Evolution of Psychotherapy Promises Exciting Lineup of Thought Leaders and Celebrity Keynotes

The 36th annual The Evolution of Psychotherapy conference will be a virtual experience presented November 30 through December 5, 2021 and will feature psychotherapy thought leaders who share ideas, promote convergence, and highlight unifying principles that guide effective clinical work. 

This “number 1 rated psychotherapy conference in the world” features over 45 globally renowned speakers with live Q&As, conversation hours, workshops, topical panels, clinical demonstrations, a chance to earn up to 50 continuing education/continuing medical education (CE/CME) credits, and so much more.

"Our invited speakers are the trailblazers and experts in psychotherapy today. The content and value they bring to this educational conference is an embarrassment of riches. Enjoy presentations from over 40 world-renowned speakers, engage with the leading minds in psychotherapy and mental health, and uncover practical strategies to improve your clinical practice immediately," said Jeffrey Zeig, PhD, founder and director, The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, in a letter to attendees.

The conference will kick off with a convocation followed by a keynote address at 4:50 PM PT from speaker Philip G Zimbardo, PhD, emeritus psychology professor, Stanford University, San Francisco, California. Dr Zimbardo's keynote, titled "Social Dynamics and Human Motivation," will "take the audience on an intellectual journey into and across many domains of psychology. For psychotherapists, a key message is the awareness of the social context of your treatment."

Best-selling author, poet, essayist, and naturalist, Diane Ackerman, PhD, MA, MFA, will bring the conference to a close during her keynote address, "What is a self?". Dr Ackerman says her talk will "explore how the brain becomes the mind, and how it builds a sense of self."

Other keynote and invited guest speakers include: 

• Helen Fisher, PhD, internationally renowned neuroscientist and biological anthropologist. 
• John and Julie Gottman, PhD, co-founders of The Gottman Institute and co-authors of published works surrounding healthy relationships. 
• Rob Kapilow, composer, conductor, and music commentator from the Kaufman Music Center who is known for his work on active listening. 
• Cloé Madanes, LIC, HDL, one of the originators of the strategic approach to therapy.  
• Martin Seligman, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, will speak on positive psychology in the post-COVID world. 
• Derald Wing Sue, PhD, Teacher's College, Columbia University, New York, New York, will provide insights into race and ethnicity and offer tips for clinicians in having these dialogues. 
• Irv Yalom, MD, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, returns to the conference to bring his expertise in group psychotherapy and interpersonally based individual therapy.  
• Carol Gilligan, PhD, New York University, author of "In A Different Voice" will provide insight into understanding women's psychology.  
• Helen A. Neville, PhD, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, will present the 'Psychology of Radical Healing' framework and promote healing in Black, indigenous, and people of color.

Celebrity Keynote Address 

The celebrity keynote address will include talks from: 

• Elizabeth Smart, abduction survivor, news correspondent, and child safety activist, known for her advocacy for change and recovery programs. 
• Amy Van Dyken-Rouen, 6-time Olympic gold champion swimmer and the first American female athlete to win 4 gold medals in a single Olympic game. 
• Zak Williams, son of actor Robin Williams, is a global mental health advocate who shares his personal story and supports campaigns to remove mental health issues' stigma.

All sessions presented live will be recorded and available for viewing up to 90 days after the conference.

More news and insights from the conference can be found on an ongoing basis in the Evolution of Psychotherapy Newsroom.