About E.B.T.A. ….

The E.B.T.A. (European Brief Therapy Association) is an organisation with the aim of supporting Brief Therapy. It was founded in 1994 together with Steve deShazer and Insoo Kim Berg in order to provide an European platform for people interested in Solution Focused Therapy.

The E.B.T.A. is usually seen as the original global organisation, while others such as SFBTA are within-country organisations addressing their own membership. Closer links between E.B.T.A. and SFBTA were discussed at the Malmø conference in 2010. The sft-discussion-list was begun by Harry Korman in 1995 and has in the mean-while become a world-wide link for all therapists and interested parties, whether or not they have any interest in or connection with E.B.T.A.. Other organisations such as SOL and IASTI also have discussion lists, as do several language groups.

The Conferences…

Since 1994 the E.B.T.A. is holding conferences on Solution Focused Therapy at changing places all over Europe. Since 1994 E.B.T.A.-conferences have been a European Forum of exchange and inspiration. They are an annual opportunity to get in touch with or refresh your knowledge of solution-focused brief therapy and discuss its future trends in theory and practice. Up to now there have been 21 conferences. As the conference history below shows, people from various European countries already had the opportunity to get to know solution-focused people from all over the world, discuss solution-focused ideas and be part of the development of solution-focused practice and theory. If you are interested in organizing a future conference be welcome to contact the board.

Conference history

• 2011 Dresden
• 2010 Malmö
• 2009 Helsinki
• 2008 Lyon
• 2007 Brugge
• 2006 Krakow
• 2005 Salamanca
• 2004 Amsterdam
• 2003 Berlin
• 2002 Cardiff
• 2001 Dublin
• 2000 Turku
• 1999 Carlisle
• 1998 Salamanca
• 1997 Sofia (spring) and Bruge (autumn)
• 1996 Paris (spring) and Lodz (autumn)
• 1995 London (spring) and Bremen (autumn)
• 1994 Brugge(spring) and Stockholm (autumn)

Evaluation list & Research Award

The E.B.T.A. runs a SFT- evaluation list that up to now has been regularly updated by Dr Alasdair Macdonald, UK, who is the EBTA Research Coordinator. The list can be downloaded at www.ebta.nu .

Lastly the E.B.T.A. is encouraging SFT-research. Each year researchers can apply for the annual research award. For 2011 the E.B.T.A. Grant Awards committee has awarded two grants of 3500 Euro. See the successful projects also on our homepage www.ebta.nu . They will be also presented on the Dresden conference. If you like to apply for the award or are interested in research issues look at our homepage for further details.