It is with some sadness but also pleasure that we write this last communication as co-chairs of the International Chapters Committee.

There are now 14 IARPP chapters spread across many parts of the globe, and in this issue you will find reports from 12 of them: Athens, Australia, Buenos Aires, Chile, Israel, Mexico, Mexico Contemporary, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Thessaloniki.

As can be appreciated in the reports – more reports than ever before – the amount of activity all around the globe has been amazing. Despite the limitations and difficulties imposed by the coronavirus and lengthy lockdowns in most regions, these activities encompass conferences, training and clinical seminars, ongoing group supervisions, theoretical seminars and study groups, as well as activities designed to reach out to local and international communities. The conceptual depth, clinical sophistication and thoughtfulness of the activities described speak of a quantum leap in the development of relational psychoanalysis and psychotherapy around the world. The commitment and energy the local chapters have invested in their own development has been the main force pushing this growth.

It is worth calling attention to the reports of the Spanish speaking chapters. In almost all of them, the second event organized during 2021 by GRILPP (the newly formed Ibero Latin-American Relational Group of Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis), entitled What Do You See When You See Me? The Ethics of Relational Practice, is mentioned as a milestone.

We bring this to the fore because it seems that to continue its growth and development, relational psychoanalysis and psychotherapy needs to feel at home in the mother language spoken by those who practice it in the intimacy of their consulting rooms. It maybe cannot be another way because if the main motivation of the mind is reaching another human being in their totality, then speaking to them in their own language is perhaps one of the main paths of recognition of the world inhabited by the other.

During 2020 and 2021, the ICC met on Zoom five times. Each meeting had between 15 and 20 participants representing the executive committees of chapters around the world. We want to highlight the tremendous capacity of this committee to self-organize and establish itself as a working group. In the first online meetings there was a rich sharing about the needs and concerns as well as the innovations and achievements of chapters in different regions. Stronger connections between chapters were established and support offered. Over time there has been an increasing focus on common concerns. In particular, the committee has considered the questions of how to foster the expansion of relational theory and practice in local communities, how to support the membership of IARPP, and what the barriers to doing this are, especially in countries with precarious economies. In relation to membership and other fees, it has become increasingly clear that there is a need to take into account the economic situation of IARPP members and chapters in countries experiencing particularly dire economic situations, such as the recent major devaluation of currency in Argentina.

Following considerable discussion within the whole group, two working parties prepared proposals to the IARPP Executive Committee and the Board. We think it is important for all IARPP members to be aware of these proposals, which are strongly endorsed by the ICC and are briefly summarized below.

1. IARPP MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES AND FEES, PUBLICATIONS AND TRANSLATIONS

• That IARPP creates two additional categories of membership dues for members from countries where the national per capita income and the professional fee for psychoanalysis and psychotherapy is significantly lower than that of the USA.
• That a special or ‘extraordinary’ fee reduction is given to members in countries experiencing particularly serious economic difficulties.
• That there be an option for new members of chapters, especially those in non-English speaking countries, to belong to the chapter for up to two years prior to joining IARPP, in order to encourage people unfamiliar with IARPP activities to join and participate in the local chapters and through this to learn about IARPP.
• That Psychoanalytic Dialogues be provided in digital format. An additional fee could be charged for those members who prefer to receive it in hard copy.
• That chapters in each non-English speaking country commit to translating 2 or 3 articles per year from English to their local language, thus contributing to an IARPP virtual library of translations.
• A simultaneous translation service be provided at IARPP conferences to enable greater participation by people who do not speak fluent English.

2. INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

• IARPP membership includes a rich assortment of theoreticians and clinicians in various countries, including many internationally known authors, teachers and supervisors.
• It is proposed that IARPP engage some of these members to teach courses on the theory and practice of the relational perspective online to participants worldwide.
• The teaching could be on two levels, offering both an overview of the relational perspective at an introductory level and also more advanced teaching and/or specialized topics for people already familiar with the relational literature. The material would be geared towards those who are already practicing psychotherapists, in the context of continuing education. Upon completion, a certificate of participation could be provided by IARPP.
• Teaching would take place online and be coordinated by IARPP, but facilitated through a local chapter when possible.
• Fees should be set on a sliding scale by region/country and, based on a satisfactory number of participants, the cost per person kept at a reasonable level.

The benefits of such a program of continuing education courses would be many, including:

• the ability to attract “new blood” to IARPP, people from many different communities who otherwise would not be become involved with our association.
• a strengthening of the relationship between IARPP and its chapters as well as with the wider psychotherapeutic community.

As is perhaps clear, a core issue from which these proposals have arisen is a strong need for recognition of the increasing complexity and internationalization of our community: that IARPP continues to evolve as a truly international association of relational psychoanalysts and psychotherapists.

One significant indicator of the shift in membership that is taking place is that, from a current total IARPP membership of 2101, more than half of the members now come from regions of the globe beyond Canada and the USA. In this context, it should be noted that the ICC has appreciated that in the two recent online IARPP symposiums, translations of the papers to languages other than English have been provided, along with small discussion groups in several languages.

As we stated earlier, we end our mission as co-chairs of the ICC with great satisfaction in having contributed to the growth and consolidation of this committee. Relationships were strengthened, and different realities in times of hardship were shared. Getting to know each other has been a privilege to all.

We are grateful to have been part of this group experience. We say goodbye with hope that the ICC will continue to grow as a group and as an important voice in IARPP under the leadership of Margaret (Peggy) Crastnopol (USA), whom we welcome as the new ICC Chair.

Our best wishes to all,

Marianne Kennedy and Juan Francisco Jordan
Co-Chairs, International Chapter Committee

Marianne Kennedy, MA
Balmain, Australia
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Juan Francisco Jordan, MD
Santiago, Chile
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