Health and Personality Development

Key Topics

Psychological help and support in working with different client and patient groups
Integrating technology in psychological support
Psychological research and assessment of professional work
Contemporary trends in psychological support
Digitalisation in professional life
Professional identity and professional activity
Health behaviour, self help, and recreation
Future research

Programme

17/04

Pre-conference activities

Plenary session Chair: Assoc. Prof. Sandra Mihailova
11.00–11.30	Physics about Cognition: a Modern Approach to Ageless Argument Prof. Igor Val Danilov (Italy)	Zoom
11.30–13.00	Break
Pre-conference lectures Chair: Lecturer Ilone Krone
13.00–14.30	Fostering Mental Health – How to Master Challenging Times Prof. Christian Stierle (Germany)	Senate Hall Zoom
14.30–15.00	Break
15.00–16.30	Compassionate Leadership – Employing Compassion to Be a Holistic Leader Prof. Christian Stierle (Germany)

18/04

8.30–8.50	Loving Kindness Meditation Prof. Christian Stierle (Germany)	Zoom
8.50–9.00	Break
9.00–9.20	Opening with performance	Zoom
Plenary session Chair: Lecturers Jeļena Koļesņikova & Jana Duhovska
9.20–10.00	Digital Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Health Behavior Change Assoc. Prof. Maria Karekla (Cyprus)	Zoom
10.00–10.10	Break
10.10–11.30	Sections (in Latvian)	online
11.30–11.40	Break
Plenary session Chair: Assts. Elīna Zelčāne & Aija Ozola
11.40–12.10	Empowering Citizens: Navigating the Ethical Landscape of Big Data and AI Prof. Ivan Chorbev (Macedonia)	Zoom
12.10–12.40	Future Thinking as a Mindset to Create a Better Future Asst. Prof. Edyta Sadowska (Poland)
12.40–13.10	The four-day week and workers' health and well-being (in Latvian) Prof. Daiga Kamerāde (United Kingdom)
13.10–13.30	Break
Symposium – Ecopsychology Chair: Lecturer Ingūna Griškēviča, Asst. Elīna Akmane
13.30–14.15	Psyche and Medicine in the Light of Ancestral Wisdom Traditions PhD Geoff Berry (Australia)	Zoom
14.15–15.00	Initiation and Personal Development Through Nature PhD Lia Noar (Israel)
15.00–15.15	Break
15.15–16.00	Birds Eye View: The Relevance of Art Therapy in a Global Environment Jeannette Fiott (Malta)
16.00–16.45	To Build Up Therapy Gardens and Therapy Forest in Different Environment for Doing Nature and Eco Art Therapy Laila Devalié (Denmark)
16.30–17.00	Break
Plenary session Chair: Lecturer Jana Duhovska & Madara Sprūdža
17.00–18.00	The Use of Trauma – Informed Dramatherapy Approaches within Educational Milieus: Two Pilot Case Studies Assoc. Prof. Susana Pendzik (Israel)	Zoom
18.00–18.15	Break
Plenary session Chair: Asst. Elīna Zelčāne
18.15–19.15	The Science of Spiritual Experiences: Implications for Clinical Practice and for the Understanding of Mind Prof. Alexander Moreira-Almeida (Brazil)	Zoom

19/04

Plenary session Chair: Asst. Prof. Toms Pulmanis & Asst. Prof. Guna Bērziņa
12.30–13.30	Medication taking behaviors: adherence, persistence, switching and intervention to increase adherence Prof. Efrat Neter (Israel)		Lecture-theatre #1 Zoom
13.30–14.30	Psychodermatology – the Role of Shame and Disgust for Chronic Skin Diseases Prof. Christian Stierle (Germany)
14.30–15.30	Break
Plenary session Chair: Asst. Prof. Kristīne Šneidere, lecturer Kristīne Vende-Kotova
15.30–16.30	What Is the Evidence That Arts Therapies Can Reduce Depression and Increase Wellbeing Across the Life Span? Relevant Examples and Important Considerations from Process and Outcome Studies Prof. Vicky Karkou (United Kingdom)		Lecture-theatre #1 Zoom
16.30–17.00	Break
Lectures and workshops with the invited speakers
17.00–19.00	Lecture: Spirituality and the Arts Therapies Prof. Johannes Junker (Germany)	Chair: lecturer Jana Duhovska	Lecture-theatre #1 Zoom
	Workshop: Behavioral Medicine – the Biopsychosocial Model in Action Prof. Christian Stierle (Germany)	Chair: lecturer Ilona Krone	Senate Hall Zoom

20/04

8.00–8.25	Loving Kindness Meditation Prof. Christian Stierle (Germany)		Zoom
8.25–8.30	Break
Lectures and workshops with the invited speakers
8.30–11.30	Lecture: How the Practice of Nature Based Art Psychotherapy Has Aided Adolescents with the Notion of Transition Workshop: How to Help Adolescents Reduce Anxiety and Stress by Facilitating Art Therapy with Nature – Based Practices Nicky Shaw (United Kingdom) Outline: This workshop has combined elements of theory and practice. Theory will be shared on some considerations and limitations of Nature Based Approaches (indoors and outdoors), working with clients, with case study material from adolescent groups. The practical session will explore 2-3 techniques that an art therapist can apply to various populations to help reduce stress and anxiety through Nature Based media and techniques. Knowledge that part of the session will be to go and collect natural materials to bring back to Zoom and create in front of each other on a theme connected to Nature. Those not able to collect natural materials on the day, should plan ahead and on a walk collect whatever 'calls out' to them. You will need a medium size stick (length of arm / thickness similar to an 'ok' sign with thumb and finger), threads, wools, beads, felt, ... anything to wrap around the stick. Paper plate (ideally white), A3 paper, traditional felt tip marker pens, pencils, colouring pencils.	Chair: Asst. Elīna Akmane	Zoom
	Workshop: Self-encounter Through Movement: the Use of Sherborne Developmental Movement (SDM) to Faciliate Healing Psychotrauma from the Mother-Child Relationship Janice Filer (United Kingdom)	Chair: lecturers Kristīne Vende-Kotova & Diāna Semerova	Zoom
	Workshop: Untitled Vilmantė Aleksienė (Lithuania)	Chair: lecturer Jana Duhovska	Zoom
11.30–11.45	Break
11.45–14.45	Workshop: How to Bring Nature into Art Therapy and Art Therapy out in Nature and Why Laila Devalié (Denmark) Outline: How to bring nature into art therapy and art therapy out in nature with practical and theoretical examples of methods to use and how to benefit by combining art- and nature therapy. A case study with a client and a group using eco art therapy. The participants will try out some methods to use nature in art therapy inside and outside in nature. The participants will also try out a little session. You will need 5 nature items, a stone, paper and some drawing materials.	Chair: Asst. Elīna Akmane	Zoom
	Workshop: Psyche and Medicine in the Light of Ancestral Wisdom Traditions Geoff Berry (Australia) Outline: The masterclass treats modern attempts at healing as a subset of ancestral practices that humanity have used since the awakening of consciousness. I proceed from the acceptance common to religious thought, that a primal sense of separation lies at the core, and is the cause, of much human suffering. I want to explore ways of healing the primal wound, re-placing us in relationship with nature spirit. I will show how modern psychology can benefit from stepping back into the ancestral roots of healing, the ‘good medicine’ of earth-based ritual, which can be found beneath, beyond and behind the more conventional Christian basis of the modern West.	Chair: Asst. Prof. Ingūna Griškēviča	Zoom
	Workshop: Seminar "Jo Blagg" – a Drama Therapy Method Prof. Johannes Junker (Germany) Outline: This method, developed in the Netherlands, deals with a main character, the protagonist, developed by the whole group. The protagonist encounters their most important attachment figures and, of course, the reason why they are undergoing therapeutic treatment. The special feature of this method is the desired group size of 12 to 16 people and the fact that the protagonist, with all his problems and competences, is the mirror of the experiences of all participants. The aim is to find, try out and discuss new solutions to problems together. In this seminar, the method is explained, tested and its theoretical background, especially in relation to possible re-traumatisation, is explained.	Chair: lecturer Jana Duhovska, Madara Sprūdža	Zoom
	Workshop: Arts for the Blues Prof. Vicky Karkou (United Kingdom) Outline: Arts for the Blues is a creative arts-based group intervention for depression, low mood and anxiety, developed by researchers and artists at the universities of Edge Hill and Salford in the North West of England. It is an evidence-based model for delivering creative psychotherapies with adults and children. Participants of this workshop will get acquainted with practical application of this intervention.	Chair: lecturer Jana Duhovska	Zoom
14.45–15.00	Break
15.00–18.00	Workshop: Birds Eye View: The Relevance of Art Therapy in a Global Environment Jeannette Fiott (Malta) Outline: This research aims to explore how can art therapy contribute in a global world. It explores the dynamics of globalisation, immigration, and resettling. It goes into cultural aspects and contemporary issues of climate change, deforestation, resource extraction, and ecological systems.	Chair: Asst. Elīna Akmane	Zoom
15.00–18.00	Workshop: Being Part of All: Feminine Nature as an Essential Part of a Healthy Human Existence and Creative Web of Life Claudia D. Rodriges (Portugal) Outline: Feminine and Masculine Nature together made the basilar condition to create a new life. As we condemn Feminine Nature to submission, we can observe more individuals and communities getting down in many forms of loss of integrity. As a mirror we are watching an increase in unhealthy and unbalanced environments in all parts of our common house: our planet and its web of (creative) life. In this master class, we will engage to discuss and exercise this issue from an Eco-Existential and Eco-Psychological perspective, together as an interdependent all.	Chair: Asst. Prof. Ingūna Griškēviča	Zoom
18.00–18.15	Break
18.15–19.15	Lecture: Sarunas ar mirušiem, lietojot mobilās ierīces Prof. Imants Barušs (Canada)	Chair: Asst.Prof. Guna Svence & Asst. Baiba Pumpiņa	Zoom

Working language: Latvian, English
Format: online

The conference is open to students, psychologists, health professionals, supervisors, as well as anyone from the helping and educational professions.

All events at the conference will be recorded.

The conference welcomes representatives of the assisting and educational fields (psychologists, medical practitioners, consultants, social professionals, supervisors, etc.), as well as students, spiritual teachers and practitioners.