Keynote Speakers
Welcome to our 6th International Gestalt Research Conference the premier event for cutting-edge research, experiential learning and professional networking in the Gestalt community. With 16.5 hours CPD on offer whether you are a practitioner, researcher or both, this conference offers something for everyone. Explore more about our keynote speakers below.
Biljana van Rijn is a current President of the UK Chapter of the Society for Psychotherapy Research, an Associate Director of Education at Metanoia Institute in London, psychotherapist, supervisor and a psychotherapy researcher.
She leads the research centre at Metanoia Institute and has established a research clinic. Her focus is practice-based research with a particular interest in theory - building case study research and the process of change in psychotherapy. Biljana has authored numerous research publications using the qualitative, mixed method and quantitative methodologies as well as books on clinical assessment and formulation and working with sexual attraction in counselling and psychotherapy.
Dr. Felicitas Rost works as a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Psychotherapy at the Open University UK, supervises clinical doctorate students at the Tavistock Clinic, and works as a psychodynamic psychotherapist in the charity sector. She is also the General Vice President of the Society for Psychotherapy Research (SPR).
Previously, she was the Research Lead at the Tavistock Clinic, where she was involved with the Tavistock Adult Depression Study (TADS) and set up an enhanced ROM for individuals who present with sexually problematic and violent behaviours at the Portman Clinic. Most recently, she spearheaded a five year stakeholder campaign that demanded and achieved crucial methodological revisions of the latest NICE treatment guideline for depression.
She is the PI of the HEARD study – a health economic evaluation of individuals with complex mental health needs. As part of the Talking Therapies Task Force (TTTF), the aim is to promote the development of a national program of psychological therapies for these individuals.
Her current interests are shaped by two beliefs: the need to build bridges between research and clinical practice, and the breaking down of arbitrary hierarchies of types of research evidence.
Ladislav Timulak, PhD is Professor in Counselling Psychology at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. He is Course Director of the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology. Ladislav (“Laco”—read “Latso”) is involved in various psychotherapy trainings in Ireland and internationally. His main research interest is psychotherapy research, particularly the development of emotion-focused therapy (EFT). He currently is adapting this form of therapy as a transdiagnostic treatment for depression, anxiety, and related disorders. He is also researching the use of mental health interventions delivered online. He has written or co-written ten books, more than 100 peer reviewed papers and chapters in both his native language, Slovak, and in English. His most recent books include Transforming Emotional Pain in Psychotherapy: An Emotion-Focused Approach (2015), Transforming Generalized Anxiety: An Emotion-Focused Approach (with James McElvaney; 2018); Essentials of Descriptive-Interpretive Qualitative Research: A Generic Approach (with co-author Robert Elliott); Transdiagnostic Emotion-Focused Therapy (with co-author Daragh Keogh); Essentials of Qualitative Meta-Analysis (with Mary Creaner) and Transforming Emotional Pain: An Emotion-Focused Workbook. with several co-authors. He maintains a part-time private practice.
Further information and general queries
contact Silvia on conference@ukagp.org.uk
