World-Attuned Therapy. Briskness, Connection, Presence

About the Conference

We are pleased to invite you—for the sixth time—to the International Contextual Behavioral Science Conference.

Over the course of three days, participants can look forward to inspiring lectures, hands-on workshops, and thought-provoking discussions with experts from Poland and abroad.

Can therapy move beyond the boundaries of the consulting room to address global and local challenges? Can closeness and mindfulness become the foundation of therapy in times of uncertainty? Can contextual behavioral science support not only our internal processes but also our relationship with a world facing turbulent change?

The answer is captured in the theme of this conference: World-Attuned Therapy: Briskness. Connection. Presence.

As we invite you to this event, we are guided by a few important reflections.

We are deeply convinced that the therapeutic process does not happen only within the consulting room—stepping beyond its broad boundaries allows us to engage with many pressing contemporary issues.

The world today faces numerous challenges—climate change, ecological crises, conflicts, growing social polarization, and, finally, the expanding circles of loneliness and individual isolation.

What can we offer?

Presence in the face of ongoing changes and care for the sometimes fragile bond with what matters most—another person, nature, animals, and the planet. We are certain that the axis of human–nature–world is an intricate web of living connections, and seeing through this lens motivates us toward engaged action, grounded in a clear set of values.

ACT therapy is built on being present in the here and now, and on choosing conscious actions. When we are more present, we notice not only our own needs but also our impact on the world—globally, locally, at every level. This can lead to a more sustainable lifestyle, better care for nature, and conscious, mature consumption. We can create more supportive, less stressful local environments.

Briskness in action means new ideas and initiatives—a fresh mind. It is presence in the here and now, but without overload. This energy can be supported by close relationships.

As Functional Analysis reminds us, we need not hide behind neutrality. True, deep connection allows for authenticity but also for uncertainty and vulnerability. Even in suffering, if someone is beside us, reality seems more friendly.

Abandoning neutrality also allows us to recognize that the planet—the surrounding ecosystem—may need our real, specific action. “Those who have a ‘why’ to live can bear with almost any ‘how,’” wrote Viktor Frankl. It is easy to lose sight of meaning when we do not feel that we belong—to people, to nature, to existence itself.

Connection with the world allows us not to feel separate or lonely, even when we are alone. At this conference, we want to give you the opportunity to explore connection—through immersion in the present moment, shared feeling, the sense of a shared fate between the individual and the world, and the experience of belonging.

This year, there is one more important word we cannot leave out—one that binds together the three familiar ones: Briskness, Connection, Presence. That word is:

Experiencing. As practitioners and enthusiasts of ACT, we know well that when it comes to “talking about ACT” vs. “doing ACT,” the balance leans strongly toward the latter. In the lecture halls, in groups, and individually, we will also experience—following the words of S. Hayes — that:

“I begin to experience myself as a conscious human being at the precise point at which I begin to experience you as a conscious human being. I see from a perspective only because I also see that you see from a perspective. Consciousness is shared. Moreover, you cannot be fully conscious here and now without sensing your interconnection with others in other places and other times. Consciousness expands across times, places, and persons. In the deepest sense, consciousness itself contains the psychological quality that we are conscious—timelessly and everywhere” (Hayes, 2011, p. 90).

Conference Program

The conference will take place on September 19–21, 2025, at the Faculty of Psychology in Warsaw, SWPS University, Chodakowska 19/31.

The conference will begin on Friday at 9:00 and end on Sunday at 16:00. A detailed schedule of events will be available closer to the date.

Fees and Registration

To participate in the conference, please complete the registration form. Your registration is confirmed only after the conference fee has been paid.

Conference Fees

The fee depends on the registration date:

• 700 PLN – for payments made by July 31
• 800 PLN – for payments made by August 31
• 900 PLN – for payments made in September

Discounts (choose one; discounts cannot be combined):

• 50 PLN for ACBS Polska members
• 100 PLN for students under 26 and doctoral students under 35
• 100 PLN for presenters (e.g., speakers, workshop leaders, or panelists)

Follies: Evening Conference Party

Join us for the Follies evening party, which will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2025 (after the second day of the conference), at Moxy Warsaw Praga located at Ząbkowska 29.

Participation fee: 150 PLN (includes unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, one alcoholic drink, and a selection of hot and cold finger food).

Please note: Spaces are limited.

Download the conference policies (PDF)

Organizers

Contact

Joanna Dudek – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.