AFTA AWARDS 1981-2025

1981        

Posthumous Distinguished Achievement in Family Therapy

• Gregory Bateson
• Milton Erickson

Distinguished Achievement in Family Therapy

• Edgar Auerswald             
• C.F. Midelfort
• Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy                                                     
• Virginia Satir
• Murray Bowen                                         
• John Spiegel
• Jay Haley                                                     
• Carl Whitaker

 Distinguished Achievement in Family Therapy Research

• Denver Group:Carol DeYoung, Kalman Flomenhaft, David Kaplan, Donald Langsley, Pavel Machotka, Frank Pittman
• Nathan Epstein
• Alan Gurman
• Mental Research Institution (MRI) Group: Arthur Bodin, Richard Fisch, Jules Riskin, Carlos Sluzki, Paul Watzlawick, John Weakland
• Margaret Singer
• Lyman Wynne

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy Research

• Peter Steinglass

1982        

Distinguished Professional Contribution to Family Therapy

• Donald Bloch

 Distinguished Achievement in Family Therapy

• Salvador Minuchin

Distinguished Achievement in Family Therapy Research

• David Reiss
• Bernice Rosman

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Milan Group: Luigi Boscolo, Gianfranco Cecchin, Mara Palazzoli, Guiliana Prata

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy Research

• Timberlawn Group: Robert Beavers, John Gossett, Jerry Lewis, Virginia Phillips

Special Award for Contribution to Founding of Association & as its First President

• Murray Bowen

 1983        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy

• Don Jackson (Posthumous)
• Clifford Sager
• Israel Zwerling

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Research

• David Olson
• Robert Weiss

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Lynn Hoffman

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy Research

• Neil Jacobson

 1984        

Special Tribute to:

• Nathan Ackerman (Posthumous)

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy

• James Framo

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Research

• Gerald Patterson

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Norman Paul

1985        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy

• Carol Anderson

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Research

• Michael Goldstein

Pioneering Contribution to Family Therapy

• Alice Cornelison (Posthumous)
• Stephen Fleck
• Theodore Lidz

1986        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy

• Women's Project: Betty Carter, Peggy Papp, Olga Silverstein, Marianne Walters

 Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Research

• James Alexander

 Pioneering Contribution to Family Therapy

• Multiple Impact Group: Harold Goolishian, Eugene MacDonald, Robert MacGregor, Agnes Ritchie, Frank Schuster, Alberto Serrano

1987        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Carl Whitaker

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Research

• Peter Steinglass

1988        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Monica McGoldrick

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Research

• Constance Ahrons

1989        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Lyman Wynne

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Robert Beavers

1990        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory & Practice

• Evan Imber-Black

Distinguished Contribution to Family Research

• Pauline Boss

 Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy & Systems Change in the Public Sector

• Donald Brown

1991        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Peggy Papp

Pioneering Contribution to the Application of Family Systems Theory and Practice

• Nancy Boyd-Franklin

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Linda Bennett
• Steven Wolin

 1992        

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy and Systems Change

• Ackerman Aids Family Project: Joan Gilbert, Laurie Kaplan, Ruth Mohr, Carol O'Connor, John Patten, Joe Rosenthal, Sippio Small, Nellie Vittegas, Gillian Walker

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Harry Aponte

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Mavis Hetherington

1993        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Rachel Hare-Mustin

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Gayla Margolin

Special Contribution to Cultural Diversity as Researcher, Clinical Theorist and Mentor

• Jose Szapocznik

Cultural And Economic Diversity Award

• Luis Zayas
• Honorees: Rhea Almeida Peter Chang Freida Hopkins Carey Wright

1994        

Innovative Contributions to the Field of Family Therapy

• Lois Braverman

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Research

• John Gottman

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Braulio Montalvo

Cultural and Economic Diversity Award

• Matthew Mock

1995        

Cultural and Economic Diversity Award

• Jose Luis Flores

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Harriette McAdoo

Innovative Contribution to the Field of Family Therapy

• Richard Simon

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Froma Walsh

1996        

Innovative Contribution to Family Research

• Linda Burton

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Virginia Goldner

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Research

• Howard Liddle

Cultural and Economic Diversity Award

• Ramon Rojano

1997        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Celia Falicov

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Duncan Stanton

Innovative Contributions to Family Therapy

• Jaime Inclan

The Cultural and Economic Diversity Award

• Deniece Reid

1998        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Betty Carter

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Anne Kazak

Innovative Contributions to Family Therapy

• Robert Mark
• Buddy Portugal

Special Award for Meritorious Service to the Field of Family Therapy

• Kitty La Perriere

The Cultural and Economic Diversity Award

• Marietta Collins

1999        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Michael White

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Carolyn Cowan
• Philip Cowan

Innovative Contributions to Family Therapy

• Founding Members of the Public Conversations Project: Corky Becker, Laura Chasin, Richard Chasin, Margaret McCarthy Herzig, Sallyann Roth, Robert Stains, Jr.

Meritorious Service and Commitment to the American Family Therapy Academy

• Morris Taggart

The Cultural and Economic Diversity Award

• Lillian Comas-Díaz

2000        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Neil Jacobson

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Joän Patterson

Innovative Contributions to Family Therapy

• Susan McDaniel

Meritorious Service to the Field of Family Therapy

• Carlos Sluzki

The Cultural and Economic Diversity Award

• William Turner

2001        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• William Pinsof

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Robert-Jay Green

Innovative Contributions to Family Therapy

• Judith Myers Avis

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Elaine Pinderhughes

The Cultural and Economic Diversity Award

• Paulette Moore Hines

2002        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Kaethe Weingarten

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Ira Glick

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Gladis D’Avila Brun

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Marianne Walters

The Cultural and Economic Diversity Award

• Maria Root

2003        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Rosmarie Welter-Enderlin

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• William R. McFarlane

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• C. Christian Beels

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Olga Silverstein

 The Cultural and Economic Diversity Award

• Hugo Kamya

2004        

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Making Families Safe for Children: The Incest Project: Marcia Sheinberg, Peter Fraenkel, Fiona True

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Daniel Santisteban

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Laura Markowitz

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Ann Hartman

Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice

• Martha Adams Sullivan

2005        

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Herta A. Guttman

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Lee Combrinck-Graham

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Susan M. Johnson

Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice

• Kenneth V. Hardy

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Rhea V. Almeida

Distinguished Service to the American Family Therapy Academy

• Anne C. Bernstein

2006        

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Karl Tomm

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Eliana Gil

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Jerry Gale

Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice

• Nydia Garcia-Preto

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• John Rolland

Distinguished Contribution to the American Family Therapy Academy

• Jay Lappin
• Joyce Lappin

2007        

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Irene & Herbert Goldenberg

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• David Epston

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Sandra M. Stith

Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice

• The “Just Therapy” Team: Flora Tuhaka, Warihi (Wally) Campbell, Taimalieutu Kiwi Tamasese, Charles Waldegrave

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Stephen Patrick Madigan

2008        

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Don-David Lusterman

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Harlene Anderson

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Howard Markman

Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice

• Jack Saul

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Patricia Minuchin

2009        

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Richard Chasin

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Charles Figley

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Guillermo Bernal

Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice

• Marlene Watson

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Jill Freedman 
• Gene Combs

2010        

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Ellen Berman

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Douglas Sprenkle

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Myrna (Micki) Friedlander 
• Laurie Heatherington

• Hinda Winawer
• Norbert Wetzel

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Judith Landau

 2011        

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Joan Laird

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Janine Roberts

Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice

• Roxana Llerena-Quinn

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Beatrice Wood

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Lorraine Wright
• Wendy Watson
• Janice Bell

Early Career Award

• Jean Malpas

Distinguished Contribution to the American Family Therapy Academy

• John Lawless

2012        

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Victoria Dickerson

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Laurie MacKinnon

Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice

• Jorge Colapinto

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Marion Forgatch

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Peter Fraenkel

Early Career Award

• Amy Tuttle

2013        

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Braulio Montalvo

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• William Madsen

Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice

• Pilar Hernandez-Wolfe

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Scott Henggeler

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Arlene Istar Lev

Early Career Award

• Jose Ruben Parra-Cardona

2014     

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Jay Lebow

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Wai-Yung Lee

Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice

• thandiwe Dee Watts-Jones

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Ivan Eisler

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Marsha Mirkin

Early Career Award

• Andraé Brown 

Distinguished Contribution to the American Family Therapy Academy

• Jane Ariel

2015       

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Fred Piercy

 Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Cheryl Storm
• Thomas Todd

Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice

• CharlesEtta Sutton

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Michael Rohrbaugh
• Varda Shoham

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Martha Edwards

Early Career Award

• Karni Kissil

2016       

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Maurizio Andolfi

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Jochen Schweitzer

Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice

• Bruce Koff
• Jeff Levy

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Melanie M. Domenech Rodriguez

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Michal Shamai

Early Career Award

• Deborah Coolhart

2017       

Lifetime Achievement Award

• William Doherty

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Carmen Knudson-Martin

Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice

• Michael LaSala

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Frederick Wamboldt
• Marianne Wamboldt

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Khawla Abu-Baker

Early Career Award

• Yajaira Curiel

2018        

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Paulette Moore Hines

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• Jaakko Seikkula
• Tom Erik Arnkil

Distinguished Contribution to Social Justice

• Jean Malpas
• Ben Davis

Distinguished Contribution to Family Systems Research

• Andrew Cherlin

Innovative Contribution to Family Therapy

• Michele Scheinkman

Early Career Award

• Laurel Salmon

2019       

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Lois Braverman

Distinguished Contribution to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

• The Multicultural Family Institute Group