Matrix

As early as 1990, the need for an informative newsletter about the activities of the IGA (Athens) and the OPC to be distributed to graduates, trainees, and associates, was apparent. Finally, the first issue of Matrix was published in April 2006. The project was undertaken by Eleni Morarou, who still coordinates the Editorial Committee today.

Its pages unfold our history in summary. It includes all kinds of news related to the activities of the two organizations: news from the Training Departments, participation in domestic and international conferences, news from the associations of which the Institutes are members, new dissertations, translated articles, and personal events. For this reason, the issues can only be viewed by graduates and collaborators with a special code. What is at home is not in the public domain!

Members of the Editorial Committee at present, apart from Eleni Morarou, are Natasa Karapostoli and Viki Karkou. In the past, and for a number of years, there were also Angeliki Kosmoyianni, Maroula Mitroutsikou, and Gioula Pantou, whom we thank in particular!

As for the name Matrix, which is difficult to translate in greek but also very meaningful, I think it is appropriate since it originally meant a pregnant animal and, by extension, any female animal, but also the womb. The name of the publication, however, can also imply the meaning of a ship, whose ancient name is also feminine, Naus, thus justifying the warm wishes for the new endeavour.

Matrix or Naus are clearly feminine, maternal concepts, which also imply a space where something is born and develops; which is why it easily refers to the group-analytic situation. A metaphysical concept to describe the dynamic underlying events or occurrences in a group or in a group analytic session.

Matrix also means a network that connects people and situations. However, the Matrix of the Athens Institute of Group Analysis, from the late 1970s and more formally in 1982, also became the womb, and the protective net for the creation of other “children”-networks, such as the

Matrix also means a network that connects people and situations. However, the Matrix of the Athens Institute of Group Analysis, from the late 1970s and more formally in 1982, also became the womb, and the protective net for the creation of other “children” -networks, such as three other Institutes of the Open Psychotherapy Center, those of Psychological Assessment,

Social Therapy-Psychodrama, Family Therapy, as well as the three Therapeutic Communities.

As a ship, however, the Greek Matrix traveled both domestically and abroad and created E.G.A.T.I.N. in Europe. And it seems to me that in a free translation, the ill-sounding Matrix and Group could be rendered more meaningfully as “Ship” and “Community”!

So, good luck and many responses!

Letter from President Ioannis K. Tsegos, regarding the publication of the first newsletter (Matrix, Issue 1).