The International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis (IIBA) is proud to present its 27th International Conference, dedicated to the theme “The Uniqueness of Bioenergetic Analysis.” This conference brings together colleagues, students, and professionals from around the world to deepen our shared understanding of Bioenergetic Analysis as a psychotherapy that uniquely integrates the somatic, emotional, psychic, and spiritual dimensions of human ex perience.
Across five days of lectures, workshops, and community events, we will explore how the embodied practice of Bioenergetic Analysis fosters healing, growth, and connection, and how it continues to evolve within the wider field of contemporary psychotherapy.
Bioenergetic Analysis is grounded in the principle that body, mind, emotions, and spirit are inseparably intertwined. Understanding how experience arises from these dimensions is central to this year’s theme. Together, we will examine how damage to body, soul, and psyche becomes manifest in lived experience, and how therapeutic practice can support the restoration of wholeness.
Through keynote speeches, panels, presentations, workshops and more, participants will engage with the core principles of Bioenergetic Analysis and its relationship to other psychotherapeutic approaches. Special attention will be given to how psychoanalytic traditions and contemporary perspectives are synthesized in the embodied practice of Bioenergetic therapy.
Key Areas of Exploration
✓ The place of abreaction in the healing process.
✓ The purpose of technique, insight, attitude & behavior change.
✓ The role of the psychotherapist in the therapeutic relationship.
We will explore these questions using the lens of contemporary theory and practice in bioenergetic analysis and other approaches to psychotherapy practice.
Conference Highlights
❤ Experience the uniqueness of Bioenergetic Analysis: where somatic, emotional, and psychic dimensions meet in therapeutic practice.
❤ Explore how embodied healing reveals new possibilities for growth and transformation.
❤ Discover the enduring distinctiveness of Bioenergetic Analysis within the contemporary psychotherapy landscape.
Conference Dates:
♡ | Wednesday, October 8, 2025: Pre-Conference Workshops (optional) & Conference Opening
♡ | Thursday, October 9, 2025: Conference Day 1
♡ | Friday, October 10, 2025: Conference Day 2 & Fireside Chat
♡ | Saturday, October 11, 2025: Conference Day 3 & Boogie & Bites Party
♡ | Sunday, October 12, 2025: Conference Day 4
Conference Committees
Scientific Committee | Scott Baum (Chair), Yael Harel, Diana Guest, Fina Pla, Guilherme Bomfim Pacheco, Alessandro Cataldi, Paola Alessio
Logistics Committee | Kate Dent Rennie (Chair), James Elniski, Angela Funari, Juliana Biundini, Leslie Ann Costello, Leeiner Munoz, Janet Pinneau (liaison BoT)
Our Keynotes
AI Translation for Keynotes and Panels - More info
We are thrilled to announce that we have secured three distinguished keynote speakers for our upcoming 27th IIBA International Conference: Nancy McWilliams, Paul Wachtel, and Sue Grand. Each of these esteemed presenters will engage in a unique dialogue with one of our own members, offering a rich and dynamic exchange of ideas.
Contemporary Theory and Practice of Psychoanalytic and Bioenergetic Psychotherapy
Objectives:
- Participants will be able to describe psychoanalytic concepts of the relationship of psychological and somatic structures in human personality.
- Participants will be able to identify somatopsychic structures and processes as they manifest in personality organizations.
- Participants will be able to recognize psychopathological forms of personality organization, identify somatopsychic aspects of these forms, and propose psychotherapeutic interventions in these patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
Nancy McWilliams
is Visiting Professor Emerita at Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology and has a private practice in Lambertville, NJ. She is author of four textbooks (on psychoanalytic diagnosis, case formulation, therapy, and supervision) and is co-editor of both editions of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual. A former president of the Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy of the American Psychological Association, she is a member of the Austen Riggs Center Board of Trustees. Her books are available in 20 languages and she has taught in 30 countries.
Garry Cockburn
lives in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. He has an Honours Degree in Social Work and an Advanced Certificate of Practice from the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists.. Garry worked as a social worker in child protection services for 30 years, working in multicultural settings, managing a large city office, and as a child welfare consultant to inter-governmental departments. In private practice for twenty-two years, Garry was the inaugural President of the Aotearoa New Zealand Society for Bioenergetic Analysis, and is a member of the faculty there. He was President of the International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis from 2014-2017. He has presented and published extensively on the relationship of psychoanalytic theory and practice and somatopsychic psychotherapy.
Technical Modalities in Psychodynamic and Bioenergetic Approaches to Psychotherapy
Objectives:
- Participants will recognize common elements among psychodynamic/psychoanalytic treatment modalities and treatment elements of bioenergetic analysis.
- Participants will identify the central elements of psychotherapeutic methods that use somatic structures, processes, and dynamics in the formulation of technical interventions.
- Participants will identify and discuss the countertransferential challenges associated with using active techniques in psychotherapy based on somatopsychic principles used in bioenergetic analysis.
Paul L. Wachtel
Ph.D. is Distinguished Professor of psychology in the doctoral program in clinical psychology at the City College of New York. He was a cofounder of the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration (SEPI) and is a past president of that organization. Paul has published numerous books and articles. The most recent is Making Room for the Disavowed: Reclaiming the Self in Psychotherapy. He is the recipient of many awards and recognitions conferred by organizations of psychologists and psychotherapists. He has lectured and given workshops throughout the world on psychotherapy, personality theory, and the applications of psychological theory and research to the major issues of our time.
Yael Harel
Yael Harel is a Movement Therapist (M.A.), International Trainer in Bioenergetic Analysis, and the head of the training program in Bioenergetic Analysis in Israel. Yael is a member of the management team and a supervisor of the Psychoanalytic Arts program at the Winnicott Center in Israel. She operates a private clinic in Bet Halevi, Israel.
Evil and Malevolence: Contemporary Understanding of Human Destructiveness in Psychoanalysis and Bioenergetic Psychotherapy
Objectives:
- Participants will identify antecedents to the development of destructive behaviors as understood in contemporary psychoanalytic and bioenergetic theories of personality development.
- Participants will recognize the emergence of destructive impulses in psychotherapy and will develop a method for discriminating between healthy self-protective negativity and pathological destructiveness.
- Participants will discuss and consider psychotherapeutic interventions expressly directed at destructive forces as manifested in treatment, and will consider countertransference reactions to those manifestations.
Sue Grand
is faculty and supervisor at the NYU Postdoctoral program in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis; faculty, the Mitchell Center for Relational Psychoanalysis; faculty The National Institute for the Psychotherapies. She is a visiting scholar at the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California and at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis, and a fellow at the Institute for Psychology and the Other. She is on the boards of Psychoanalytic Dialogues and Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society. She is the author of The Reproduction of Evil: A Clinical and Cultural Perspective and The Hero in the Mirror: From Fear to Fortitude. With Jill Salberg, she co-authored Transgenerational Trauma: a Contemporary Introduction. Her focus is on the link between psyche, trauma, and culture. She is in private practice in NYC and Teaneck N.J.
Scott Baum
Ph.D. ABPP, is a clinical psychologist and bioenergetic therapist in practice in NYC since 1978. He is a former director of an APA approved internship program, past president of the IIBA, and currently an International Faculty member, and on the faculty of various international bioenergetic groups, and is currently Adjunct Full Professor of Psychology at the Pace University doctoral program in clinical psychology. He has written and taught extensively about the effects of early and chronic relational trauma.
These dialogues promise to bring new insights and ideas that you can put into practice, enriching your professional work and understanding. We believe these dialogues will be both intellectually stimulating and profoundly engaging. Don't miss this opportunity to witness these thought-provoking discussions.
Brand-new feature in our conference series!
As a non-native English speaker, you’ll be able to fully understand our plenary sessions with simultaneous translation! Just bring your phone and earplugs. Powered by Wordly AI Translation, you’ll have access to translations in over 60 languages, making it easier than ever to stay engaged and fully participate in the 27th IIBA International Conference.
Participants can listen in their preferred language using their own mobile devices and earphones. Check out the video beforehand to get familiar with the system.
Specific setup instructions will be provided at the conference, but you will need a QR scanner on your mobile device and a headset if you wish to hear the AI translator’s voice.
Pre-Conference
3 dynamic workshops are scheduled for the Pre-Conference.
Each workshop is 6 hours long, with sessions running from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
WS 1: Caring for Socially Excluded Bodies: Bioenergetic Interventions for Racial, Sexual and Gender Diversity
: Buckhead BR I
In contemporary times, Bioenergetic Analysis is being called upon to deal with issues of an intersectional nature, that is, with bodies that suffer violence and deep social traumas with subjective and energetic issues beyond the theory of character development. These are bodies marked by the destructive forces of social phobia towards the hegemonic system, by discriminatory attitudes that aim to control, dominate and annihilate diverse existences. Racism, misogyny and the different phobic attitudes against the LGBTQIAPN+ population have profound effects on psychosomatic dynamics, leading to affects of death and destruction.
The objective of this workshop is to discuss strategies for dealing with these issues, which require emotional, energetic and conceptual openness on the part of therapists, in order to avoid relational impasses, unconscious destructive defenses and possible reactivations of traumatic patterns of discrimination. The intention is to carry out a theoretical and practical synthesis with an emphasis on the aspects of somatic resonance and recognition of the destructive forces involved, in order to channel them energetically towards creativity, the encounter with diversity and the power of life.
Cuidando dos corpos socialmente excluídos: Intervenções Bioenergéticas para a diversidade racial, sexual e de gênero.
A Análise Bioenergética na contemporaneidade está sendo convocada a lidar com questões de ordem interseccional, ou seja, com corpos que sofrem violências e traumas sociais profundos com questões subjetivas e energéticas para além da teoria do desenvolvimento do caráter. São corpos marcados pelas forças destrutivas da fobia social ao sistema hegemônico, por atitudes discriminatórias que visam controlar, dominar, aniquilar as existências diversas. O racismo, a misoginia, e as diferentes atitudes fóbicas contra a população LGBTQIAPN+ configuram efeitos profundos na dinâmica psicossomática, remetendo a afetos de morte e destruição.
O objetivo desse workshop é discutir estratégias de cuidado dessas questões, as quais requerem uma abertura afetiva, energética e conceitual por parte dos terapeutas, de forma a evitar impasses relacionais, defesas destrutivas inconscientes e possíveis reativações dos padrões traumáticos de discriminação. A intenção é realizar uma síntese teórica e prática com ênfase nos aspectos de ressonância somática e reconhecimento das forças destrutivas envolvidas, para canalizá-las energeticamente para a criatividade, o encontro com a diversidade e a potência de vida.
Maria Cristina Francisco is a clinical psychologist, local trainer at IABSP (Sao Paulo Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis), somatic therapist by the IBB-SP (Brazilian Biosynthesis Institute) and member of Institute AMMA for Psyche and Blackness.
Périsson Dantas is a Clinical Psychologist with a PhD in Psychosomatics. He is an international trainer, member of the IIBA Faculty, psychotherapist and supervisor. Adjunct professor at the State University of Piauí (Brazil).
WS 2: The Therapist’s Body, a Handrail in the Eye of the Cyclone
: Buckhead BR II
This workshop will explore the gold of Bioenergetics Analysis: the inner therapist body-mind-organic depth of connection and availability.
As a starting point I will present a view that help us to integrate bioenergetic analysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy methods and techniques. This model underlies the IIBA curriculum 2025, and the inclusion of relational reparative practice, and the recognition of the therapist as a therapeutic person.
Living more and more in this way of working led me to develop a specific new foundation of being a therapeutic person by offering a deep “limbic to limbic system” organic connection. This relational level develops beyond our conscious will.
It will be my great pleasure to share and transmit some of my experience, lead you in therapeutic experiences that could help you to reach those levels of inner connections that this approach to somatopsychic psychotherapeutic work provides, and facilitate growth in your being as a bioenergetic therapist.
Violaine de Clerck is a psychotherapist and international trainer (since 1995). To share her knowledge, Violaine founded Somavibrance, a training school dedicated to helping professionals reconnect with their bodies. The school offers various body-centered training programs, introductory workshops, therapeutic retreats for practitioners, and movement-based practice sessions.
WS 3: Transference and Relational Dynamics in Bioenergetic Analysis: Integrating Psychoanalytic Theories with the Energetic Self
: Buckhead BR III
This one day experiential workshop will explore how bioenergetic therapy utilizes principles and theoretical concepts shared with other psychodynamic psychoanalytic approaches, in a process that values live, energetic, felt experience as the vehicle for uncovering unconscious (affect) emotions and motivations which form relational bonds.
Within this paradigm the conscious and unconscious dimensions of the Self are understood as a whole body phenomenon. Internal objects and self-states that comprise internal experience are not only mental representations but are emotional- energetic forces that carry vital personal meanings. This has great significance for the bioenergetic therapist in how we understand and appreciate the deeper importance of the transference and the counter-transference as well as providing a means of using therapeutic containment in the work of decoding the patient’s unconscious communications.
Come join us for an exciting foray into encountering and developing these dynamic considerations for yourself and your patients in your practice.
Danita Hall is a Psychotherapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-R) with over 45 years of experience in the field. An international trainer, she specializes in clinical supervision and family therapy.
Conference Opening
Wednesday | October 8
Our Opening Ceremony starts at 6:00 pm and finishes at 09:00 pm
: East Terrace (Grand Hyatt Atlanta Hotel)
Join us as we kick off the 27th IIBA International Conference: A welcome celebration of reconnecting with old friends, meeting new colleagues, sharing laughter, and diving into the inspiring world of Bioenergetic Analysis.
Weather permitting, our Welcome Ceremony will take place on the East Terrace, surrounded by the beauty of the Japanese Garden and cascading waterfalls.
Conference Participants will enjoy a selection of delicious finger foods.
Conference Day 1
Conference Day 1 | Thursday | October 9
- 6:50 am - 7:30 am | Movement Classes
- 7:45 am - 8:45 am| Breakfast
- 8:45 am - 13:00 am | Keynote
- 10:30 am - 10:45 am | Morning break with freshly brewed coffee and selection of hot teas
- 10:45 am - 11: 15 am | Discussion Groups
- 11:15 am - 12:00 am | Q & A
-
- --- 12:00 am - 2:00 pm | Break for lunch ---
- 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 pm | Workshop Slot 1
- 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm | Afternoon break with local and seasonally inspired market fruits, organic energy bars, mixed nuts and freshly brewed coffee and selection of hot teas
- 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm | Workshop Slot 2
Details
6:50 am -7:45 am | Movement Classes | : o
Start your vibrant conference day with our three morning movement classes, designed to energize and ground you. These sessions focus on bioenergetic exercises, breathing techniques, and mindful movement to prepare you for the day ahead. The classes are open to all participants—simply arrive on time and bring along a pillow, yoga mat, or any other equipment that will help you feel comfortable during the session.
7:45 am - 8:45 am | Breakfast | : Grand BR III
After attending our movement classes, head straight to the networking breakfast prepared exclusively for our conference participants. The breakfast of the day includes a variety of options such as juices, muffins, croissants, sandwiches, fruits, toast, coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, and infused water. Take your time to enjoy the breakfast and connect with others before heading to the plenary sessions, located next door.
8:45 am - 12:00 am | Keynote with Nancy Mc Williams and Garry Cockburn
Contemporary Theory and Practice of Psychoanalytic and Bioenergetic Psychotherapy
Current issues in psychoanalytic theory and practice, relating these to contemporary theory & practice in Bioenergetic Analysis.
- Including discussion groups and Q & A session
- Coffee Break at 10:30 am approx.
- : Grand BR I & II
- AI Translation for Keynotes and Panels
Objectives:
- Participants will be able to describe psychoanalytic concepts of the relationship of psychological and somatic structures in human personality.
- Participants will be able to identify somatopsychic structures and processes as they manifest in personality organizations.
- Participants will be able to recognize psychopathological forms of personality organization, identify somatopsychic aspects of these forms, and propose psychotherapeutic interventions in these patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
Nancy McWilliams is Visiting Professor Emerita at Rutgers Graduate School of Applied & Professional Psychology and has a private practice in Lambertville, NJ. She is author of four textbooks (on psychoanalytic diagnosis, case formulation, therapy, and supervision) and is co-editor of both editions of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual. A former president of the Society for Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy of the American Psychological Association, she is a member of the Austen Riggs Center Board of Trustees. Her books are available in 20 languages and she has taught in 30 countries.
Garry Cockburn lives in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. He has an Honours Degree in Social Work and an Advanced Certificate of Practice from the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists.. Garry worked as a social worker in child protection services for 30 years, working in multicultural settings, managing a large city office, and as a child welfare consultant to inter-governmental departments. In private practice for twenty-two years, Garry was the inaugural President of the Aotearoa New Zealand Society for Bioenergetic Analysis, and is a member of the faculty there. He was President of the International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis from 2014-2017. He has presented and published extensively on the relationship of psychoanalytic theory and practice and somatopsychic psychotherapy.
12:00 am - 2:00 pm | Lunch break: We’ll have a break for lunch. Please note that lunch is not included in the conference registration. Buckhead offers a variety of restaurants, cafés, and grocery stores for you to enjoy.
2:00 pm - 6:30 pm | Afternoon Workshops: Several afternoon workshops will be offered, led by conference participants and carefully selected by our Scientific Committee. Details about the workshops will be shared as the conference date approaches. (Please note that participants are required to register in advance for the workshops they wish to attend. Registration is free and included in the conference fee but is mandatory to secure your spot.
Conference Day 2
Conference Day 2 | Friday | October 10
- 6:50 am - 7:30 am | Movement Classes
- 7:45 am - 8:45 am | Breakfast
- 8:45 am - 10:30 am | Keynote
- 10:30 am - 10:45 am | Morning break with freshly brewed coffee and selection of hot teas
- 10:45 am - 11:15 am | Discussion Groups
- 11:15 am - 12:00 am | Q & A
- --- 12:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Break for lunch ---
- 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Workshop Slot 1
- 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm | Afternoon break with local and seasonally inspired market fruits, organic energy bars, mixed nuts and freshly brewed coffee and selection of hot teas
- 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm | Workshop Slot 2
- Evening | In Wise Company
Details
6:50 am - 7:30 am | Movement Classes | : o
Start your vibrant conference day with our three morning movement classes, designed to energize and ground you. These sessions focus on bioenergetic exercises, breathing techniques, and mindful movement to prepare you for the day ahead. The classes are open to all participants—simply arrive on time and bring along a pillow, yoga mat, or any other equipment that will help you feel comfortable during the session.
7:45 am - 8:45 am | Breakfast | : Grand BR III
AI Translation for Keynotes and PanelsAfter attending our movement classes, head straight to the networking breakfast prepared exclusively for our conference participants. The breakfast of the day includes a variety of options such as juices, muffins, croissants, sandwiches, fruits, toast, coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, and infused water. Take your time to enjoy the breakfast and connect with others before heading to the plenary sessions, located next door.
8:45 am - 12:00 am Keynote with Paul L. Wachtel and Yael Harel
Technical Modalities in Psychodynamic and Bioenergetic Approaches to Psychotherapy
- Including discussion groups and Q & A session
- Coffee Break at 10:30 am approx.
- : Grand BR I & II
- AI Translation for Keynotes and Panels
Objectives:
- Participants will recognize common elements among psychodynamic/psychoanalytic treatment modalities and treatment elements of bioenergetic analysis.
- Participants will identify the central elements of psychotherapeutic methods that use somatic structures, processes, and dynamics in the formulation of technical interventions.
- Participants will identify and discuss the countertransferential challenges associated with using active techniques in psychotherapy based on somatopsychic principles used in bioenergetic analysis.
Paul L. Wachtel, Ph.D. is Distinguished Professor of psychology in the doctoral program in clinical psychology at the City College of New York. He was a cofounder of the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration (SEPI) and is a past president of that organization. Paul has published numerous books and articles. The most recent is Making Room for the Disavowed: Reclaiming the Self in Psychotherapy. He is the recipient of many awards and recognitions conferred by organizations of psychologists and psychotherapists. He has lectured and given workshops throughout the world on psychotherapy, personality theory, and the applications of psychological theory and research to the major issues of our time.
Yael Harel is a Movement Therapist (M.A.), International Trainer in Bioenergetic Analysis, and the head of the training program in Bioenergetic Analysis in Israel. Yael is a member of the management team and a supervisor of the Psychoanalytic Arts program at the Winnicott Center in Israel. She operates a private clinic in Bet Halevi, Israel.
12:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Lunch break: We’ll have a break for lunch.Please note that lunch is not included in the conference registration. Buckhead offers a variety of restaurants, cafés, and grocery stores for you to enjoy.
2:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Afternoon Workshops: Several afternoon workshops will be offered, led by conference participants and carefully selected by our Scientific Committee. Details about the workshops will be shared as the conference date approaches. (Please note that participants are required to register in advance for the workshops they wish to attend. Registration is free and included in the conference fee but is mandatory to secure your spot.)
In the evening | In Wise Company | : Grand BR I & II
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Louise Fréchette and Pye Bowden, moderated by Vincentia Schroeter. These well-known voices in Bioenergetics will share their wisdom, insights, and personal reflections on how Bioenergetics has shaped their lives, and explore ways to integrate the rich knowledge from our keynote presentations into practice. Come ready to learn, reflect, and be inspired.
Conference Day 3
Conference Day 3 | Saturday | October 11
- 6:50 am - 7:35 am | Movement Classes
- 7:45 am -8:45 am | Breakfast
- 8:45 am - 10:30 am | Keynote
- 10:30 am - 10:45 am | Morning break with freshly brewed coffee and selection of hot teas
- 10:45 am - 11:15 am | Discussion Groups
- 11:15 am - 12:00 am | Q & A
-
- --- 12:00 am - 2:00 pm | Break for lunch ---
- 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 pm | Workshop Slot 1
- 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 pm | Afternoon break with local and seasonally inspired market fruits, organic energy bars, mixed nuts and freshly brewed coffee and selection of hot teas
- 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 pm | Workshop Slot 2
- --- 8:00 pm - 11:30 pm. | Boogie & Bites Party ---
Details
6:50 am - 7:35 am | Movement Classes | : o
Start your vibrant conference day with our three morning movement classes, designed to energize and ground you. These sessions focus on bioenergetic exercises, breathing techniques, and mindful movement to prepare you for the day ahead. The classes are open to all participants—simply arrive on time and bring along a pillow, yoga mat, or any other equipment that will help you feel comfortable during the session.
7:45 am - 8:45 am | Breakfast | : Grand BR III
After attending our movement classes, head straight to the networking breakfast prepared exclusively for our conference participants. The breakfast of the day includes a variety of options such as juices, muffins, croissants, sandwiches, fruits, toast, coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, and infused water. Take your time to enjoy the breakfast and connect with others before heading to the plenary sessions, located next door.
8:45 am - 12:00 am | Keynote with Sue Grand and Scott Baum
Evil and Malevolence: Contemporary Understanding of Human Destructiveness in Psychoanalysis and Bioenergetic Psychotherapy
- Including discussion groups and Q & A session
- Coffee Break at 10:30 am approx.
- : Grand BR I & II-
AI Translation for Keynotes and Panels
Objectives:
- Participants will identify antecedents to the development of destructive behaviors as understood in contemporary psychoanalytic and bioenergetic theories of personality development.
- Participants will recognize the emergence of destructive impulses in psychotherapy and will develop a method for discriminating between healthy self-protective negativity and pathological destructiveness.
- Participants will discuss and consider psychotherapeutic interventions expressly directed at destructive forces as manifested in treatment, and will consider countertransference reactions to those manifestations.
Dr Sue Grand is faculty and supervisor at the NYU Postdoctoral program in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis; faculty, the Mitchell Center for Relational Psychoanalysis; faculty The National Institute for the Psychotherapies. She is a visiting scholar at the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California and at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis, and a fellow at the Institute for Psychology and the Other. She is on the boards of Psychoanalytic Dialogues and Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society. She is the author of The Reproduction of Evil: A Clinical and Cultural Perspective and The Hero in the Mirror: From Fear to Fortitude. With Jill Salberg, she co-authored Transgenerational Trauma: a Contemporary Introduction. Her focus is on the link between psyche, trauma, and culture. She is in private practice in NYC and Teaneck N.J.
Scott Baum, Ph.D. ABPP, is a clinical psychologist and bioenergetic therapist in practice in NYC since 1978. He is a former director of an APA approved internship program, past president of the IIBA, and currently an International Faculty member, and on the faculty of various international bioenergetic groups, and is currently Adjunct Full Professor of Psychology at the Pace University doctoral program in clinical psychology. He has written and taught extensively about the effects of early and chronic relational trauma.
12:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Lunch break: We’ll have a break for lunch. Please note that lunch is not included in the conference registration. Buckhead offers a variety of restaurants, cafés, and grocery stores for you to enjoy.
2:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Afternoon Workshops: Several afternoon workshops will be offered, led by conference participants and carefully selected by our Scientific Committee. Details about the workshops will be shared as the conference date approaches. (Please note that participants are required to register in advance for the workshops they wish to attend. Registration is free and included in the conference fee but is mandatory to secure your spot.)
8:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. | Boogie and Bites Party: Join us for a celebratory evening on the last night of the conference! We’ve arranged a DJ to provide great music and will set up a dance floor for everyone to enjoy. Finger foods and food stations offering a variety of options (such as salmon, lamb, and southern-inspired sweets) will be available, along with one complimentary beer or wine. Let’s wrap up the conference in style: dancing, dining, and celebrating together!
Book your room at the host hotel and enjoy 1 free ticket to the Boogie & Bites Party on Saturday night! If you're bringing a guest or choosing to stay elsewhere, you can easily add tickets to your conference registration (USD 75).
Conference Day 4
Conference Day 4 | Sunday | October 12
- 7:45 am - 8:45 am | Breakfast
- 8:00 am - 8:45 am | Membership meeting will be at breakfast (More details coming soon.)
- 8:45 am - 11:00 am | Panel Discussion
- 11:00 am - 11:15 am | Cofee Break
- 11:15 am - 12:00 am | Conference Closing
Details
7:45 am - 8:45 am | Breakfast | : Grand BR III
After attending our movement classes, head straight to the networking breakfast prepared exclusively for our conference participants. The breakfast of the day includes a variety of options such as juices, muffins, croissants, sandwiches, fruits, toast, coffee, decaffeinated coffee, tea, and infused water. Take your time to enjoy the breakfast and connect with others before heading to the plenary sessions, located next door.
8:45 am - 11:00 am | Panel Discussion | : Grand BR III
With Scott Baum, Paola Alessio, Alessandro Cataldi, Diana Guest, Yael Harel, Guilherme Pacheco and Fina Pla:
The Roots and Ground of Bioenergetic Analysis | What have we learned in this conference about the core beliefs, principles, and practices of contemporary bioenergetic analysis? What is the body? How do the various dimensions of being, soma, psyche, emotion, and spirit relate to and interrelate with each other? Where are we headed from here in our clinical work, in our theory, in our relation to intrapsychic, interpersonal and social realities?
- Including discussion groups and Q & A session
-
AI Translation for Keynotes and Panels
Objectives:
- Participants will be able to identify elements of theory and practice of psychotherapy that were presented at the conference.
- Participants will reflect on and share how the conference experience influenced and affected their practice of psychotherapy.
- Participants will consider and discuss new ways to work as clinicians and practice the application of these new approaches.
11:15 am - 12:00 am | Conference Closing | : Grand BR III
Voices from the Past, Leading Us to the Future
We will honor the voices and experiences that have shaped our journey, celebrating the shared wisdom of Bioenergetic Analysis, while looking ahead to the future of our community and the opportunities that lie before us. This year’s closing is especially meaningful as we anticipate next year’s 70th anniversary of our Institute - a milestone celebrating decades of shared dedication, growth, and impact.
We are also looking forward to the 28th IIBA International Conference in 2027.
Stay tuned!
Available Scholarship and Fund for the Conference Pass
- Trainee Support Scholarship: The Trainee Support Scholarship offers a discount of up to USD 500 on the Conference Pass fee for a limited number of people meeting the criteria. The intention is to help trainees who are having financial hardship.
For more information, please read here ... - Diversity Support Fund: The Diversity Fund is designed to invite and amplify participation from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities. This initiative reflects our commitment to make the practice of Bioenergetic Analysis more accessible to groups who are traditionally or historically underrepresented in our field.
If you self-identify as BIPOC, we are pleased to offer a significantly reduced rate for the Conference Pass to encourage your participation and contributions to our shared passion for Bioenergetic Analysis. This incentive reflects our priority to have diverse communities. If you are not seeking this type of incentive yourself, please consider passing along this opportunity to others who may benefit.
For more information, please read here ...
Attention: Please ensure you select the correct registration fee when registering, as we are unable to reimburse fees already paid.
General
Registration periods Dates
- Early Bird: Until April 1, 2025
- Standard: from April 2 until July 31, 2025
- Late: from July 31, 2025 until September 5, 2025
Registration group Description
- IIBA Members: Long-term trainees (those surpassing the standard training duration by more than 2 years), CBT, Local Faculty, International Faculty, Emeritus Faculty, Retired CBT, and Associate members of the IIBA who are current with their annual membership dues.
- IIBA Trainee: Students currently enrolled in a training program affiliated with a local society or training group recognized by the IIBA.
- Non Member: Individuals who are not members of the IIBA or whose membership in the IIBA is inactive due to non-payment of annual dues.
Included in the 27th IIBA International Conference Pass
- Welcome Package.
- Onsite access to all plenary sessions (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).
- Access to afternoon workshops (pre-booking requested) (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).
- Access to morning movement classes (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).
- Welcome Reception with finger food on Wednesday evening.
- Breakfasts (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).
- Coffee breaks (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).
Not included in the 27th IIBA International Conference Pass
- Accomodation: Reservations must be made directly with the hotel. Please refer to the IIBA website for more details.
- Any other items or services are not included in the registration fee.
Cancellations & Substitution
Cancellations
The refunds and options set out below are exclusive of any other compensation, including without being exhaustive, any cost or loss, incurred or suffered by the participant, in relation to the cancellation of the event (by the participant or the IIBA), such as travel and accommodation fees, which are entirely the participant’s responsibility and therefore will not be reimbursed.
Cancellation by the participant
Date of cancellation before the event Value of refund:
- Received by April 1, 2025: Registration fee minus a 30% processing fee.
- Received by July 31, 2025: Registration fee minus a 70% processing fee.
- Received after Aug 1, 2025 No refund.
The IIBA Back-Office will deal with refunds once the conference will be finished.
Cancellation by the IIBA
Cancellation by the IIBA, changes in the date and/or venue or modifying the format to a virtual alternative any time prior to the event:
- Cancellation Refund of the registration fees.
- Changes of date and/or venue The amount paid for the registration fees of the modified event is carried forward to another IIBA event.
- Modification to a virtual alternative Part of the amount paid for the registration fees will be used for the virtual alternative. The remaining amount will be refunded.
In case the local authorities impose restrictions on the number of event attendees, and that new number is less than the number of registrations the IIBA received, priority for attendance will be given to those essential to run the event, i.e. those part of the event organisation, speakers and leadership. Among the rest of the registered delegates a raffle will decide who will be able to attend in order to give everyone an equal chance.
Substitution
If a participant is unable to attend, they may send a substitute participant at no extra cost, provided that the substitute's registration category is the same. Please notify the IIBA in writing (info@bioenergeticanalysis.com) by September 5, 2025. Any notifications received after this date cannot be processed.
Conference pass
Registration Fees (USD)
Early Bird registration - Until April 01
(1) Book your room at our host hotel and get a free ticket to the Boogie & Bites Party on Saturday.
Standard registration - from April 02 to July 31
(1) Book your room at our host hotel and get a free ticket to the Boogie & Bites Party on Saturday.
Late registration - from August 01 to September 05
(1) Book your room at our host hotel and get a free ticket to the Boogie & Bites Party on Saturday.
Included in the 27th IIBA International Conference Pass
- Welcome Package.
- Onsite access to all plenary sessions (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).
- Access to afternoon workshops (pre-booking requested) (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).
- Access to morning movement classes (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).
- Welcome Reception with finger food on Wednesday evening.
- Breakfasts (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).
- Coffee breaks (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday).
Not included in the 27th IIBA International Conference Pass
- Accomodation: Reservations must be made directly with the hotel. Please refer to the IIBA website for more details.
- Any other items or services are not included in the registration fee.
Attention: Please ensure you select the correct registration fee when registering, as we are unable to reimburse fees already paid.
Day Ticket – Thursday only
Registration fee (USD)
(2) Individuals who want to join the 27th IIBA International Conference on Thursday only (October 9).
Included in the 27th IIBA International Conference Day Ticket | THURSDAY ONLY
- Welcome Package.
- Onsite access to plenary sessions on Thursday only.
- Access to afternoon workshops (pre-booking requested) on Thursday only.
- Access to morning movement classes on Thursday only.
- Liquid coffee break on Thursday only.
Not included in the 27th IIBA International Conference Day Ticket | THURSDAY ONLY
- Accomodation: Reservations must be made directly with the hotel. Please refer to the IIBA website for more details.
- Any other items or services are not included in the registration fee.
Conference CE’s
CE's 27th IIBA International Conference available for Psychologists and Social Workers (including New York).
Attention: The CEs offered are the responsibility of the participant to determine whether the CEs can be applied toward their professional organization.
Pre-Conference
27th IIBA International Conference, Pre-Conference Workshops Tickets | WEDNESDAY
Additional Fee (USD)
(2) Breakfast, coffee breaks and lunch not included
Attention: No CE’s offered for the Pre-Conference Workshops.
Included in the Pre-Conference Workshops on WEDNESDAY
- Access to the Pre-Conference Workshop selected.
Not Included in the Pre-Conference Workshops on WEDNESDAY
- Accomodation: Reservations must be made directly with the hotel. Please refer to the IIBA website for more details.
- Any other items or services are not included in the registration fee.
Social program
27th IIBA International Conference Social Program Tickets
Additional fees (USD)
Boogie and Bites party on day 3 (Saturday) in the evening (8:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.)
Focusing on movement, dancing, and fun, this lively event will give us the chance to enjoy the evening with old and new friends alike. Delicious finger food will be served to keep the energy flowing as we celebrate the vibrant spirit of Bioenergetic Analysis. Let’s move, connect, and embody the spirit of vitality together!
Book your room at the host hotel and enjoy 1 free ticket to the Boogie & Bites Party on Saturday night! If you're bringing a guest or choosing to stay elsewhere, you can easily add tickets to your conference registration.
Venue
Buckhead is the uptown commercial and residential district of the city of Atlanta, Georgia, comprising approximately the northernmost fifth of the city. Buckhead is the third largest business district within the Atlanta city limits, behind Downtown and Midtown, and a major commercial and financial center of the Southern U.S. Buckhead is anchored by a core of high-rise office buildings, hotels, shopping centers, restaurants and condominiums centered around the intersection of Peachtree Road and Piedmont Road, near the Buckhead MARTA metro station.
Buckhead is a stylish neighborhood known for its independent art galleries and upscale shopping malls clustered around Miami Circle and Bennett Street. A well-heeled crowd flocks to trendy restaurants along Peachtree Road and Roswell Road, while a twentysomething crowd gathers at lively bars and nightclubs.
The Grand Hyatt Atlanta Hotel in Buckhead places you in the center of this iconic neighborhood. Enjoy nice rooms and suites, a fitness center, a seasonal outdoor pool, two contemporary restaurants, a coffee bar, a serene Japanese Zen garden elegant event space and flexible meeting rooms.
Take advantage of gorgeous views of Atlanta's downtown skyline, Stone Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain or the Japanese Zen Garden.
Grand Hyatt Atlanta
3300 Peachtree Road, NE | Atlanta, Buckhead, GA, 30305 (USA)
Our Special Room Rates
Take advantage of our host hotel incentive! Book your accommodation through our website link.
Accommodation Reminder: Please book your room at the host hotel no later than September 5, 2025, to benefit from the group rate.
(3) Quoted exclusive of any applicable taxes (which are currently 16.90% + USD 5.00 Georgia Hotel Motel Fee) applicable service fees, and/or hotel-specific fees in effect.
ATL Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world. It's a global gateway, offering nonstop service to more than 150 domestic and 70 international destinations. These locales include major centers in Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Africa, and South and Central America.
- Coming from the US you will arrive on the "Domestic" side of the airport (West), concourses T, A, B, C, D, E.
- Arriving from abroad, you will be in the "International" terminal (East), concourse F.
- An internal metro links International and Domestic main Terminal.
Entrance to the USA - Visa
Visiting USA with a (B1 - Business or B-2 Tourist) Visa or Travel Authorization (ESTA)
All foreigners visiting the United States of America need to hold a valid visa or travel authorization (ESTA) unless they are green card holders.
While a visa is issued by a US embassy, the travel authorization is applied for an issued online.
The Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) serves as an online platform designed to facilitate the application process for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. For individuals planning to travel to the USA via air or sea, obtaining travel authorisation through ESTA is a prerequisite before embarking on their journey.
What are the requirements to apply for an ESTA?
Eligibility for the Visa Waiver Program is exclusive to citizens from 41 qualifying countries.
To secure travel authorisation, an ESTA application must be duly completed. Additionally, a biometric passport featuring a microchip and the relevant symbol on its cover is mandatory. The Visa Waiver Program permits stays of up to 90 days, encompassing purposes such as tourism, business, transit, healthcare, or participation in non-credited study programs. It is recommended that travellers apply for ESTA prior to making any hotel or flight reservations, as there may be a need for a full visa. Once your ESTA application receives approval, you have the option to update it with final itinerary details before your departure.
Please consult the instructions on your U.S. Embassy or Consulate website.
Travelers in the following categories must obtain a visa prior to traveling to the United States as they are no longer eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):
- Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country).
- Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Cuba on or after January 12, 2021 (with limited exceptions for travel for diplomatic or military purposes in the service of a VWP country).
- Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria.
Overview
Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to travel to the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for a temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1 visa), for tourism (B-2 visa), or for a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2 visa).
How to Apply
There are several steps to apply for a visa. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary by U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
You should generally schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will be present but aware that in some cases it may be more difficult to demostrate your qualifications for a visa outside of the country where you live.
Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early.
Please consult the instructions on your U.S. Embassy or Consulate website.
Local Transports
The airport is located in the southern part of Atlanta, while our venue is located in the northern part of the city, 32km (20 miles).
A very useful way to travel from the airport to/from the hotel is using the metro system (MARTA), RED line.
- Metro station at the airport is in the Domestic main terminal. An internal metro links International and Domestic main Terminal.
- Metro station next to the hotel is "Buckhead", a 6mn walk to/from the hotel (320 m / 0,3 mile) in a clean and calm district.
A taxi ride is about $50 from/to the airport (depending on the number of passengers and bagages).
27th IIBA International Conference - Terms & Conditions
