World Mental Health Experts to Gather at 12th IEDTA Conference in Dubrovnik

From the 7th to the 9th of October 2026, the 12th IEDTA International Conference will be held at the Valamar Lacroma Dubrovnik hotel, bringing together around 400 psychotherapists, psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals from Europe, North America, Asia and other parts of the world. This year’s conference of the Experiential Dynamic Therapy Association (IEDTA) is dedicated to the theme “The Person of the Therapist”, focusing on the role of the therapist as a person in the psychotherapeutic process, the therapeutic relationship and the professional development of therapists.

More Than 60 Professional Sessions and a Strong Clinical Focus

The three-day programme features more than 60 lectures, workshops and clinical presentations, alongside an additional professional programme and social events. It is intended for a broad range of professionals, from experienced clinicians to those who are only beginning to explore Experiential Dynamic Therapy (EDT). Particular emphasis is placed on practical and clinical work. Alongside professional and research presentations, participants will have the opportunity to observe real examples of psychotherapeutic work through video materials, providing a more immediate insight into different therapeutic approaches and methods of practice.

The keynote speaker will be Professor Helene Amundsen Nissen-Lie from the University of Oslo, an internationally recognised expert in psychotherapy research. Her work focuses precisely on the themes at the heart of this year’s conference, the influence of the therapist as a person on the therapeutic process and outcomes, the therapeutic relationship and the professional development of therapists.

Dubrovnik as a Venue for Professional Exchange and International Networking

The conference will be preceded by an additional educational programme. On the 5th and the 6th of October, the two-day masterclass “Fragility in ISTDP: Clinical Assessment, Capacity Building, and Psychic Integration” will be held, led by Jon Frederickson and Allan Abbass, internationally renowned clinicians, educators and authors in the field of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP).

On the 6th of October, the day before the conference begins, a one-day workshop entitled “EDT Fundamentals” will also be held, led by Dr Steve Shapiro. The programme offers a practical introduction to the fundamental principles and clinical application of Experiential Dynamic Therapy, incorporating clinical video materials, practical exercises and discussion.

For Dubrovnik, hosting the IEDTA conference represents an opportunity to further strengthen its international position in the field of professional and scientific conferences. IEDTA conferences have been held for more than two decades, approximately every two years in different destinations around the world. Following Milan, Washington D.C., Vancouver, Oxford, Amsterdam and Boston, Dubrovnik now joins the list of cities to have hosted this international professional community.

The conference is being held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian Chamber of Psychotherapists.

Professional Programme Complemented by the Dubrovnik Experience

For international conferences of this profile, the programme outside the conference hall forms an important part of the overall experience. A social programme has therefore been prepared for participants of the IEDTA conference, including a welcome party, gala dinner and farewell party.

The welcome party will also provide an opportunity to showcase part of Dubrovnik and Dalmatia’s cultural heritage with a performance by a traditional “klapa” vocal group. The social events will give participants an opportunity for informal interaction, the exchange of experiences and international networking, as well as the chance to discover Dubrovnik beyond the conference programme itself.