Dear friends,

on behalf of the organizing Associations, it is a great pleasure to invite you to the XL EABCT Conference-LINKS in Milano, 7-10 October 2010. We are proud and honoured to host the EABCT conference in Italy thirteen years after the memorable event in Venice and to be able to offer a different, but equally significant experience.

Milano is an attractive, multi-faceted, exciting, elegant city that merges an intriguing mixture of culture, science, art, fashion and economy. Milano is considered to be an international centre of research and technology, the capital of fashion and design, a temple of music, and the custodian of an artistic striking heritage. From the Roman period through the centuries until now, Milano has represented and shown renowned examples of extraordinary historical and artistic culture. The aesthetic and trendy lifestyle of Milano is evident in the many characteristics and attractions of the city: art galleries and museums, historical and modern buildings and ancient churches, unforgettable art masterpieces, unique shopping opportunities, exciting restaurants, bars and coffee-shops, a fun and sparkling nightlife… the rhythm and the eclectic vibrations of Milano are memorably glamorous. With its enthralling vitality, Milano and its timeless elegance radiate a subtle but irresistible charm.

Because of its history, its geography and its proactive community, Milano has always represented a meeting point and a European crossroads of cultural, artistic and economic ties, that have enhanced its cosmopolitan touch. The soul and the traditions of Milano are perfectly attuned with the content and the title of the XL EABCT Congress LINKS. In its general perspective LINKS wants to create an interconnection between associations, themes, disciplines, countries, cultures, traditions and innovations.

The aim is to strengthen personal LINKS between experts, professionals and students belonging to different countries and cultural roots, to show the reciprocal LINKS between theory and clinical practice, to extrapolate LINKS from interventions focused on specific disorders and the ones addressed in other similar or different disorders; to identify LINKS between the classical expression of our approach and its more recent innovative developments. All this in the context of the numerous and varied LINKS which join the cognitive-behavioural psychology and therapy, with its opportunities of intervention and possibly prevention, to the more and more relevant social problems of our times.

We enthusiastically encourage you to contribute your works and your presence to help us attain this ambitious programme and we all are waiting for you in Milano.