Expanding the Reach of Family Therapy Across Borders – SPENEX 2025 Workshop
By: Dr. Ruziana Masiran, Consultant Psychiatrist & Senior Medical Lecturer,Department of Psychiatry, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia.
| Event: | Special Education & Neuropsychiatry Exhibition (SPENEX 2025) |
| Date: | 17–18th May 2025 |
| Venue: | Hotel Santika Premiere, Kota Harapan Indah, Bekasi, Indonesia |
| Organiser: | Talenta Center, Indonesia |
| Website: | https://www.spenex2025.talentacenter.sch.id |
| Workshop Facilitators: | Dr. Ruziana Masiran Senior Medical Lecturer & Consultant Psychiatrist, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences/ Hospital Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia Mr Darrel Devan Lourdes Family Therapist, Andolfi Family Therapy Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Moderators: | Dr Fransiska Kaligis (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Universitas Indonesia) Dr Frilya Rachma Putri (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Universiti Brawijaya, Indonesia) |
Background of the Program
The Special Education & Neuropsychiatry Exhibition (SPENEX 2025), hosted by the Talenta Center in Indonesia, served as a vibrant regional platform to promote innovation, inclusivity, and mental health collaboration across the nation. Held from 17-18 May 2025 at Hotel Santika Premiere, Bekasi, the event brought together professionals from education, psychiatry, and allied health disciplines who were all united to improve the lives of children and adolescents across the region. The theme for this year was “Love & Harmony: Foundation of a Family’s Mental Health and Wellbeing”.
Guided by the vision of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) which calls for global cooperation to strengthen child and adolescent mental health, SPENEX 2025 went beyond discussion. It delivered hands-on
skill-based training and live clinical demonstrations, building practical capacity among participants. Over the years, the organisers have steadily widened their scope, welcoming mental health professionals from neighbouring countries to foster a stronger, more connected regional network.
A highlight of the event was the Family Therapy Workshop, co-facilitated by Mr. Darrel Devan Lourdes of the Andolfi Family Therapy Centre and Dr. Ruziana Masiran from Universiti Putra Malaysia, designed to deepen the understanding and application of systemic therapy models in culturally diverse contexts. Over the years, the two presenters have established a strong collaborative partnership as co-therapists and developed a locally adapted model for training mental health professionals in Malaysia, which they were honoured to present and adapt for the Indonesian context.
Program Objectives
- To introduce core systemic therapy principles from the multigenerational model, tailored for families from the Nusantara region of Southeast Asia.
- To promote the integration of Family of Origin (FOO) work into clinical practice with children and adolescents.
- To foster skills in live family assessment, co-therapy, and reflective observation through experiential learning.
- To build a cross-border community of mental health professionals engaging in family therapy through training, supervision, and dialogue.
Participants and Stakeholders
Over 80 participants attended, including child psychiatrists, psychologists, educators, and postgraduate trainees from various Indonesian institutions. The event also welcomed stakeholders from the Ministry of Education, university departments, and non-governmental organisations supporting child development and special needs education.
Program Format and Content
On the first day, the workshop introduced foundational principles and the evolution of family therapy, with emphasis on systemic approaches and Minuchin’s four-step model. Dr. Ruziana followed with a theoretical primer focused on systemic dynamics and the Family Systems Theory, using culturally relevant case examples to deepen participants’ understanding of intergenerational patterns in therapy.
The second day featured an intensive pre-recorded live consultation session with an Indonesian family, co-led by Dr. Suzy Yusnadewi (child and adolescent psychiatrist), Mr. Darrel, and Dr. Ruziana. This segment integrated live therapy, case conceptualisation, and collaborative reflections with local practitioners. Enthusiastic participants found this approach to learning fresh and engaging, expressed excitement throughout the session, and shared that they had gained valuable insights. Later, the afternoon sessions were dedicated to bridging theory with clinical application through structured dialogues and an open Q&A forum. Participants were also encouraged to reflect on their learning and share personal clinical experiences, reinforcing the workshop’s commitment to capacity-building in culturally attuned systemic therapy across Southeast Asia.
Figure 1: The facilitators with the organising
committee members of SPENEX 2025.
Figure 2: The co-facilitators on the second day of the workshop (from Left to Right): Dr Tjhin Wiguna, a child and adolescent psychiatrist from Universitas Indonesia; Dr Ruziana Masiran; Dr Suzy Yusnadewi; and Cheryl Chin and Darrel Devan Lourdes from Andolfi Family Therapy Centre.
Figure 3: Dr Ruziana conducting her segment of the workshop.
Impact and Alignment with IACAPAP Vision
The workshop embodied IACAPAP’s values of cross-national training, collaborative clinical practice, and culturally responsive service development. Its impact is measurable in:
- Professionals gained practical skills in conducting systemic assessments and family therapy sessions.
- The culturally sensitive model used for family therapy training was contextualised to fit Indonesian family systems, with emphasis on respectful therapist positioning and the role of extended kin.
- The promotion of peer learning and clinical networking have directly fostered regional excellence in family therapy for child and adolescent mental health.
- Potential for a long-term engagement, as participants expressed interest in future webinars, joint publications, and regional training collaborations.
Institutional Vision and Future Directions
This collaboration strongly aligns with the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)’s mission to become Malaysia’s national centre of excellence in psychotherapy and family therapy education. By facilitating such international knowledge exchanges, UPM is contributing to regional leadership in evidence-based mental health practices and the development of child-centric family systems interventions.
Figure 4: A cultural performance by Indonesian children during the opening ceremony.
Figure 5: Dr Suzy Yusnadewi (second from right), along with children with special needs, presenting tokens of appreciation to the workshop facilitators.
Acknowledgements
We extend our sincere appreciation to:
- Talenta Center, Indonesia – for hosting and organising SPENEX 2025
- Dr Suzy Yusnadewi and Drg. Yaya Aria Santosa, the Executive Leads of Talenta Center – for their continuous local and regional collaborative work around child and adolescent mental health
- Andolfi Family Therapy Centre, Kuala Lumpur – for co-developing the workshop content
- Collaborating clinicians and the family who participated in the live session
- All participating mental health practitioners for their engagement
Conclusion
The SPENEX 2025 Family Therapy Workshop served as a vital bridge between theory and practice, region and global perspective, and culture and clinical application. As Southeast Asia moves towards integrated and family-focused mental health care, such platforms remain essential for nurturing future-ready clinicians and achieving global standards of child and adolescent mental health care while staying rooted in cultural contexts.
This article represents the view of its author(s) and does not necessarily represent the view of the IACAPAP's bureau or executive committee.
