Evidence-based practice in psychology and psychotherapy

Dear colleagues in psychology and those on the path to mastering this wonderful profession! For several consecutive years, I have participated in the Summer and Winter Schools of Psychotherapy in Vienna, organized jointly by Sigmund Freud Universität (Austria) and Sigmund Freud University Ukraine. I can confidently say that this education offers not only cutting-edge modern knowledge, clinical case studies, and the unique experience of the lecturers but also an unforgettable atmosphere of respect, support, and a passion for professional self-improvement. Every professional understands the importance of continuous development and staying updated with the most relevant information in their field. In our profession, personal experience is even more valuable: both the experience generously shared by SFU lecturers and the experience we, as colleagues, gain by analyzing proposed cases, sharing hypotheses, and asking all possible questions to the lecturers. «There are no stupid questions», says Maximilian Pritz at the beginning of each school, and I am always amazed by this openness to inquiry and exploration, which is absolutely vital in our profession. Moreover, the topics chosen for the schools are incredibly engaging and address the challenges of our time. The information on these topics is often unavailable in open sources, and the way it is structured and enriched with real-life cases from the lecturers’ practice is simply priceless! I sincerely recommend the Summer and Winter Schools of Psychotherapy not only to psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapists but also to colleagues from other modalities. After all, we all share a common goal: to elevate the level of modern Ukrainian psychotherapeutic science and to preserve and improve people’s mental health in such challenging life circumstances.

When I decided to join the group and attend the Summer School of Psychotherapy in Vienna for the first time, I was sure I would simply have a good time in the company of colleagues. After all, in a time of oversaturation with all kinds of trainings and seminars, very little could impress me. But… from the very first minutes of the school, I found myself in a unique, new world where psychotherapy is taught. The brilliance of the lecturers and the richness of the material, new facts, and ideas around psychodynamic approaches truly surprised and captivated me. Now I attend these schools with great pleasure. It is here that I can gather valuable and up-to-date insights from the world of psychotherapy without needing to attend multiple international congresses or read countless articles and books on new developments and innovations in the field. Max Pritz and Nick Jaini have already done this — and they present professional summaries in an accessible format :) Organizational aspects are also very important to me. Tetiana Pysarenko and her team arrange everything clearly and efficiently, the translation is excellent, and the group dynamic is effective and comfortable.

Once, I dreamed of studying at the Sigmund Freud University of Psychoanalysis in Vienna. What could be better than studying psychoanalysis in the city of its founder? But it seemed impossible to achieve. Fortunately, fate gave me the chance to meet my colleague, Doctor of Psychology and official representative of Sigmund Freud University, the founder of the Ukrainian Sigmund Freud University, Tetiana Pysarenko. Tetiana initiated a joint project with the university to provide Ukrainians with education through Summer and Winter Schools of Psychoanalysis. I had the opportunity to join this program, which allowed me to gain invaluable knowledge from the best Austrian specialists and significantly enhance my professional level. It was a combination of in-depth and structured theoretical material with numerous case studies and practical group work. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to improve my professional expertise!