The interconnectedness of the modern world has resulted in an expansion of the horizon of awareness of individuals and communities. This has given rise to the phenomenon that has become known as “the global village”. We are a long way, however, from appropriate recognition and communicative exchange across the many cultural and geographic divides that shape the richness and diversity of humanity.

We are at times overwhelmed by this diversity and wonder at the apparent incompatibilities and conflicts. Yet we are all simultaneously aware, however vaguely, of our common humanity and the commonalities we share in relation to our environment. At the individual level the intention of psychotherapy has always been to find forms of communication, expression and understanding that allow non-violent resolution of individual and interpersonal problems and the emergence of the individual human spirit.

Many Indigenous Australians say that the capacity to hold in mind a living connection with the environment that informs our day-to-day lives and actions has been integral to the culture of “The Dreaming” that has been sustained for more than 40,000 years. Arguably this worldview reflects a form of human life in relative balance with its interpersonal and environmental surround. In contrast many modern cultures seem to lack such balance.

The Indigenous vision is ancient but perhaps contains something relevant to the needs of humanity in the new millennium. The oldest living culture in the world today may be in a special position to share knowledge about the continuity of human experience across the ages. In Australasia we see the pain of cultures struggling to adapt to the modern world. It is reasonable to expect that all peoples recognize this struggle as their own. The pain and struggle of modern urban dwellers to be in touch with the emotional basis of life is evident in the widespread phenomenon of alienation in our communities.

In the modern era psycho-analysis and psychotherapy have often given attention to dreaming as a path to the understanding of self. The impact of interpersonal trauma upon our capacity to think and dream is profound. Trauma can impact on individuals, communities and cultures. It can reverberate across generations with a potent impact on identity and history. Responding to trauma does not simply involve the recognition of brute facts: it involves the recognition and animation of human encounters through the imaginative elaboration, between people, of new ways of being together, of playing, and of working together. This is World Dreaming.

WCP Sydney 2011 will encompass “Dreaming and Culture”, “Development and Diversity”, “Trauma and Healing” and “Visions for the Future of Psychotherapy”.Those interested in attending the congress are invited to submit abstracts of papers for inclusion in the program of the 6th World Congress for Psychotherapy (WCP) to be held at the Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney from 24th – 28th August, 2011. Psychotherapists from all disciplines and theoretical orientations are invited to submit abstracts of no more than 250 words. There will be both oral and poster presentations. Most oral presentations will be of 20-30 minutes duration, although there will be a category of workshop presentations that could be of longer duration (up to 90 minutes). There will also be a special category for consumer presentations. Submissions can be made via the website, www.wcp2011.org from June 24th 2010. Consideration of submissions is dependent upon authors registering for the congress. There will be a special category for consumer registration. Submissions will close on February 24th 2011.

Anthony Korner and Louise Newman, Co-Chairs, Scientific Committee, WCP 2011, World Dreaming

The 6th World Congress for Psychotherapy 2011 invites the submission of abstracts on original work for consideration for the Congress Program. Authors must also intend to register for the Congress.

Abstract Deadline Dates
Abstract Submission Opens: June 2010
Deadline for Receipt of Abstracts: February 2011
Late Abstract Submission Opens: March 2011
Deadline for Late Abstracts: 14 April 2011
Authors Notified of Acceptance: 18 April 2011
Deadline for Author registration: May 2011

Summary of Abstract Submission Instructions
Please read through the submission instructions listed below before preparing your abstract:
Step 1: Read the General Policies and Requirements for the submission of abstracts.
Step 2: Read the Evaluation Criteria and Abstract Format & Layout Guidelines.
Step 3: Click on the button above to submit your abstract. To complete the submission form, you will need to paste your abstract into a text box. The text box allows for a maximum of 250 words.

General Policies and Requirements for the Submission of Abstracts

• All abstracts must be original work.
• ONLY ONLINE SUBMITTED ABSTRACTS WILL BE ACCEPTED. If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail within 24 hours after submission, please contact the Congress Managers: wcp2011@arinex.com.au
• Presenting authors will be required to register for the Congress by Wednesday 22nd June 2011 in order for their abstract to be accepted. Accepted abstracts will be included in the abstract CD ROM only if presenters have registered and their dues have been received.
• Do not resubmit your abstract for any reason other than a submission error. If you do not receive a confirmation email with your access key, please contact the Congress Managers via the email address: wcp2011@arinex.com.au
• The Congress Managers will not be responsible for abstract submissions not received via the Congress website or for submission errors caused by internet service outages, hardware or software delays, power outages or natural disasters.
• It will be the responsibility of the submitting author to ensure that the abstract is supplied in full. Abstracts on diskettes/CD-Rom will not be accepted
• All abstracts will be reviewed by the theme contact. Theme contacts will communicate with authors regarding minor changes.
• The Scientific Program Committee reserves the right to accept or reject abstracts for inclusion in the program and to change your submission preference from oral to poster and visa versa.
• Abstracts will be grouped by themes. Please indicate the theme most suitable to your abstract. Please note this does not guarantee that your abstract will be grouped within this theme in the final program.
• All abstracts must be prepared as per the guidelines provided. Incomplete or incorrect submissions will be returned to the author and must be resubmitted correctly by the deadline to be considered for presentation.
• Authors will be notified of acceptance/rejection on the 18th April 2011.

Evaluation Criteria
Abstracts will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Novel concept versus an extension of existing work;
• Originality of the methodology;
• Contribution to the discipline globally;
• Clarity and understandability;
• Work that could be submitted to a peer-reviewed international journal.

Abstract Format & Layout Guidelines
The purpose of the abstract is to define the precise subject of the presentation to an audience. It is the responsibility of the presenting author to ensure accuracy of content, spelling and presentation, as abstracts will be published exactly as submitted.

All abstracts must be written in English, and be a maximum of 250 words.

To complete your submission, you will be required to enter the following information:

• Topic: please check the list of themes and their description before submitting your abstract;
• (Co-)authors: name & affiliation;
• Presentation preference:
  • Clinical teaching
  • Oral presentation
  • Poster presentation
  • Symposium
  • Workshop