Issue 14, May 2019

Robert tells me he fears that his productivity will not be up to the standards of the business he works for. The job promotion he expected may not happen, and he even fears loosing his job. Robert describes the situation in a sober and somewhat guarded way but similar situations brought by members of different types of organizations come to my mind.

The Persians is considered the 1st historical work in European literature, it was likely performed in a national celebration. Aeschylus was a warrior in the Battle of Salamis, therefore an eye witness.

The play was performed in 472 BC, about a decade after the two catastrophes of Athens by the Persians and the victories for the Greek naval battle of Salamis. Outside the Dionysus Theater there are still ruins and burned wood. They are visible to viewers in an open theatre - and even in a landscape that is still a landscape of war.

The reason for this article stems from a variety of concerns regarding the 30-year engagement of writers of the systemic thinking and practice, especially in connection with the social context or the narrative of individuals. Examples such as the ambiguous concept of the system (totality, established), unrecognized or gravitational narratives triggered the questions raised below.

Everything is born of an inflection (or deviation), namely an unexpected and unpredictable movement of matter (Lucretius 2nd century BC). If all of individual particles fell under their weight in a vacuum and instraight lines, like raindrops, nothing would have ever existed.

I feel deeply honored being invited to write here today about the book “Memories and Reflections - Stories of Systemic Psychotherapy at the Family Therapy Unit of Psychiatric Hospital of Attica”. I feel emotionally moved by this book, since in a way it includes a part of my own history, my own memories and reflections from the 5 years’ experience that I acquired as a trainee in this Unit.

From the very first moment that I received the call-invitation from Mrs Thanopoulou, began a personal time travelling. I was invited as an old graduate of the Unit, so inevitably I realized that I have almost gone through 18 years, since I first met Ellanikou Street.