Relational Alchemy: Incoherence in Connection, Creativity, and Change

Kökçinar and Goodman’s 2025 presentation “Relational Alchemy: Incoherence in Connection, Creativity, and Change” at UK Association of Family & Systemic Psychotherapy Conference, explored how unpredictable, “messy” moments in human interaction can be sources of transformation rather than disruptions to orderly therapeutic practice. Drawing from systemic, narrative and creative perspectives, Kökçinar and Goodman challenge highly structured models of therapy and invited participants to consider how incoherence and relational randomness can reveal deeper connection, spontaneity and authentic engagement.

The session reframed moments typically avoided, ambiguity, disjunction, surprise, as rich terrain for meaningful change. Through experiential exploration, storytelling and reflective practice, Kökçinar and Goodman demonstrate ways to disrupt rigid patterns and cultivate relational spontaneity, offering practical insights for therapists to integrate creativity, unpredictability and deeper attunement into their clinical work.

Full reference:

Kökçinar, R. R., & Goodman, A. (2025). Relational alchemy: Incoherence in connection, creativity, and change. UK Association of Family & Systemic Psychotherapy Conference 2025: Honouring our ancestors and envisioning our future, Brighton, United Kingdom.