[The following opnel letter was published by members of the Society for Psychotherapy Reseach (SPR) on 2 March 2016 in The Independent expressing opposition to the organization`s plans to hold its next annual conference in Jerusalem.]
We, psychotherapists, researchers and other mental health professionals, write to express our dismay at the decision of the Society for Psychotherapy Research (SPR) to hold its next international conference in Jerusalem.
Israel’s policies in the Occupied Territories, including house demolitions, movement restrictions and imprisonment without trial, cause insecurity, despair, helplessness and humiliation. They create family tension and widespread traumatisation, and disrupt child attachment. The calamitous impact of Israel’s occupation on the psychological health of the Palestinians is well documented.
This conference would be taking place a short walking distance from neighbourhoods where Palestinians are currently being dispossessed of their homes to make way for Israeli settlements, one among many strategies that pose a threat to their very survival in Jerusalem. SPR’s collective denial – or indifference –is evident in the conference publicity published on its website. Jerusalem is here pictured as “a city suspended between heaven and earth, East and West, past and present – parallel universes of flowing caftans and trendy coffee shops”.
We are shocked that, replying to concerns already raised, the organisers consider it adequate to promise to assist Palestinian psychotherapy researchers to attend the conference. This may ease SPR consciences but it is as nothing weighed against the political message they will be sending by meeting in this beleaguered city.
SPR’s name ought to be synonymous with intellectual honesty, independence, and a courageous resolve to deal with the truth. Hence we call for the conference to be moved to another venue, following the lead given by the World Association of Infant Mental Health in similar circumstances.
Andrew Samuels, Professor of analytical psychology, University of Essex; former chair, UK Council for Psychotherapy
Rita Giacaman, Professor of public health, Birzeit University, West Bank, Occupied Palestine
Samah Jabr, Psychiatrist, psychotherapist, Jerusalem
Yasser Abu Jamei, Psychiatrist, director-general, Gaza Community Mental Health Programme
Martin Kemp, Psychoanalyst, UK-Palestine Mental Health Network, UK
Ruchama Marton, Psychiatrist, founder Physicians for Human Rights-Israel
Susie Orbach, Psychoanalyst, UK
Khader Rasras, Executive director, Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, Ramallah Palestine
Jessica Benjamin, psychoanalyst, USA
Steven Botticelli, psychoanalyst, USA
Ann D’Ercole, psychoanalyst, USA
Rita Giacaman, professor of public health, Birzeit University, West Bank, Occupied Palestine
Irwin Z Hoffman, psychologist-psychoanalyst, USA
Nancy Caro Hollander, psychoanalyst, USA
Samah Jabr, psychiatrist/psychotherapist, Jerusalem
Yasser Abu Jamei, psychiatrist, Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, Palestine
Martin Kemp, UK-Palestine Mental Health Network, psychoanalyst, UK
Lynne Layton, psychoanalyst, USA
Ruchama Marton,psychiatrist, founder Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, Israel
Susie Orbach, psychoanalyst, UK
Khader Rasras, director, Ramallah Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, Palestine
Andrew Samuels, professor of analytical psychology, University of Essex, UK
Stephen Soldz, psychoanalyst, co-founder, Coalition for an Ethical Psychology, USA
Arwa Aamiry clinical psychologist, Jordan
Ragnhild Aarrestad psychiatrist, Psychiatric Clinic Hospital, Telemark, Norway<
Avigail Abarbanel, psychotherapist, Scotland
Mona AbuHamda, clinical psychologist, USA
Lana M. Ackaway, psychoanalyst, USA
Mary Adams psychoanalyst, UK
Yasser Ad-Dab’bagh, child and adolescent psychiatrist/psychoanalyst, Saudi Arabia and Canada
Walid A. Afifi, professor of communication studies, University of Iowa, USA
Khaldoon Ahmed, consultant psychiatrist, UK
Suzan Akasha, clinical psychologist, Israel
Rotimi Akinsete, counsellor, UK
Aida Alayarian, psychotherapist, Refugee Therapy Centre, UK
Hasanen Al-Taiar, psychiatrist, UK
Mohamed Altawil, clinical pychologist, Director, Palestine Trauma Centre, Palestine/UK
Shazad Amin, consultant psychiatrist, UK
Murad Amro, clinical psychologist, Palestine Counselling Centre East Jerusalem/Occupied Palestine
Zeina Amro, former Research Assistant at Birzeit University- Institute of Community and Public Health Palestine/ UK
Riad Arar, social worker/psychologist, Palestine
Francis Atkinson, psychotherapist, UK
Paul Atkinson, psychotherapist, UK
Ala Abu Ayash, psychosocial supervisor, East Jerusalem YMCA, Palestine
Richard Bagnall-Oakeley, psychotherapist, UK
Teresa Bailey, consultant child psychotherapist, UK
Aaron Balick, psychotherapist, UK
Lucinda Ballantyne, psychoanalyst, USA
Lisa Baraitser, reader in psychosocial studies, Birkbeck, University of London, UK
James Barrett psychotherapist, UK
Naheel Bazbazat women’s co-ordinator, YMCA Jerusalem, Palestine
David Bell, psychotherapist, UK
Deborah Berger, psychotherapist, UK
Elizabeth Berger, child psychiatrist, USA
Dana-Jane Blair, psychoanalytic psychotherapist, Scotland
Jon Blend, psychotherapist, UK
Jacqueline Blyth, clinical psychologist, UK
Trudy Bond, psychologist, USA
Liz Bondi professor of counselling and psychotherapy, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
Ghislaine Boulanger, psychologist/psychoanalyst, USA
Fanny Brewster, Jungian analyst, USA
Mohammed O. Brighieth, clinical psychologist/psychotherapist, founder and director, Center for Growth and Human Development, Palestine
Cynthia Brink, clinical social worker/psychoanalyst, USA
Robin Gordon Brown, psychoanalytic psychotherapist, UK
Steve Burchell, psychotherapist, UK
Erica Burman, professor of education, University of Manchester, group analyst, UK
Christabel Butler, psychotherapeutic counsellor, UK
Jim Byrne, counsellor, UK
Regina Burattin, care manager/pedagogist, UK/Italy
George Bunting, family therapist, UK
Julia Carne, psychoanalyst, UK
Stefano Carta, Jungian analyst, professor of psychology, University of Cagliari, Italy
Jeffre Phillip Chevreunt, clinical psychologist/psychoanalyst, USA
Miles Clapham, consultant psychiatrist in child and adolescent mental health, UK
Isabel Clarke, consultant clinical psychologist, UK
Abigail Collins, counsellor, USA
Despina Constandinides, Clinical Psychologist Palestine
Jacqueline Conway, psychotherapist, UK
Sarah Cooke, Jungian psychoanalyst, UK
Sue Cowan-Jenssen, psychotherapist, UK
Charles Crowley, psychiatric technician, USA
Brenda Crowther, psychotherapist, UK
Philip Cushman, psychologist, professor, Antioch University, USA
Nadia Taysir Dabbagh, consultant child and adult psychiatrist, UK
Alison Dale, psychodynamic psychotherapist, UK
Deanna Dalrymple-Allen, psychotherapist, UK
Emily Damron, clinical social worker, USA
M. Fakhry Davids, psychoanalyst, UK
Sonia Dettman, clinical social worker, USA
Aisha Dixon-Peters, clinical-community psychologist, USA
Danielle Douglas, psychotherapist, Belgium
Fabrice Olivier Dubosc, psychotherapist/clinical psychologist, Italy
Moira Duckworth, psychotherapist, UK
Simon Duncan, psychotherapist, UK
Peter T. Dunlap, clinical psychologist, USA
Gina Dunstan, Jungian analyst, UK
Christine van Duuren, psychiatrist/psychotherapist, UK
John R. Van Eenwyk, clinical director, International Trauma Treatment Program, USA
Liz Edwards, psychotherapist, UK
R. Danielle Egan, professor, St. Lawrence University, USA
Luise Eichenbaum, Women’s Therapy Centre Institute, USA
Hazel Elliott, psychotherapist, UK
Eugene Ellis director, Black and Asian Therapist Network, UK
Mabrouka Evans, psychological therapist, UK
Rebecca Fadil, clinical social worker, USA
Ida Fairbairn, Jungian analyst, UK
Ruth Fallenbaum, psychologist/psychotherapist, USA
Hassan Faraj, clinical psychologist, Palestinian Counselling Centre, East Jerusalem, Palestine
Juliana Farha, psychotherapy student, UK
Annette Feld-Groag, psychoanalyst, Israel
Brian Fenton, psychotherapist, UK
Ruth Finar, psychotherapist, UK
Linda Finlay, psychotherapist, UK
Diane Fletcher, psychologist, USA
John Fletcher, psychotherapist, UK
Jane Dianne Flint, psychotherapist, UK
Sukey Fontelieu, psychotherapist, USA
Heather Formaini, Jungian analyst, Italy
Lynn Alicia Franco, Jungian psychoanalyst, USA
Laura Fulcher, child and adolescent psychotherapist, UK
Leslie Gardner, visiting fellow, Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex, UK
Jill Gentile, psychologist/psychoanalyst, USA
Katie Gentile, psychologist/psychoanalyst, professor, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, USA
Yoad Ghanadry, clinical psychologist, Palestinian Counseling Centre, East Jerusalem, Palestine
Lynne Giles, psychotherapist, UK
Jaleh Gitiforoz, psychotherapist, UK
Mayte Gómez, counsellor Spain/Canada
Roger Gordon, psychotherapist (retired), UK
Liz Grant, Jungian analyst, UK
Colin James Green, emeritus professor of surgery, UCL, UK
Ramon Greenberg, psychiatrist, USA
Zeyn Winston Green-Thompson, consultant psychiatrist, UK
Erika Gsell, psychoanalytic psychotherapist, Italy
Sapna Gupta, psychiatrist, UK
Marc Gurvitch, psychiatric nurse, USA
Susan Gutwill, psychoanalyst, USA
Margaret L. Hainer, psychotherapist, USA
Andy Halewood, chartered psychologist, senior lecturer in counselling psychology, University of the West of England UK
Cerdic Hall, nurse consultant, UK
Weeam Hammoudeh, researcher affiliated to Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, Palestine
William Hansen, nurse, Jungian analyst in training, former Capt. USAF, USA
Joan Rothchild Hardin, psychologist, USA
David Harrold, Palestine Trauma Centre, UK
Jenny Heinz, psychotherapist USA
Deborah Hellerstein, psychotherapist, USA
Matthew Henson, existential therapist, Ireland
Jenny Heron, counsellor, UK
Gottfried M. Heuer, Jungian analyst, Germany/UK
Alison Hill, registered mental nurse, UK
Scott J. Hill, International Association for Jungian Studies, Sweden/USA
Paul Hoggett, psychotherapist, emeritus professor of social policy, UWE, UK
Phyllis Holmes, counsellor, UK
Carl F. Hoppe, psychoanalyst, USA
Jonathan House, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, USA
Philip V. Hull, psychologist, U.S.A.
Scott William Hyder, Jungian analyst, Switzerland/USA
David Ingleby, professor, Centre for Social Science and Global Health , University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Daniela Iorio, Jungian analyst, Italy
Maria Iturri, psychotherapist, UK
Merna Jaraiseh, psycho-social worker, Jerusalem
Adib Jarrar, psychotherapist/clinical psychologist, Palestine
Salwa Jayyusi, Psychodynamic Psychotherapist UK
Michael P. Jenkins, psychotherapist/psychoanalyst, USA
Robert Jenkins, psychotherapist (retired), UK
Noel M. Jette, clinical social worker, USA
Riva Joffe, psychotherapist, UK
Ruth E. Jones, psychotherapist, UK
Michele Julien, psychoanalyst, UK
Constance Kaine, psychotherapist (retired), UK
Desmond J. Kennedy, psychotherapist, UK
Ian B. Kerr, consultant medical psychotherapist, UK
Lama Khouri, psychoanalyst, USA
Emilija Kiehl, Jungian analyst, UK
Thomas B. Kirsch Jungian analyst, USA
Laura Kogel, Women’s Therapy Centre Institute, USA
Deborah Kory, psychologist, United States
Lydia Khuri, psychologist, USA
Elana Lakh, art psychotherapist, Israel
Jody Leader, clinical psychologist, USA
John Lees, psychotherapist, senior lecturer in mental health, University of Leeds, UK
Ronnie Lesser, psychoanalyst, USA
Hilary Lester, Jungian psychoanalyst, UK
Susanne Levin, psychotherapist, Sweden/UK
Judy A. Levitz, clinical psychologist, USA
Maggie Lomax, counsellor, UK
Michael Losoff, psychologist, USA
David Lotto, psychoanalyst, USA
Julian Lousada, psychoanalyst, UK
Frank Lowe, consultant social worker and psychoanalytic psychotherapist, London UK
Sissy Lykou, psychotherapist, senior lecturer in dance movement psychotherapy, University of Edge Hill, UK
Anna Lyons-Roost, Jungian analyst, USA
Lorna Marchant, honorary fellow, British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, UK
Eamonn Marshall, psychotherapist, UK
J. Colby Martin, clinical psychologist, USA
Carola Mathers, Jungian analyst, UK
Ian McCabe, psychologist, Ireland
Kathleen McCreery, counsellor, Ireland
Daniel McQueen, consultant psychiatrist, UK
Afaf Mahfouz, psychoanalyst, USA
Janet de Merode, psychologist, Belgium/USA
Bozena Merrick, psychotherapist, UK
Julia Miles, psychotherapist, UK
Beatrice Millar, psychotherapist, UK
Luke Mitcheson, consultant clinical psychologist, UK
Leigh Morgan, psychodynamic psychotherapist, UK
Stuart Morgan-Ayrs, psychoanalyst, Scotland
David Murphy, psychotherapist, senior lecturer in person-centred experiential counselling & psychotherapy, University of Nottingham, UK
Katherine Murphy, psychotherapist, New Zealand/UK
Nadine Obeid, clinical psychologist, USA
Els van Ooijen, psychotherapist, Holland/UK
Ian Parker, psychoanalyst, professor of management, University of Leicester, UK
Eva Pattis, clinical psychologist/Jungian psychoanalyst, Italy
Dharma Paul, psychotherapist, UK
Roderick Peters, Jungian analyst, UK
Susan Phillips, psychologist, USA
Eliana Pinto, consultant psychoanalytic psychotherapist, retired UK
Rachel Pollard, psychotherapist, UK
Stephen Portugues, psychoanalyst, USA
Gillian Proctor, assistant professor in counselling, Nottingham University, UK
David Quarmby, psychotherapist, UK
Tamara Qumseya, PhD candidate, Victoria University of Wellington, Palestine
Issa Rabadi, social worker, Palestine
Nadia Ramzy, psychoanalyst, USA
Dermot Reilly, psychotherapist, UK
Paul Reynolds, psychologist/psychotherapist, USA
Gavin Robinson, counsellor, UK
Eleanor Roffman, professor emerita of counseling and psychology, Lesley University, USA
Voytek Rogowski, psychotherapist, UK
Amanda Root, student of psychotherapy Birkbeck, University of London, UK
Anna Rose, psychotherapist, UK
Steven Rose, emeritus professor of neuroscience, Open University, UK
Cathy Rostas, psychotherapist, UK
Terry Chen Rothchild, clinical social worker, USA
Samantha Russell-Small, psychotherapist, UK
Uta Saatz, psychotherapist, UK
Noha Sadek psychiatrist, USA,
Rakhshanda Saleem, psychologist, USA
Anna Maria Sassone, Jungian analyst, Italy
David Sanders, emeritus professor, school of public health, University of the Western Cape South Africa
Nicola Saunders, psychoanalytic psychotherapist UK
Nabil Sayed-Ahmad, Beiruti psychiatrist, Spain
Christopher Scanlon, consultant psychotherapist, visiting professor of psychosocial studies, University of East London, UK
Leslie Scarth, child psychiatrist (retired), UK
Polly Scarvalone, psychoanalyst/psychologist, USA
Maggie Schaedel, consultant psychoanalytic psychotherapist, UK
Marjorie Scheer, psychotherapist, USA
James Schindler-Ord, psychotherapist, UK
Christine Schmidt, clinical social worker, USA
Erica Schoenberg, psychologist/psychoanalyst, USA
Lynne Segal, professor of psychosocial studies, Birkbeck University of London, UK
Mahmud Sehwail, consultant psychiatrist, president and founder, RamallahTreatment and Rehabilitation Center, Palestine
Arianne Shahvisi, lecturer in ethics and medical humanities, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, UK
Alice Shaw, psychoanalyst, USA
Darian Shaw, counsellor, USA
Lara Sheehi, professional lecturer of clinical psychology; George Washington University, USA
Guy Shennan, solution based therapist, UK
Herbert Schreier, psychiatrist, USA
Maureen Sheehan, psychotherapist, UK
Brian Simpson, counsellor, UK
David Sperlinger, clinical psychologist, UK
Yara Steel, psychotherapis, UK
Elizabeth C. Stevenson, Jungian analyst, USA
Martin Stone, Jungian analyst, UK
Derek Summerfield, psychiatrist, UK
Bonita Sutin, clinical social worker, USA
Lynda Tait chartered scientist/psychologist, UK
Yael Tal-Barzilai, clinical psychologist, Israel
Georgios Taxidis, counsellor/psychotherapist, UK
Philip Thomas, former professor, Institute of Philosophy, Diversity & Mental Health, University of Central Lancashire, consultant psychiatrist, UK
Agnes Jean Thomson, Jungian analyst (retired), UK
William Thomson, associate professor emeritus, Dept. of Behavioral Sciences, University of Michigan, psychologist, USA
Ellen Tibby, psychologist, USA
Jennifer Tolleson, clinical social worker/psychotherapist, USA
Nick Totton, psychotherapist and trainer, former chair of Psychotherapists and Counsellors for Social Responsibility, UK
James Traub, psychoanalyst, USA
David Trimble, psychologist, USA
Cathy Troupp, child and adolescent psychotherapist, UK
Peter Trower, professor, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK
Isobel Urquhart, psychoanalytic psychotherapist, bye-fellow, Homerton College, University of Cambridge, UK
Alan G. Vaughan, professor of psychology, Saybrook University, USA
Cristian Mauricio Vilches Guerra, psychologist, Chile
Mara Sanadi Wagner, psychoanalyst, USA
Imran Waheed, consultant psychiatrist, UK
Tracy Wallach, LICSW, Clinical Social Worker, Professor, U Mass Boston, Boston, MA, USA
Revd Dr. Sue Walrond-Skinner, Family Therapist Association for Family Therapy UK
Julie Ward, MEP, European Parliament Mental Health Ambassador UK
Mary Watkins, Professor, Community Psychology/Liberation Psychology/Ecopsychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpinteria, CA USA
Martin Weegmann, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Group Analyst UK
Jeremy Weinstein, Psychotherapist and Supervisor UKCP UK
Joel Weishaus, Artist-in-Residence and Lecturer Pacifica Graduate Institute, Cal. USA
Tina Weishaus, Clinical Psychiatric Nurse Private Practice, USA
Tom Wengraf, ex- Senior Lecturer in Social research Methods, Middlesex University Sociological Methodology Consultant UK
Bill White, Clinical Psychologist UK
Ruth Williams, Jungian Analyst CAP, AJA, UKCP UK
Stefania Williams, Psychotherapist/Counsellor, UK
Susan L. Williams, Clinical Psychologist USA
Everard Jacob Windgassen, Consultant Psychiatrist, latterly in Private Practice, UK
Naomi Woodspring, Research Fellow, Bristol Ageing Better, University of the West of England UK
Adrian Worrall, Head, The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Centre for Quality Improvement, London, UK
Bernadette Wren, Consultant Clinical Psychologist London, UK
Cristina Levine Martins Xavier, Psychologist, CRP: PhD Student in Psychoanalytic Studies at Essex University, Brazil UK
Oksana Yakushko, Ph.D., Psychologist, Core Faculty, Chair and Faculty, Clinical Psychology Program, Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpinteria, California USA
Rachel Young, Director, Banbury Therapy Centre, Oxfordshire, Gestalt Therapist UKAHPP UK
Claudia Zanardi, Psychologist-Psychoanalyst, Adjunct Clinical Professor New York University, Italy
Heba Zaphiriou-Zarifi, Jungian Analyst GAP-UKCP-IAAP USA
Ali Zarbafi, D An Psych Jungian Analyst, Psychotherapist & Supervisor Member: SAP, IAAP, BAPPS, BPC UK
Luigi Zoja, Psychoanalyst Milan Italy
Elizabeth Zoob, LICSW, Clinical Social Worker, Women’s Mental Health Collective, Cambridge, MA, USA