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We have just completed three incredibly intense days filled with lectures, panels, and inspiring meetings during the 6th International Conference “Beaten Paths and New Trails. Challenges of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy”, which took place on September 26–28, 2025, in Warsaw.
Over these three days we had the opportunity to:
🌍 learn from outstanding experts from around the world – including Svenja Taubner, Lois Choi Kain, Phill Mollon, Trudie Rossouw, Gwen Adshead, Maaike Smits, Mark Dangerfield, Bente Sommerfeldt, and Saskia Malcorps 🙌
🤝 exchange experiences with fellow practitioners,
💡 discover new perspectives in psychotherapeutic work.
In our profession, support from colleagues is extremely important – the chance to share reflections, exchange insights, and learn from one another 🌿💬. That’s why events like this conference not only broaden knowledge but also strengthen the sense of community, which we are proud to be part of 🌱.
Attending the conference was an incredibly inspiring experience for us 🌟 – full of reflections on what truly works in psychotherapy and how the contemporary understanding of ADHD and the autism spectrum is evolving. Speakers repeatedly emphasized that it is not the method or specific techniques 📚 that determine the success of therapy, but above all the relationship between therapist and patient 🤝. Research has shown that common factors are most significant: patient engagement 🙋, the quality of the therapeutic alliance 💬, and openness to the process 🌱, while the method or individual therapist’s style accounts for only a small part of the outcome. Particular attention was given to the role of so-called supershrinks – exceptionally effective therapists 🌟 who stand out thanks to their empathy 💕, authenticity, ability to value their patients 🙌, and willingness to keep learning throughout their lives 📖. This is a reminder that the most important competences in this profession are built not only on manuals and techniques, but also through self-work and addressing one’s own challenges 🌿.
Another major theme of the conference was neurodiversity – ADHD and the autism spectrum. Simple questions ❓ were presented that can help identify difficulties, but hidden aspects of ADHD were also highlighted, such as shame 😔, anxiety 😟, rejection sensitivity 💔, and struggles with emotional regulation 🌊. It was emphasized that ADHD results from a complex interaction between biology 🧬 and environment 🌍 – it can be intensified by trauma, while at the same time provoking difficult reactions from others, which in turn become a secondary source of suffering. In the case of autism spectrum conditions, attention was drawn to sensory overload 🔊, the effort involved in social contact 🧑🤝🧑, and “masking” in relationships 🎭. Supporting neurodivergent individuals is above all about helping them accept their temperament 🌸, reduce shame 💬, cultivate self-compassion 💜, and find practical everyday coping strategies 🛠️. An interesting addition was the presentation of research on the entropic brain theory 🔄 and the potential role of psychedelics 🍄, which open up new perspectives for the treatment of trauma and depression 🌈.
Overall, the conference reminded us that psychotherapy is first and foremost a meeting between two people 🤲, and about building a space where change is possible ✨ – through connection, understanding, and openness to growth 🌱.
A huge thank you to the organizers, Scientific Society for Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, speakers, and all participants – for the inspiration, knowledge, and openness 🙏🩶🧡. We return with our heads full of ideas and our hearts full of motivation to support our patients even better 🌱💡.
