[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