This collective work opens with a presentation by Marcelo R. Ceberio and Horacio Serebrinsky, then with an introduction by Marcelo R. Ceberio. It goes on to bring together three parts: the forms that therapy can take, the fields in which the systemic model unfolds beyond individual clinical work, and its application to a series of disorders. It closes with a chapter devoted to human change.

Authors: Stella Anaya, Marcelo R. Ceberio, Claudio Des Champs, Lila Dupuy, Eliana Durand, Guido Fischer, Gustavo Foz, Dolores Galán, Adriana González, Clara Llorens, Viviana Melone, Marina Perrone, Graciela Piatti, Nicolás Piovano, Silvia Pujadas, Fernando Rubano, Horacio Serebrinsky, Juan Carlos Verni, Catalina Wild.

The authors

The biographical notes below are those given by the book itself. Most of the authors teach or practise at the Argentine Systemic School (E.S.A.), in Buenos Aires.

Stella Anaya. A psychologist with a degree from the Universidad Kennedy and a systemic family therapist (E.S.A.). She teaches at the I.C.E.A. in the E.S.A. human resources programme. She was a professor at the Universidad Maimónides in the psychology programme and currently coordinates the E.S.A. department of community psychology and prevention.

Marcelo R. Ceberio. A psychologist of the Universidad Kennedy, he holds two doctorates (Universidad Kennedy and University of Barcelona), a master’s degree in family therapy (Autonomous University of Barcelona) and a master’s degree in psycho-immuno-neuro-endocrinology (Universidad Favaloro). Trained in psychoanalysis, Gestalt, theatre and psychodrama direction, he developed his systemic training mainly at the M.R.I. in Palo Alto (California), an institute of which he is today professor and researcher. He was coordinator of the residents in the pioneering experience of psychiatric deinstitutionalisation in Trieste (Italy) and is vice-dean of social psychology at the Universidad Kennedy. Academic director of the E.S.A., he is a visiting professor in various universities and family therapy institutes in Latin America, Europe and the United States. He is the author of numerous articles, prefaces, book chapters and books.

Claudio Des Champs. A psychologist (U.B.A.), individual, couple and family therapist. He is an associate professor at the Universidad de Morón and a visiting professor in various institutions in Argentina and abroad. A founding teacher, supervisor and consultant of the E.S.A., he is a member of the editorial board of Spanish and Argentine journals in his field and the author and editor of articles and books in the field of family therapy. He was editor-in-chief of the journal Perspectivas Sistémicas and today directs Perspectivas Sistémicas On line (www.redsistemica.com.ar).

Lila Dupuy. A family physician, specialist in systemic family therapy and in group coordination (E.S.A.). She teaches at the Universidad Maimónides (medicine, psychology and surgical instrumentation). She is co-coordinator of the mental health commission of the Argentine Federation of Family and General Medicine (F.A.M.F. y G.) and a member of the Health Communication Network.

Eliana Durand. A social worker with a degree from the faculty of law and social sciences of the U.B.A. and a systemic family therapist of the E.S.A. She coordinates the community work team “Working from within” and the E.S.A. training department, is part of the multidisciplinary practice of the River Plate Institute and directs the consultancy Durand & Asoc.

Guido Fischer. A psychologist of the Universidad Kennedy. Trained as a systemic family therapist at the E.S.A., he is a clinical sexologist and sex educator, accredited by the S.A.S.H. and by the Latin American Federation of Societies of Sexology and Sexual Education (FLASSES). He writes columns on psychology and sexology in various Argentine media. A teacher and clinical supervisor of the E.S.A. and of several universities and postgraduate schools in Argentina, he is a member of the board of the Argentine Society of Human Sexuality.

Gustavo Foz. A psychologist with a degree from the Universidad Kennedy and a specialist in systemic family therapy (E.S.A.). A therapist of adults and adolescents, he has specialised in the treatment of depression. He is a teacher, a member of the clinical team and coordinator of the depression unit of the E.S.A.

Dolores Galán. A psychologist with a degree from the Universidad Kennedy, she worked in mental health at the A. Posadas hospital. She trained in systemic family therapy at the E.S.A. and in cognitive therapy at the Aiglé Foundation. She teaches at the Universidad Kennedy, at the E.S.A. and at the Buenos Aires Foundation, and coordinated the E.S.A. assistance unit. She specialises in the treatment of children and in questions of education and family.

Adriana González. A psychologist of the Universidad Kennedy and a neuropsychologist (Universidad Maimónides). Trained in systemic therapy at the E.S.A., she is an expert in family violence and in the treatment of children. A professor in various Argentine universities, she coordinates the E.S.A. research team on family and institutional violence.

Clara Llorens. A psychologist with a degree from the U.B.A. Trained in systemic therapy at the E.S.A., she is a therapist of adolescents, adults, families and groups. She is part of the E.S.A. assistance team, of the assistance team and the legal-psychological interface of the I.S.deB.A., and is a teaching assistant for the subject “Psychological currents” at the Universidad de Morón.

Viviana Melone. A psychologist of the Universidad Kennedy, a systemic family therapist with a degree from the E.S.A. and a specialist in Rorschach psychodiagnosis. She teaches at the I.C.E.A. in the human resources, psychopedagogy and graphology programmes. She is in charge of practical classes at the Universidad Kennedy, and a teacher and member of the clinical team of the E.S.A.

Marina Perrone. A psychologist of the Universidad de Belgrano. She followed the E.S.A. postgraduate programme in systemic therapy (1992). With extensive experience in the treatment of drug dependence, she is a therapist of adults and adolescents and a prevention officer (SESI-RS / I.L.O. / W.H.O. / U.N.D.C.P. project, Brazil, 1999). She teaches at the Universidad Kennedy, where she coordinates the specialisation in the approach to addictions, and directs the E.S.A. addiction rehabilitation service.

Graciela Piatti. A psychologist of the Universidad Kennedy and a systemic therapist with a degree from the E.S.A., a specialist in obesity and eating disorders. A full and visiting professor in several national universities and psychotherapy training institutes, she is a nutrition adviser at Dietética Natural, a yoga and meditation instructor, and coordinates the E.S.A. eating disorders and obesity team.

Nicolás Piovano. A psychologist with a degree from the U.B.A. Trained at the E.S.A., he specialised in group, family, couple and individual therapy. He teaches in various universities and postgraduate programmes. A therapist and teacher of the E.S.A., he is part of the assistance team and the legal-psychological interface of the I.S.deB.A. (West branch).

Silvia Pujadas. A counsellor and psychologist of the Universidad Maimónides. A systemic family therapist with a degree from the E.S.A., she trained in couple therapy, addictions and group therapy. She coordinated the E.S.A. groups unit as well as workshops for companies and for the therapeutic community. She teaches at the Universidad Kennedy.

Fernando Rubano. A psychologist with a degree from the Universidad Kennedy and a national teacher of physical education (I.N.E.F.). Trained in systemic family therapy at the E.S.A., he is a therapist of adults and couples. At the E.S.A. he coordinates the postgraduate programme devoted to the treatment of couples and is a clinical supervisor there. He has taught psychology at the Universidad Kennedy and in other universities.

Horacio Serebrinsky. A social psychologist, he holds a degree in psychology and a doctorate in social psychology. A systemic family therapist with a degree from the C.E.F. y P., he is secretary of the department of social psychology at the Universidad Kennedy and a full professor in that same institution as well as in various national and international institutions. He directs the E.S.A. and has published two books, Un viaje circular and Experiencias terapéuticas, todos fracasos.

Juan Carlos Verni. A psychologist of the Universidad Kennedy and a graduate in physics of the U.B.A. A professor at the Universidad Kennedy, he teaches and coordinates the E.S.A. postgraduate programme in systemic management. He is a family and individual therapist and a business consultant.

Catalina Wild. A psychologist of the Universidad de la Sabana (Bogotá, Colombia). She followed the E.S.A. postgraduate programme in systemic family therapy and its specialisation in group therapy. Holder of a master’s degree in systemic family therapy (Sant Pau hospital, Autonomous University of Barcelona), she has led workshops and courses in the E.S.A. group therapy programme. She is a therapist of individuals, couples, families and groups.