Family psychology, publications & scholarly recognition
Drawing on more than twenty years of research, professional practice and public engagement, Anna Khefors has developed an original research and practice framework for strengthening family resilience and preventing family crises. This work led to Family Unity, a system that integrates research, education, practical family support and social initiatives to bring research-informed approaches into wider use, strengthen families and improve social wellbeing.
Dissertation prepared. Anna has prepared a dissertation on the scientific foundations of systemic role functioning in postgraduate education for professionals working with families.
Anna Khefors
PUBLICATIONS
Read the work.
MONOGRAPH · 2026
Systemic Psychotherapy as a Tool for Strengthening Family Relationships and Protecting Children’s Mental Health
Co-authored with Professor Galina V. Sorokoumova, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, of N. A. Dobrolyubov Nizhny Novgorod State Linguistic University. Sreda Publishing House is an academic publisher with a public catalogue record for this book. The monograph has ISBN 978-5-908083-80-5 and DOI 10.31483/a-10891. It names two academic reviewers: Professors E. E. Shcherbakova and O. V. Suvorova.
Academic reviews.Professor Elena E. Shcherbakova, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences at Lobachevsky University, and Professor Olga V. Suvorova, Doctor of Psychological Sciences at Minin University, each recommended the monograph for publication in a signed review.
Elena E. Shcherbakova. Highlights the study’s relevance, practical examples of resolving family conflicts, and potential to extend systemic therapy with new tools and a plan for wider implementation.
Olga V. Suvorova. Highlights the structured methodology, engagement with recent international research, theoretical modelling and survey analysis, and practical recommendations for implementing the programme.
Research results
1,018
survey participants
33%
reported stronger partner relationships
41%
reported greater trust and warmth
Survey of participants from a programme completed by 5,000+ families. Self-reported outcomes; selection bias and longer follow-up are discussed in the monograph.
Findings and implementation
The authors propose professional training, supervision and adaptations for education, psychological support services and nonprofit family programmes.
Psychological Reconstruction of Emotional Connection in Marital Relations
Published in Universum: Psychology and Education, an international scholarly journal established in 2013. The journal uses double-blind peer review and has an international editorial board of specialists in psychology and education. Issue 6(132), 2025. ISSN 2311-6099; DOI 10.32743/UniPsy.2025.132.6.20259.
Conceptualization of Family Psychology in the Context of Systemic Theories
Eurasian Union of Scientists: Pedagogical, Psychological and Philosophical Sciences, issue 3(125)/2025. ISSN 2782-2443. The journal publishes a double-blind review policy. A publication certificate identifies Anna Khefors’s article and states that it was placed in the Russian Science Citation Index.
Theoretical Prerequisites for Developing a Program to Foster Systemic Role Functioning in Postgraduate Education
Published in the proceedings of the Interuniversity International Congress “Higher Education: Scientific Research”, volume 2, pp. 50–56. DOI 10.34660/INF.2026.63.26.126.
NEUROBREAKTHROUGH: An Original Approach to Accelerated Transformation
Anna Khefors’s methodological guide was published by Publishing Solutions under a Ridero licence in 2025 (ISBN 978-5-0065-7471-7). The publisher’s catalogue lists the complete 58-page work. The PDFs below present selected pages describing the method. NEUROBREAKTHROUGH is also discussed in the Sreda monograph listed above.
An integrated approach. The wider Family Unity model brings together systemic family psychotherapy, cognitive psychology, neurobiology and body-oriented practices.
Family patterns across generations. Anna’s concept of “systemic ecology of family relationships” examines roles, boundaries and recurring intergenerational patterns.
Practice and evaluation. The model includes adaptations for remote work and proposed tools for assessing changes in family relationships.
PEER REVIEW & CONFERENCES
Peer review & conferences.
COLD SCIENCE · ISSN 3034-2627
Reviewing research for an international scientific journal.
Invited by the editorial board, Anna Khefors has reviewed manuscripts for Cold Science since March 2026. The journal publishes research in English, Georgian and Russian and uses blind peer review.
The editorial certificate, dated 23 June 2026, confirms her role and identifies three manuscripts she reviewed.
The certificate documents the review assignments. The linked library record describes the published article; it is not the text of Anna’s review.
International academic events
Psychological Safety of the Educational Environment · 2026. The university programme lists her presentation, “Contemporary Challenges as Catalysts of Family Dysfunction: Framing the Problem”, at the VII International Scientific and Practical Conference. University programme, p. 7 ↗
Higher Education: Scientific Research · 2026. Her paper on systemic role functioning in postgraduate education appears in the Interuniversity International Congress proceedings. English translation ↗ · Original publication ↗
SOCIAL IMPACT
Family Unity in numbers.
15,000+
families in programmes
300,000+
people reached through education and outreach
Project-reported reach.
Anna founded and leads the Family Unity nonprofit, supporting couples and parents through family crisis prevention, psychological education and responsible parenting programmes.
Outcomes discussed in the monograph
Family stability. The authors describe a reduced risk of divorce and stronger relationships between partners.
Parents and children. Improved interaction, emotional connection and trust within the family.
Children’s wellbeing. Support for children’s mental health and a more secure family environment.
