From the impact of virtual intimacies to supporting families with difficult therapy histories, Adler University students, faculty, and alums shared their expertise and made their mark at the 2025 International Family Therapy Association Congress in Aberdeen, Scotland.
The IFTA Congress is a scientific event centered on interactional methodologies and their influence on therapeutic practice. Its goal: to advance family therapy worldwide by promoting research, education, sound practice, and international collaboration.
“We have a solid track of accepted proposals to present, not just this year, but for at least the last decade. IFTA’s global reach aligns well with our department’s mission of training family therapists who understand how dimensions of culture, power, and privilege impact family relationships,” said Dr. Marsha Vaughn, professor in the Couple and Family Therapy Department at Adler. “Our ongoing presence at this conference shows that our Ph.D. students are doing innovative and creative clinical work and research.”
This year’s attendees included five Doctor of Philosophy in Couple and Family Therapy students:
Megan Allcock, “We’ve Been Burned Before’: Helping Clients Health from Past Negative Therapy Experiences.”
This presentation examined the impact of negative therapy experiences on families’ future decisions to participate in therapy and outlined practical approaches clinicians can use to help rebuild trust and foster healing.
Megan Allcock and Shazia Imran at the 2025 IFTA Congress.
Stephani Gilak, “Existential Loss in the Digital Age: The Impact of Virtual Intimacy, Celebrity Friendships and Other Non-Traditional Attachments on Mental Health and Relationships.”
This session explored issues related to non-traditional attachments driven by existential loss in the digital age, such as cyber-social and parasocial connections.
Shazia Imran, “Mental Health Stigma in Muslim and Pakistani Families.”
This presentation addressed the cultural and religious stigma surrounding mental health in Pakistan and broader Muslim communities and its impact on family therapy.
Alfredo Ocampo, “Healing Family Trauma through Restorative Justice and Narrative Family Therapy: A Path to Reconciliation and Peacemaking in Church and Social Systems.”
By integrating his pastoral experiences and CFT training, Ocampo offered practical insights into fostering reconciliation and repairing trust within church and family systems affected by abuse.
Brendan Yukins, “Place, Work, Folk’: What can Family Therapists Learn from Sir Patrick Geddes.”
Yukins and Dr. Vaughn examined how families interact with their natural environment through the lens of Sir Geddes, an Aberdeenshire native who transformed urban planning by accounting for the interdependence of people and their behavioral “flow” with their surroundings.
“Every time we can provide therapists with tools to reunite their clients with nature, my heart smiles,” said Yukins, who has attended other IFTA conferences with Dr. Vaughn, as well as the Illinois Affiliation for Marriage and Family Therapists and the American Horticultural Therapy Association, to talk about using nature-based techniques with families.
Brendan Yukins and Dr. Marsha Vaughn during their presentation, “Place, Work, Folk’: What can Family Therapists Learn from Sir Patrick Geddes.”
Among the highlights of this year’s IFTA Congress for Yukins was reconnecting with Özge Alkanat, Ph.D., a psychologist and psychotherapist from Turkey. Two years ago, Dr. Alkanat attended one of Yukin’s presentations and was inspired to begin the first ecotherapy camp in her home country. During the meeting, they — along with three of Dr. Alkanat’s master’s students — discussed their work, set up future collaborations, and traded nature-based therapy techniques to respond to natural disasters.
“I love my daily client work,” Yukins said. “But whenever I get to share knowledge with other therapists that they apply in their communities, I feel like my difference is amplified.”
Also presenting at the IFTA Congress, held March 27-29, was Adler Professor Wendy Kovacs Cortes, Ph.D., who discussed her work on attachment theory and its foundation for teaching and supervision. Adler alumnus and Purdue University Northwest Professor Mialauni Griggs, Ph.D., shared her work on the impact of historical trauma on African American romantic attachment.
“The conference was a rewarding experience because it draws a balanced group of practicing therapists, educators, and supervisors from around the world,” said Dr. Vaughn, adding that she hopes more students and faculty consider attending next year’s event.
“Some of the most fascinating work happens outside of journals,” she said. “This event provides invaluable opportunities to learn about what others are doing in the field, meet other like-minded family therapists, and develop new professional relationships. It’s a great venue for students to show their expertise and receive feedback.”
Next year’s IFTA Congress will be held in late March 2026 in Bergin, Norway.