RSU to host the 10th international conference ‘Health and Personality Development: an Interdisciplinary Approach’

The 10th International Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Health and Personality Development: an Interdisciplinary Approach’ will be held at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) from 18 to 20 April. The event will take place both on-site and remotely to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the RSU Department of Health Psychology and Pedagogy. Guest Professor Christian Stierle will give public lectures the day before the conference, on 17 April.

The conference has been designed as a platform for discussion on current topics in psychological support in the interdisciplinary context of health care. It will feature plenary sessions with the participation of prominent international guest speakers from countries such as Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Israel, Canada, Cyprus, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, and Germany. The programme will also include parallel sessions on the latest studies, panel discussions and masterclasses with experienced professionals on various relevant topics.

Some of the key topics that will be discussed at the conference include psychological support for different client and patient groups; future perspectives and digitalisation; an ecological approach to psychology; current challenges and resources of art therapy; professional identity and professional competence.  
 
On 17 April, the day before the conference, everyone interested will be invited to participate in a pre-conference event led by Visiting Professor Christian Stierle. Prof. Stierle will deliver two public lectures onsite, which are also planned to be broadcast online. The lecture will cover two topics: strengthening mental health and stress management, as well as empathetic leadership principles and methods for effectiveness and psychological safety at work. Everyone is invited to take advantage of the opportunity to participate in person!

The first day of the conference – 18 April – will be held online. The first part of the day will include lectures by guest speakers and presentations of the latest studies by RSU lecturers, students and graduates. It will be followed by lectures by guest speakers and a symposium on ecological approaches in psychology in the afternoon.
  
On 19 April, the conference will take place in a hybrid format, with an emphasis on onsite events. In the morning, the department will host a celebratory meeting during which attendees will be invited to reflect on what the department has achieved over the past decade. In the afternoon, there will be a plenary session with onsite lectures by guest lecturers from Israel, the UK, Poland, and Germany, followed by masterclasses and group work.
 
On 20 April, traditional masterclasses with guest lecturers will take place. These classes will be held online and offer insight into different approaches to ecopsychology and art therapy. The day will conclude with lectures on mental health and spirituality.  

Programme

The conference is organised by the Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy of the RSU Faculty of Public Health and Social Welfare.

Students, psychologists, art therapists, psychotherapists, supervisors, health professionals, representatives of assisting and educational professions, as well as everyone interested are invited to participate in the conference.

We look forward to meeting you at the conference to discuss current issues for the improvement of psychological research and assessment, as well as the improvement of psychological support and supervision services in Latvia.

On 19 April, when we will celebrate the department’s anniversary in person, we especially invite former employees of the department, RSU alumni and cooperation partners to attend. We look forward to meeting again to reflect on the achievements of the last decade and look towards the future together.  

Further information: conference[pnkts]hepiarsu[pnkts]lv, phone: +371 67062704.