Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Section

The Polish delegates to the Psychoanalytic Section of Group Psychotherapy are representatives of the Rasztów Institute of Group Analysis.

The Polish Society for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (PTPP) has been closely associated with the European Federation for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (EFPP) since the early stages of its development. In 2004, PTPP was granted full membership of the EFPP Adult Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Section. The Society joined the Child and Adolescent Section in 2006, initially as an observer member. Following the launch of the PTPP Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training Programme in 2013, the Section obtained full membership of the EFPP.  The Polish delegation to the Couples and Family Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Section became a full member of the EFPP in 2020.  The training standards for psychoanalytic psychotherapists working with adults, children and adolescents, and couples and families have all been developed in accordance with EFPP standards. In this respect, the EFPP has been one of the cornerstones upon which the contemporary identity and quality of psychoanalytic psychotherapy training in Poland have been built. 

Membership of the EFPP provides the PTPP with several important benefits: 

• maintaining high European standards of training and clinical practice, while contributing to the future development of psychoanalytic psychotherapy across Europe;  
• representing the interests of psychoanalytic psychotherapy at the European level;  
• benefiting from scientific support, as EFPP-sponsored research into the effectiveness of psychoanalytic psychotherapy provides valuable evidence for discussions concerning legislation and the place of psychotherapy within healthcare systems;  
• access to an international network for the exchange of knowledge and experience through conferences, lectures, Study Days, delegates’ meetings, the EFPP e-Journal (available to PTPP members through the Society’s newsletter), and the EFPP Monographs book series;  
• support and solidarity within the European psychoanalytic psychotherapy community, particularly for colleagues working under conditions of social crisis or armed conflict;  
• strengthening professional identity through participation in a broad European community of psychoanalytic psychotherapists, broadening clinical perspectives, and fostering sensitivity to social and cultural diversity.  

The benefits of membership are not always immediately visible, as they are realised over the long term. Nevertheless, it is through many years of collaboration with the EFPP that psychoanalytic psychotherapy in Poland has developed as part of a wider European professional community. The EFPP remains one of the foundations upon which this development has been built. 

Over the years, the PTPP has benefited from the Federation’s experience and support, both in matters relating to professional standards and in the development of the Society’s organisational structure. 

During more than twenty years of membership, the position of the PTPP within the EFPP has evolved significantly. We have progressed from being an organisation developing its training programmes in accordance with established European standards to becoming a mature organisation with recognised expertise, capable of supporting colleagues and developing psychoanalytic psychotherapy beyond Poland.

The PTPP has hosted two major EFPP conferences: Kraków (2011)  and Warsaw (2024) .Both conferences made an important contribution to the professional development of the Polish psychoanalytic psychotherapy community while also providing tangible financial benefits for the Society. 

Relations between the PTPP and the EFPP have been built over many years through the active participation of Polish delegates in EFPP meetings. During the EFPP Delegates’ meetings, common issues concerning the associated associations are discussed, such as, for example, legal regulations regarding psychotherapy adopted in given countries or training and supervision standards and their adaptation to ongoing changes.

In addition to the annual Delegates’ Meeting, delegates from each clinical section participate several times a year in regular online meetings organised by their respective Sections. 

• PTPP Delegates to the Adult Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Section 
  
  
  • Aleksandra Pilinow (2004-2006 ) 
  
  
  • Anna Maroszek (2006-2019) 
  
  
  • Katarzyna Skrzypek (2009-2017) 
  
  
  • Hanna Lisowska (2018-2025) 
  
  
  • Edyta Fira-Krempa (since 2019) 
  
  
  • Marta Bierć (since 2025)
  
  
  • Additionally, Danuta Golec, president of PTPP in 2006-2010, played an important role in relations with PTPP and EFPP
  
  
• PTPP Delegates to the Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Section
  
  
  • Monika Jakubowicz (2006–2025)  
  
  
  • Anna Chrostowska-Buzun (since 2017)  
  
  
  • Agnieszka Ryczko-Ike (since 2025)  
  
  
• PTPP Delegates to the Couples and Family Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Section 
  
  
  • Olga Kriegelewicz-Czarnecka (2021–2022)
  
  
  • Iwa Magryta-Wojda (since 2023) 
  
  
  • Marta Łączyńska (2024-2026)
  
  
  • Patrycja Kania (since 2026)
  
   

The EFPP organizes numerous events for its members, delegates, and psychotherapists worldwide.

Current EFPP events can be found on the website (https://efpp.org) and on the Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093806427298]

* OPEN EVENTS

1. Four Sections Conference

This large event, open to psychotherapists from many countries, is held every four years. The last Four Sections Conference took place in Warsaw in 2024.

2. International Infant Observation Workshop

This event is held annually. It will take place in Warsaw on April 9–11. In 2027, the 6th International Workshop on Infant Observation will be held, entitled: “Infant Observation Using the Ester Bick Method and Its Applications.”

3. Study Days

Each Section organizes a Study Day annually, an open online meeting where a clinical example serves as a basis for participants to share their thoughts and reflections. This is a space for professional dialogue. Each meeting offers the opportunity to familiarize themselves with clinical material, enrich their practice, and engage in inspiring discussions.

Attendance is free for delegates of the given Section. For other participants, this is a paid event.

4. Open Lectures

In 2026, the Couples and Families Section invites you to a series of open lectures on psychoanalytic couple and family therapy.

One can register for a single lecture (EUR 40) or register in advance for all four lectures, for a total cost of EUR 120.

5. Large Groups

Monthly Thursday meetings for all EFPP members are held on the Zoom platform at 8:00 PM. As of February 2026, these meetings have been replaced by temporary reflection groups to ensure continued exchange of ideas and support for psychotherapists from different countries, and even continents, during these challenging times. The facilitators of the new private meetings are: Ruthie Duek from Israel (ruthduek@gmail.com), Miranda Feuchtwang from the UK (miranda.feuchtwang@gmail.com), and John Rhead from the USA (jrheadphd@gmail.com).

* EVENTS FOR DELEGATES

The EFPP Biennial Delegates Meeting and Section Meetings

EFPP delegates are required to attend closed meetings held every few weeks or months within their respective sections. Once a year, a meeting of all EFPP delegates takes place, every two years the meeting takes place in a European city, and every other year it takes place online.