Save the dates for upcoming events
TENTH SYMPOSIUM
☞ Friday February 20th 2026 ☜
ELEVENTH SYMPOSIUM
☞ Friday June 19th 2026 ☜
TWELFTH SYMPOSIUM
☞ Friday November 20th ☜
| about
We are delighted to announce the Tenth UUAP and EAP Symposium, organised by the Ukrainian and European Psychotherapy Alliance. When we first launched this initiative, the Alliance could never have imagined that it would reach its tenth edition. What began as an idea has proven to be both visionary and remarkably successful, with more than 1,000 psychotherapists registering for each event held so far. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and it is clear that these Symposia are helping to strengthen the resilience of Ukrainian psychotherapists. We sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to making this achievement possible, and especially the participants who give it true meaning.
The theme of our Tenth Symposium is “Freedom, Dignity, and Meaning.” This builds on our Ninth Symposium, which focused on four primary emotions: anger, humour, connection, and love. In this tenth edition, we turn our attention to three core aspects and longings of humanity – freedom, dignity, and meaning. These fundamental dimensions of our shared humanity are especially significant for Ukrainians, as this Symposium also marks the fourth anniversary of the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine.
Freedom – the freedom to be fully alive and fully human.
Dignity – the essence of human dignity; humanity worthy of respect.
Meaning – the heart of our work as Psychotherapists is meaning; giving life its fullest meaning; honouring the deepest meaning of our human life on earth.
These three are humanity’s deepest aspirations and desires.
We will invite some of the world’s most profound speakers to explore this theme. We will hold a sociodrama as part of the Tenth Symposium focussed on Freedom, Dignity and Meaning.
We cordially invite all European Psychotherapists to join with Ukrainian Psychotherapists in this Tenth Symposium on Friday February 20th 2026.
Registration for the event will begin at the end of January 2026.
| Support FOR Oleh Hukovsky’s military unit
We invite you to support Oleh Hukovsky’s military unit, which is currently raising funds for a new vehicle essential for daily tasks and the safe movement of soldiers. On the frontline, a vehicle becomes a mobile home, protection, and a vital tool enabling rapid response to critical situations. Oleh Hukovsky, a Military Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, and Captain of the Ukrainian Military Forces currently serving his country at Ground Zero on the frontline of the war in Ukraine, is deeply grateful for the support he has already received immediately after the Ninth Symposium where he delivered his lecture. Your contribution will further strengthen their ability to carry out their work effectively and safely. The bank account details and donation link are provided below - every donation is truly meaningful and sincerely appreciated.
🔗Bank link
https://send.monobank.ua/jar/2p95fcXk3R
💳Bank card number
4441 1111 2685 6040
🔗Pay Pal Irena Goluba
irena.goluba@gmail.com
🔗Pay Pal Oleh Hukovskyy
oleh.hukovskyy@gmail.com
| SCHEDULE: 9th SYMPOSIUM
PLEASE NOTE: all times given here are Central European Time (CET).
FIRST SESSION
9.30am - 12.00 noon CET
9.15am
Introduction to the technical details of the Symposium.
9.30am
Openin Addresses.
Patricia Hunt FRSA, Chair of the Ukrainian and European Psychotherapy Alliance, Former President of the European Association for Psychotherapy.
Professor Anastasia Sklyaruk, Ukrainian Umbrella Association of Psychotherapy.
10.00am
Whole Symposium Thematic Group Sharing Experiences of Anger, Humour, Connection and Love.
Conducted by Olena Stupak (Head of the Psychodrama Section of the UUAP) and Olena Dobrodnyak (systemic family psychotherapist, training therapist, supervisor of the SFT section of the UUAP).
The Thematic Large Group will be conducted using the method of Reflecting Team. This method was created by Tom Anderson. According to this approach the group of therapists or colleagues watches the main discussion, and then openly shares their own feelings and warm non-judging reflections concerning what moved them in the discussion. The Reflecting Team will be the members of the Ukrainian and European Psychotherapy Alliance. The aim is to enrich the perspective of the Group, to create thespace for new senses and possibilities, and to focus on the main resonant themes of Anger, Humour, Connection and Love.
12.00 noon
Coffee break.
SECOND SESSION
12.15pm - 1.15pm CET
12.15pm
“Humour as Life Support in Difficult Circumstances.”
Professor Mirjana Mavrak, Sarajevo.
12.55pm
“Love, Death, Psycho-Mobiles and Dogs.”
Oleh Hukovsky, Military Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, Captain of Ukrainian Military Forces.
1.15pm
Lunch break.
THIRD SESSION
1.40pm - 4.00pm CET
1.40pm
"Emotions Empowering the Warrior (and not only)."
Anatoly Gargaun, MD. Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, Lieutenant of Medical Service of Military Forces of Ukraine.
Anatoly Gargaun is currently in such dangerous circumstances that he may be able to be present at the Symposium or may speak via a pre-recorded video. We thank Anatoly for his courage to speak whilst in danger.
2.00pm
“Retreat-Based Practice: Resource Components and their Impact of the Psycho-emotional wellbeing of Ukrainian Psychotherapists and Psychologists in the Context of the Ongoing War.”
Vibeke Lubanski (European Room for Listening) and Lyudmyla Kolisnyk (PhD, counseling psychologist).
2.30pm
Small Group Discussions.
3.00pm
Round Table of all Speakers.
Moderators: Larysa Didkovska and Eugenijus Laurinaitis.
4.00pm
Close of the Symposium.
| UUAP AND EAP ALLIANCE
In October 2022, at the invitation of the then President of EAP Patricia Hunt FRSA, senior members of the Executive of the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP) started to meet regularly with senior members of the Ukrainian Umbrella Association of Psychotherapy (UUAP). The aim was, and still is, to provide support to Ukrainian Psychotherapists in this terrible time of war. When EAP asked “What help can we give you?”, the answer was “Please help us to organise Symposiums for Ukrainian Psychotherapists to support them in their work during the war”.
Board members of the Alliance
| contact
Alliance of Ukrainian and European Psychotherapists
Ukrainian And European Psychotherapy Alliance Eighth Symposium
“In Search ff Truth and Humanity in Our Time”
CONTACTS
If you have any questions, please contact us:
Technical manager Martin Vitkus
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Call us from the European Union or if you want to speak English: 00 370 686 96520 (Martin)
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Call us from Ukraine or if you want to speak Ukrainian: 00 380 977 667526 (Roksolana)