Conference Agenda

In times of uncertainty and rapid global change, stories remain one of the most enduring human practices for creating meaning, fostering connection, and envisioning new possibilities. This Dream Team proposes an experiential exploration of therapeutic storytelling as a collaborative practice that bridges individual self-reflection with collective dialogue. Drawing on two decades of psychotherapeutic experience within cognitive-behavioral and third-wave approaches, I have developed a body of over one hundred short stories designed to support clients’ self-awareness, awakening, and motivation for change. These stories, accompanied by illustrated postcards, act as tangible anchors of insight within the therapeutic encounter. Although rooted in clinical practice, their resonance extends far beyond the therapy room: they offer a powerful vehicle for dialogue, mutual recognition, and collaborative creativity in diverse communities.

The concept of Storyflows positions stories not as fixed texts but as dynamic movements across personal and cultural boundaries. They flow between therapist and client, individual and group, inner world and outer reality. In this sense, therapeutic stories reflect the very theme of this congress: global flows, connections, dialogues, and collaborative practices in challenging times. Stories invite us into shared spaces of imagination, compassion, and transformation, making them uniquely suited for a Dream Team session.

This 90-minute session will unfold as an open, participatory journey in five stages. First, the session will begin with the reading of a short therapeutic story, offering a common experiential ground from which reflection can emerge (10 minutes). Second, delegates will be invited into guided reflection through carefully crafted questions, encouraging them to consider how the story resonates with their own lives, practices, and current global challenges (15 minutes). Third, participants will move into small groups for a creative exercise of story co-construction (30 minutes). Supported by thematic prompts and visual stimuli such as postcards, each group will be invited to create a brief story that captures their collective reflections. Fourth, these stories will be shared in plenary, where the process of listening, recognition, and dialogue will highlight the multiplicity of perspectives and experiences present in the group (20 minutes). Finally, the session will close with a short guided meditation and reflective writing exercise, anchoring insights and inviting delegates to connect their experience with their own professional or personal contexts (15 minutes).

The Dream Team model is particularly appropriate for this work, as it emphasizes interaction, dialogue, and co-creation. Rather than a traditional presentation, this session will be a living laboratory of collaborative practice, demonstrating how stories function as vessels of shared meaning. The process of collective story-making embodies the congress’ concern with global flows and connections: participants from different countries, professions, and cultural backgrounds will bring their voices together in the creation of new narratives. These narratives will not only reflect individual experiences but also gesture toward shared human concerns in times of disruption and transformation.

Participants will gain experiential understanding of therapeutic storytelling as a practice that fosters both individual self-awareness and collective dialogue. Third, participants will leave with practical tools - reflective prompts, experiential techniques, and creative approaches - that can be adapted to their own professional practices, whether in therapy, education, community work, or leadership.