Plenary Panel: The Development and Evolution of Systemic Therapy in the Scandinavian Countries
Hans Christian Michaelsen
Hans Christian Michaelsen is a family therapist, supervisor and former assistant professor at VID Specialized University, Oslo. His academic background includes Nordic language and literature, English and American literature, psychology, medicine and Master in Family Therapy and Systemic Practice.
He has formerly worked with theatre, intercultural understanding and teaching. In 1980 - 2008 he was director of LEON, a foundation working with families suffering from relational and severe dependency problems, substance- and alcohol dependency, eating disorders, gambling, mental challenges, and family crises. The LEON foundation developed network programmes in local communities and prevention work. In1989 they developed a multi- family group-therapy practice where several families (from 50 – 100 people) worked through weekends in various narrative processes.
Hans Christian Michaelsen was editor of the Nordic journal of family therapy Fokus på familien, the author of several articles and book chapters and served as Chairperson of the Norwegian Family Therapy Association 2005-2009. He is currently President of the NFTO Chamber of EFTA and Vice President of EFTA.
Terhi Kotilainen
Terhi Kotilainen is a licensed social worker and psychotherapist from Finland, specialized in family and couple therapy. She is an advocate for meaningful connections, a facilitator of dialogical interaction, and an expert in systemic practice. Terhi Kotilainen works as a trainer psychotherapist, supervisor, and educator.
In her clinical work, Terhi Kotilainen integrates attachment theory, trauma therapy methods, narrative and solution-focused approaches with embodied practices. She is also a certified EMDR therapist.
From 2018 to 2025, Terhi Kotilainen has served on the board of the Family and Couple Therapy Association of Finland, representing the organization also in European Family Therapy Association/NFTO (National Family Therapy Organization) from 2019 to 2025. She is a member of EFTA’s Social Justice Task Force and the editorial advisory board of the Family and Couple Therapy Journal of Finland.
Halvr De Flon
Halvor de Flon is associate professor and director Master`s program in Family Therapy and Systemic practice at VID Specialized University, Oslo, is a nurse and has a master's degree in systemic family therapy. He has worked about 30 years with families and couples within child and adolescent psychiatry as family therapist and leader of family services. He has participating in innovation and development of different family based services. He has published scientific book – chapters about supervision, family therapy, education of family therapists and reflecting team and processes, and scientific articles about family therapy training.
Lotta Beskow
Lotta Beskow is a Child and Adolescent psychiatrist and psychotherapist who In recent years, she has worked assessing and treating children with ADHD diagnoses.