29th International Meeting on Dialogical Treatment of Psychosis

The meeting will take place Wed-Sun 27th-31st August in Rovaniemi, Finland. There will be an Open Day on Friday 29th of Aug for those who wish to attend for the day only.

The meeting will be hosted by Lapland University of Applied Sciences. Meeting venue: Jokiväylä 11, 96300 Rovaniemi, Finland.

Registration to the 5-day meeting and Open Day is closed. Webinar link of the Open Day will be sent to registered participants only.

Registration options and fees:

• Participation 27th-31st Aug at Rovaniemi*
  • 458 € (includes VAT 25,5%)
  • Registration open from February to 15th of June.
• One day participation Fri 29th Aug at Rovaniemi**
  • 37,65 € (includes VAT 25,5%)
  • Registration open from February to 8th of Aug.
• One day participation Fri 29th Aug online***
  • Free of charge
  • Registration open from February to 8th of Aug.

*Participation on 27th-31st of Aug at Rovaniemi includes:

• Participation to all sessions
• Lunches on Thu-Sat
• Coffee/tea on Wed-Sun
• Get Together Cocktail event on Wed 27th of Aug
• Festive Dinner on Sat 30th of Aug

**Participation on Fri 29th at Rovaniemi includes:

• Participation to the seminar
• Lunch
• Coffee/tea

***Online participation on Fri 29th includes:

• Participation to the seminar via online connection
• Simultaneous interpretation to English (if needed)

Payment options:

• Participants who pay for themselves will pay by card at the venue
• When the payer is is employer or company the payment can be done by card at the venue or by invoice

The day-time programme consists of workshops, discussions and speeches.

The themes for the workshops will be co-created together during the Wednesday evening gathering, allowing participants to shape the content and focus based on shared interests and expertise. Workshops will take place on Thursday and Saturday, offering space for exploration, reflection, and exchange. If you would like to present your research or share insights from your studies, we welcome proposals in advance. Saturday’s program will place a stronger emphasis on contemporary research in the field of dialogic practices and processes, providing an opportunity to dive deeper into current academic and practical developments.

Please note the times informed below are on Finnish time (GMT/UTC +3).

• 12:00–14:00 International Open Dialogue Network Meeting – in person and online.
  • Zoom-ink to the online meeting.
  • Passcode: Network
• 14.00 – 15.00 Registration
• 15.00 – 15.45 Welcome to the meeting
• 15.45 – 16.45 Planning the workshops in small groups
•  16.45 – 18.00 Summarizing the workshop ideas
• 18.00 – 19.00 Break
• 19.00 Get Together Cocktail Event  at Lappia Hall (address: Jorma Eton tie 8 A)

• 09.00 – 10.30 Plenary / Borealis Hall
• 10.30 – 11.00 Break
• 11.00 – 12.15 Workshops and discussions
• 12.15 – 13.30 Lunch
• 13.30 – 14.45 Workshops and discussions
• 14.45 – 15.15 Coffee and snack break
• 15.15 – 16.30 Workshops and discussions
• 16.30 – 17.00 End-of-day closing session/Borealis Hall
• Break
• 18.30 Dialogue with nature at Ounasvaara Hill. Event in nature – Have good walking shoes. Meeting point: Lordi’s Square (address: Maakuntakatu 29-31, 96200 Rovaniemi). Nursing students will guide you from there to Ounasvaara.

• 09.00 – 16.30. Please find separate program from next section.

• 09.00 – 10.30 Plenary / Borealis Hall
• 10.30 – 11.00 Break
• 11.00 – 12.15 Workshops and discussions
• 12.15 – 13.30 Lunch
• 13.30 – 14.45 Workshops and discussions
• 14.45 – 15.15 Coffee and snack break
• 15.15 – 16.30 Workshops and discussions
• 16.30 – 17.00 End-of-day closing session/Borealis Hall
• 17.00 – 19.00 Break
• 19.00 –   Festive Dinner & Party at Lappia Hall (address: Jorma Eton tie 8 A)

• 09.00 – 10.00 Coffee and snack
• 10.00 – 12.00 Summary, goodbyes and thank you!

Changes to the programme are possible. Please find downloadable version of the programme from section “Files”.

AVOIN PÄIVÄ / OPEN DAY Aug 29th 2025

Avoin dialogi mielenterveyspalveluiden kehittämisen innoittajana / Open Dialogue as inspiration for the development of mental health services

Paikka /Venue: Lapin ammattikorkeakoulu / Lapland University of Applied Sciences. Address: Jokiväylä 11, 96300 Rovaniemi, Finland.

Registration to the Open Day has been closed. Webinar link will be sent to registered participants only.

Please note the times informed below are on Finnish time (GMT/UTC +3).

OHJELMA / PROGRAMME

• 8.00-9.00 Ilmoittautuminen Rovaniemellä osallistuville / Registration for those attending at Rovaniemi
• 9.00-9.10 Avoimen päivän avaus / Opening of the day.
  • Rehtori/Rector Riitta Rissanen, Lapland University of Applied Sciences
• 9.10-9.15 Lapin kamariorkesterin musiikkiesitys / Musical performance by Lapland Chamber Orchestra
• 9.15-9.55 Avoimen dialogin hoitomallin merkitys, nykytila ja tulevaisuuden näkymät / The importance, current status and future prospects of the Open Dialogue model of care
  • Lapin hyvinvointialueen työntekijät ja kokemusasiantuntijat / Practitioners and experts by experience of the Lapland Welfare Services
• 9.55-10.15 Tutkimus avoimen dialogin kehittämisen osana I / Research as part of the development of open dialogue
  • Jaakko Seikkula, Emeritus Professor of Psychotherapy, Finland
• 10.15-10.45 Tauko / Break
• 10.45-12.00 Tutkimus avoimen dialogin kehittämisen osana II / Research as part of the development of open dialogue
  • Tomi Bergström, Psykologian tohtori ja kliinisen psykologian dosentti, / Psychologist and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Finland
  • Experiences about ODDESI multicenter research project in the UK. Russell Razzaque, Consultant Psychiatrist, Clinical Director, Mindfulness
    teacher
• 12.0013.00 Lounastauko / Lunch break
• 13.00-14.00 Avoin dialogi mielenterveyspalvelujen kehittämisen innoittajana maailmalla  / Open Dialogue as inspiration for the development of mental health services worldwide 
  • Charmaine Harris, Specialist Therapist and Open Dialogue Trainer Professional Lead for  Peer Support, UK
  • Yasmin Ishaq, Psychodynamic/Relational Psychotherapist, Trainer in Dialogical Approaches, UK
  • Zelda Alpern, Collaborative Network Approach (CNA) Statewide Coordinator and CNA Adult Services Coordinator (at CSAC), USA
  • Vic Martini, Outpatient Clinician, United Counseling Service of Bennington, VT, USA
• 14.00-14.30 Kahvitauko / Coffee break
• 14.30-15.30 Open Dialogue as inspiration for the development of mental health services worldwide
  • Raffaella Pocobello, Researcher, Trainer in Dialogical Approaches, Italy
  • How is the Open Dialogue revolution progressing in Japan. Tamaki Saito, Emeritus Professor of Social Psychiatry and Mental Health, Japan
  • Bringing companions together: how we support, co-create and spread Open Dialogue practice in Flanders, Belgium. Dag Van Wetter, Open Dialogue Companion & Open Dialogue Trainer, Belgium
• 15.30-16.00 Loppureflektiot: Avoimen dialogin hoitomallin tulevaisuus Lapissa / Final reflections: The future of the Open Dialogue model of care in Lapland
  • Lapin hyvinvointialueen edustajat / Representatives of the Lapland Welfare Services
• 16.00-16.30 Yleisön kommentit ja kysymykset / Comments and questions from the audience
• 16.30 Päivän päätös / Closing the day

Muutokset ohjelmaan mahdollisia. / Changes to the programme are possible. Ladattavan version ohjelmasta löydät kohdasta Liitetiedostot. /Please find downloadable version form section “Files”.

TIETOA AVOIMESTA PÄIVÄSTÄ / GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT OPEN DAY

• Registration to the Open Day has been closed. Webinar link will be sent to registered participants only.
• Osallistuminen paikan päällä Rovaniemellä 37,65 € (sis. alv 25,5%) / Open Day participation at Rovaniemi, fee €37.65 (incl. VAT 25.5%). Lounas ja kahvi/tee sisältyvät hintaan. Lunch and coffee/tea are included.
• Simultaanitulkkaus englanti-suomi-englanti. / Simultaneous interpretation English-Finnish-English

BY PLANE

There are plenty of direct flight connections to Rovaniemi.

• Finnair operates direct flights daily between Rovaniemi and Helsinki Airport all year round. Finnair operates also between Helsinki and Kemi-Tornio Airport. Bus/car journey to Rovaniemi from Kemi-Tornio takes approximately one and a half hour.
• Lufthansa flies to Oulu Airport all year round from Munich Airport. Flights are operated on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Oulu is approximately 2,5 hours away from Rovaniemi by car. There are several ways to reach Rovaniemi easily: by bus, train or rental car.
• Norwegian operates direct flights between Rovaniemi and Helsinki all year round.
• Ryanair flies to Rovaniemi all year round from Milan Bergamo. Starting in April 2025, flights will be operated on Fridays and Sundays.

BY TRAIN

• Finnish railway transport VR
• It is possible to fly to Helsinki and take the train to Rovaniemi. The journey takes about 8-9 hours by day and about 12 hours by night train.

BY BUS

Some bus companies who operate to Rovaniemi:

• Onnibus
• Matkahuolto

PUBLIC BUS SERVICES

Public bus service operates between the city center and Lapland UAS. Please find the schedules from Rovaniemi’s public transport website. There you can also find information on bus tickets, their prices, etc. You can purchase single tickets on the bus in cash or with the most common debit/credit cards or mobile payment apps.

ACCOMMODATION

There are plenty of hotels and Airbnb accommodations in the city centre of Rovaniemi. We are happy to provide discount codes to some of the hotels for the duration of the event (27th-31st of Aug):

• Arctic City Hotel -10% with code dialogue. You can book accommodation directly on the hotel website according to their booking status.
• Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna Rovaniemi. Discount code: BDIALOGUE. There are 20 rooms available for discount price. You can book accommodation directly on the hotel website.

Please find more information about accommodation: Rovaniemi Tourist Information

RESTAURANTS

Rovaniemi is full of Finnish and international restaurants. Here’s links to some restaurants:

• Smoky BBQ dishes on a lush island in Rovaniemi: link to their website
• Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara at the peak of Ounasvaara: link to their website
• Summer restaurant and sauna Kesärafla Sauna: link to their website
• Gustav Kitchen & Bar: link to their website
• Restaurant Nili: link to their website

ACTIVITIES

Rovaniemi is best known as the city of Santa Claus and reindeers. You can meet the Santa and reindeers at Santa Claus Village and Santapark. In August it is great to experience Finnish nature in autumn colors. Please find more information about activities: Rovaniemi Tourist Information

Rovaniemi Guided Walking Tour – FRIDAY 29TH AUGUST

You will have the opportunity to take part in a guided walking tour of Rovaniemi’s history and present day. Rovaniemi is the capital of Finnish Lapland. Rovaniemi was mostly destroyed in the World War II and has been rebuilt. The world-famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto created the “reindeer horn”-layout for the rebuilt town. He also designed the city’s administrative and cultural centre, and this year the town is celebrating Alvar Aalto’s designs.

• Time: Friday 29th August at 17.20.
• Duration: 60 min.
• Starting point: Lappia Hall (address: Jorma Eton tie 8 A)
• Number of participants: 10-15
• Price: 14,5 €. Card payment will be collected on arrival either Wed 27th or Fri 29th August.
• Please register in advance by filling this form by Fri 8th Aug.

Arktikum – Science Centre and Museum

• Location Pohjoisranta 4, 96200 Rovaniemi
• Exhibitions:
  • A renewed permanent exhibition Arctic Opposites
  • Northern ways – An exhibition by the Regional Museum of Lapland showcases Lapland history, people, northern nature, and animals.

Korundi Art Museum –Rovaniemi Art Museum

Temporary Presence – From Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation Collection https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/event/temporary-presence-from-jenny-and-antti-wihuri-foundation-collection/

• Organized by Rovaniemen taidemuseo
• Location  Kulttuuritalo Korundi, Lapinkävijäntie 4, 96100 Rovaniemi
• The exhibition Temporary Presence celebrates the 30-year residency collaboration between the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation and the University of Lapland

Sápmi Triennial https://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/event/sapmi-triennial/

• Organized by Rovaniemen taidemuseo
• Location Lapinkävijäntie 4, 96100 Rovaniemi
• The first-ever Sápmi Triennial presents a spectacular array of Sámi contemporary art and duodji, traditional Sámi handicrafts. The exhibition showcases the abundance and vitality of Sámi cultural heritage. The works highlight themes which are deeply rooted in tradition and identity, as well as the challenges of contemporary life. Included in Sápmi Triennial are both rising stars as well as artists with lengthy careers. The works are engaged in a conversation between different countries and generations, and displays what is happening right now in Sámi contemporary art.

The organizing committee consists of Jaakko Seikkula, Paula Yliniemi, Mia Kurtti and Kari Valtanen. Staff members and students from Lapland UAS also contribute to organizing the meeting.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact us by email:  opendialog@lapinamk.fi.

The registration to the meeting is binding. If the registered person fails to show up the registration fee will be charged after the event. Participation can be cancelled free of charge only in the case of illness certified by a doctor.

The meeting will take place only if there are enough participants. We reserve the right to make changes to the meeting.