Ethics in Reality Therapy
The workshop is intended to deepen and experientially verify the content given in the plenary lecture Ethics in Psychotherapy, this time from the theoretical framework of reality therapy. We will discuss the issue of ethical standards in the context of the therapist-client relationship, uncertainties and dilemmas we encounter in practice, share experiences and check our understanding.
Ruben Belina
has a bachelor’s degree in physics engineering with a specialisation in physics education. He has 35 years of teaching experience in high schools. He also works as a mentor and instructor of the Developing Positive Self-evaluation of Children and Adolescents programme in the school. He completed a 4-year education in the RT/CT at the European Institute for Reality Therapy (EIRT) and graduated on 9 December 2020 as a Reality Therapy Counsellor. He works as a supervisor in the 1st year at EIRT. He had several contributions at the Days of Leon Lojk and conducts workshops on choice theory in further education and training programmes for professionals in education.
Vesna Pahor
has a master’s degree in chemical education and is professionally engaged as a teacher at a grammar school. She has been implementing choice theory in her work since 2011, both in teaching and individual conversations with students, discussions with parents and collaboration with fellow teachers. She is a co-author and facilitator of programmes for professional training of workers in education titled Taking Care of Yourself as a Teacher to Create a Supportive Learning Climate and Achieving Greater Satisfaction in the Teaching Profession through Successful Problem-Solving. These programmes are conducted under the Ministry of Education’s auspices and delivered as 8-hour workshops for teachers. Additionally, she teaches a 50-hour course on choice theory, which is part of the European Institute for Reality Therapy’s programmes and intended for a broader audience. She is also a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. As a Reality Therapy Counsellor, she is a member of the Slovenian Association for Reality Therapy (DRTS) and the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP).
Barbara Krnc
has a bachelor’s degree in Education and Sociology; she is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy and Coach. She is a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy and one of the institute’s co-founders. Within the Faculty Board, she works as a teacher-trainer in applied programmes, a clinical practice supervisor and a psychotherapist for personal (learning) psychotherapeutic experience in psychotherapy education. She has extensive therapeutic experience dealing with mental health issues and areas related to family, partnership, educational difficulties, addictions and psychosomatics. For the past 14 years, she has been running her private psychotherapy practice in Koper. Before that, she gained experience working in education and a correctional institution.
Janko Bras
is a special needs teacher, social worker, psychotherapist, instructor at the William Glasser International Institute and member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. Within the institute, he works as a teacher-trainer, supervisor for psychosocial and psychotherapeutic practice and a psychotherapist for personal (learning) psychotherapeutic experience. He has been active in the field of mental health care and providing psychosocial assistance for almost 40 years. Since 2006, he has been running a private counselling and psychotherapy practice, offering supervision for professionals and collaborators in various governmental, non-governmental and private organisations, as well as in social welfare and education sectors.
Tatjana Gadže Okić
is a medical doctor specialising in school medicine and a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy. She is a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. She has extensive experience working with high school students, university students and parents at the Youth Centre.
Branka Anđukić
is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy and a WGI supervisor. She is a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. She has many years of experience with group and individual work (NGO and institutions) with women and children (domestic and war violence). She has worked for over 20 years in the family and partnership counselling centre Plavi telefon.
Marina Stanković Gjuretek
is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy, teacher and supervisor. She is a medical doctor, a specialist in public health. She is employed at the counselling centre of the Institute of Public Health, specialising in addiction prevention and mental health protection.
Živana Stegić-Ivas
is a teacher, a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP), a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy and the Croatian Association for Reality Therapy (HURT), a basic instructor of WGI with many years of experience in teaching students in CT/RT education. She has experience in various fields, primarily in the field of education. She has been practising psychotherapy and counselling since 2009. Since then, in cooperation with associations and institutions as well as in her private practice, she has gained experience in multiple areas of difficulty that people encounter in their lives, in different relationships and areas.
Marijana Barišić
is a psychologist, a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy and a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. She is employed at a company that specialises in workplace safety and protection, where she works as an occupational safety expert, conducting psychological assessments of workplace hazards and risks. In addition to her work at the company, she offers counselling services to clients of all ages with various issues, including individual, couples and marital counselling, at the Centre for Counseling, Education, and Research Cognitio.
Maja Perić
is a psychologist, a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist and a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. Since 2016, she has been employed as a psychologist, trainer and counsellor at the Employment Agency in Mostar. She provides individual and group therapy in multiple counselling centres in Mostar.
Dubravka Stijačić
is a teacher of reality therapy and choice theory, a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy and a WGI senior instructor, supervisor, mentor and personal therapist. She has many years of experience in psychiatry as the head of the Centre for Psychosocial Methods of Treatment. She led training in social skills, group and individual psychotherapy with people with different psychiatric diagnoses. She is the president of the Croatian Association for Reality Therapy (HURT).
Jelena Bićanić
graduated in social pedagogy from the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences in Zagreb. She is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP), a supervisor, an instructor and a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. Since 1993, she has been teaching choice theory and its application in various aspects of human life as a teacher at the European Institute for Reality Therapy and the Croatian Association for Reality Therapy. She is employed at a private Psychological Centre, where she specialises in individual and couples counselling, group psychotherapy, as well as individual and group supervision.
Marija Posavec
a medical doctor, psychotherapist and CT/RT supervisor. She works as a school medicine specialist and Head of Youth Counselling Centre for children, young and parents. She is a member of the Croatian Chamber of Psychotherapists’ steering committee and regularly participates in activities of the Croatian Association for Reality Therapy. She has years of experience in psychotherapy. Her field of interest is lead management.
s. Marinela Delonga
is a nun who works as a religious education teacher at a primary school. She has been teaching choice theory for 22 years and has been a WGI teacher-supervisor for eight years. Choice theory is a part of her life in all the areas where she operates (school, choir, focus group), where she professes her beliefs. The motto by which she lives is ‘Modest love is what moves the world’.
Language, Speech and Conversation in Reality Therapy
The workshop is intended to deepen and experientially verify the content given in the plenary lecture titled The Importance of Language, Speech and Conversation in Reality Therapy. Through questions and various exercises, participants will have the opportunity to check their understanding, share experiences and self-evaluate their progress.
Ruben Belina
has a bachelor’s degree in physics engineering with a specialisation in physics education. He has 35 years of teaching experience in high schools. He also works as a mentor and instructor of the Developing Positive Self-evaluation of Children and Adolescents programme in the school. He completed a 4-year education in the RT/CT at the European Institute for Reality Therapy (EIRT) and graduated on 9 December 2020 as a Reality Therapy Counsellor. He works as a supervisor in the 1st year at EIRT. He had several contributions at the Days of Leon Lojk and conducts workshops on choice theory in further education and training programmes for professionals in education.
Vesna Pahor
has a master’s degree in chemical education and is professionally engaged as a teacher at a grammar school. She has been implementing choice theory in her work since 2011, both in teaching and individual conversations with students, discussions with parents and collaboration with fellow teachers. She is a co-author and facilitator of programmes for professional training of workers in education titled Taking Care of Yourself as a Teacher to Create a Supportive Learning Climate and Achieving Greater Satisfaction in the Teaching Profession through Successful Problem-Solving. These programmes are conducted under the Ministry of Education’s auspices and delivered as 8-hour workshops for teachers. Additionally, she teaches a 50-hour course on choice theory, which is part of the European Institute for Reality Therapy’s programmes and intended for a broader audience. She is also a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. As a Reality Therapy Counsellor, she is a member of the Slovenian Association for Reality Therapy (DRTS) and the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP).
Ksenija Centa
is a psychologist, has been a psychotherapist since 2009 and has held the European Certificate of Psychotherapy since 2011. After 11 years of work at the Employment Agency, she was employed for 17 years at the Health Centre Celje as a psychologist specialising in mental health for children and youth. During this time, she also worked partially at the Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Drug Addiction. She collaborated with the National Institute of Public Health as an online counsellor for adolescents and as a psychotherapist for adults. From 2009 to 2020, she also maintained a part-time private practice, which became her full-time regular employment in 2021. She offers individual psychotherapy, couple and family therapy and group supervision for school teachers. She is a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy and participates in education and supervision. She is also a psychotherapist for personal (learning) psychotherapeutic experience.
Mirjana Palčič Bubnič
is a social worker and Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP). She is a supervisor and instructor of choice theory and reality therapy, a director of the European Institute for Reality Therapy and a member of the Faculty Board of this institute. She has 25 years of working experience at the Izola Social Work Centre, working with people with various problems. She has been running her psychotherapy practice for the last 13 years. She is a supervisor licensed by the Social Chamber of Slovenia and an InsideOut Coach certified by the Academy of Choice.
Denise Vojvoda Scrobe
is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy, a WGI supervisor and a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. She is employed in social welfare, where she offers counselling mainly to children, young people and their families, as well as couples counselling. She also works as an external associate – Psychotherapist at the Down Counselling Centre in Pula. She teaches choice theory through education as a supervisor and in different areas of life – parenthood, marriage and education.
Marijana Rajčević Kazalac
has been a psychologist since 2007., permanently employed in the Counseling Centre for Children, Youth, Marriage and Family in Poreč. She has been a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist since 2019, a WGI supervisor and a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy.
S. Dominika Anica Anić
is a psychotherapist under the supervision and a candidate for a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. She promotes reality therapy beliefs throughout her long-standing work in education with children and parents. She conducts lectures and workshops for focus groups, parents, teachers, educators, youth and families. In her approach, she combines reality therapy beliefs with Christian preaching of the joyful news of redemption for every individual. She leads contemplation courses, utilising tools acquired through implementing reality therapy beliefs. She collaborates with various media, including public speaking, radio, TV and electronic media, on topics related to the significance of human existence. She also leads the spiritual centre, Bishop fra Paškal Buconjić, in Potoci near Mostar.
Davor Apostolovski
is a psychologist, Reality Therapy Psychotherapist and a WGI senior instructor. He has acquired professional experience in the social care system and non-government organisations dealing with social issues related to refugees, children and adolescents. He worked as a psychologist in the health and educational system. He is now working as a school psychologist, psychotherapist and counsellor. He is teaching courses on quality parenthood and educative programmes on creative thinking. He is a member and co-founder of non-governmental organisations whose engagement is directed towards children and adolescents. As an innovator, he created many didactic toys and games.
Štefanija Prosenjak Žumbar
is a social pedagogue, Reality Therapy Psychotherapist and WGI instructor. She has acquired her professional experience by working with children and adolescents with behavioural disorders within social care and educational institutions and in the police on jobs related to criminal and legal protection of children and domestic violence. She now works as a psychotherapist in the Counselling Centre for Children, Martial Affairs and Family and offers counselling for the Ccub of women treated for breast cancer. She teaches the psychosocial treatment programme for persons who commit domestic violence and pre-martial preparatory courses. She is engaged in the prevention of addictive and behavioural disorders. She is a member of non-government organisations whose target is to assist people with various needs.
Jasna Sloković
is a teacher at the European Institute for Reality Therapy, a psychologist and a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy. For most of her professional career as a psychologist in High School, she focuses on counselling. She also works as an external associate – psychotherapist in the City Counselling Centre in Pazin and Buzet. She is teaching choice theory as a supervisor in different fields of human activities, such as parenting, marriage and education.
Asja Palinić Cvitanović
is a medical doctor and Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP). She has 38 years of experience in counselling and working with schoolchildren and their parents, couples and war veterans, as well as with people suffering from addiction and those with mental health problems. Since 2002, she has been teaching choice theory and its application in different fields of human activity (counselling, education, leadership). She actively participated in numerous Croatian and EU congresses, conferences and seminars.
Bosiljka Boba Lojk
is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy. She is an EIRT and WGI senior instructor, expert head of the European Institute for Reality Therapy and Secretary General of the European Association for Reality Therapy (EART). She has been working in the field of counselling for four decades. Since 1990 she has been teaching choice theory and its applications in various fields of human activity (counselling, teaching, leadership). With her husband Leon, she established a five-year study to obtain the title of Reality Therapy Psychotherapist and a four-year study to obtain the title of Reality Therapy Counsellor. She is the author of numerous articles and co-author of several books.
Irena Krajcar Kokalj
is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP) and a WGI senior instructor. For the majority of her career, she was employed in Social Services. She has been employed in the Family Centre in Pula for the past fifteen years, offering individual, marriage or family counselling. She is teaching choice theory as a supervisor and instructor and organising and leading workshops for children, adolescents, parents and other groups.
Dubravka Hrovatič
is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP) and a WGI senior instructor. For the majority of her career, she was employed in Social Services. She has been employed in the Family Centre in Pula for the past fifteen years, offering individual, marriage or family counselling. She is teaching choice theory as a supervisor and instructor and organising and leading workshops for children, adolescents, parents and other groups.
Am I a Spiral or a Straight Line?
What does growth and development mean in terms of choice theory? Does our development follow a straight line, or do we develop spiral-like? Do we agree that frustration is the driver of our development, and as we constantly perceive differences between desired and chosen perceptions, we are actually continually developing? Do we continuously become aware of this fact in ourselves and the people we live and work with? Through our experiences, we develop our basic instructions into specific instructions, which make us unique human beings. With each new way of harmonising our organism with the external world, we change our instructions and can recognise development, both in ourselves and in others. When we change our specific instructions, our perception changes, and thus our total behaviour. By continuously becoming aware of these aspects and acknowledging that the same process happens in others, we create space for a better understanding of ourselves and others and point ourselves towards the importance of lifelong learning as we realise that growth and development never cease.
Katarina Rana Gluhan
is a social pedagogue and a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy, employed as the head of the Dubrovnik Probation Office since 2015. Through her workplace, she meets people with various difficulties in their psychological functioning. She continuously improves through shorter and longer education programmes organised by the Ministry of Justice and Administration, some financed as part of European projects. She gained her previous work experience through the educational system as a professional worker in an elementary school and a kindergarten. She actively participated in the work of the Obzorje Association, which deals with promoting and protecting mental health.
Martina Dumančić Vranješ
is a professor of social pedagogy who graduated from the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation of the University of Zagreb, majoring in behavioural disorder. Since finishing her studies, she has worked as a professional worker at the Marin Držić Primary School in Dubrovnik. She was promoted to the title of mentor in 2017. She is the head of the County Expert Council for preventive programmes of primary, secondary schools and student dormitories of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. She actively participates in educating teachers, professional workers and teaching assistants at the county and state levels. She mentored students of the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation and students of Teacher Education in the Early Social Pedagogical Intervention course. She is a member of the Committee for Quality Assessment of Programmes/Projects of Civil Sector Associations at Dubrovnik-Neretva County. She is a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy and the Croatian Association for Reality Therapy. In 2022, she obtained the title of Reality Therapy Psychotherapist and holds a European Certificate of Psychotherapy.
Physiology of Belief
The workshop will cover the physiology of the organism, the concepts of homeostasis and homeorhesis and the positive and negative feedback loops as protective mechanisms for maintaining homeostasis and homeorhesis. We will explain the pathophysiology concept and describe pathophysiological processes and their development. Through the connection with total behaviour, we will draw parallels with thought processes and beliefs and explain the organism’s functioning in response to the development of stressful behaviour and prolonged stress.
Mateja Kopsa Sobota
graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Rijeka in 2007. In 2019, she completed her specialisation in school and university medicine, and in 2020, she finished her training in reality therapy and obtained the title of Reality Therapy Psychotherapist (ECP). She is a member of the Croatian Medical Chamber, the Croatian Chamber of Psychotherapists and the Croatian Association for Reality Therapy (HURT). She maintains a regular clinical practice as part of her counselling work with parents of children and adolescents at the School and University Medicine Clinic of the Public Health Institute of Zagreb County. Since 2010, she has been continuously improving her knowledge in the field of mental health by actively participating in various educational workshops, congresses, activities, programmes and seminars related to mental health. Since 2021, she has been the leader (3P educator) of the psychoeducational workshop titled ‘Pomozi Da’ aimed at raising awareness about mental health for educational professionals as part of the ‘Healthy Living’ project by the Croatian Institute of Public Health.
Danko Butorac
is a psychologist and psychotherapist working at the Family Centre – a state-funded counselling service in Senj, Croatia. In his daily practice, he works with individuals, couples, families, and groups. As a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy, he is involved in providing training programmes as a supervisor and teacher of choice theory. He is president of the European Association for Reality Therapy (EART). He is happily married and a father of five wonderful children.
The Connection Between Belief, Perception and Activity
During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to become aware of the processes of changing total behaviour through changing beliefs, perceptions and activities. They will be presented with a story, based on which we will analyse the characters’ behaviour, focusing on specific characteristics of total behaviour, understanding frustration and harmonisation methods. In the role of a therapist, participants will have the chance to become aware of their roles in the “triangle” of external control beliefs in relation to the client, understand their frustration and behaviour, ways of harmonising with the client based on external control beliefs, as well as become conscious of the process of personal change in perception and different roles by accepting choice theory beliefs.
Mirjana Zećirević
graduated in psychology and English. She is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP), a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy and a WGI senior instructor with long-term experience in teaching and offering supervision to students in CT/RT training. She has experience in various fields of applied psychology, especially juvenile delinquency, partnership and family issues, vocational rehabilitation, career skills development and human resource management, with many years of experience in providing individual and group counselling and psychotherapy to people facing various difficulties of personal, partnership and professional functioning.
Leandra Miletić Činić
is a doctor of medicine, a specialist in school medicine, a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP), a WGI supervisor and a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. She is employed at the Institute of Public Health Dr Andrija Štampar in Zagreb and the counselling centre for eating disorders and obesity. As a school doctor, she has many years of experience working with children, young people and their parents. She deals with different mental and psychosomatic disorders in counselling and psychotherapy.
When Kata/Fata Walks Around the Triangle
During the workshop, the participants will work in small groups with lecturers on excerpts of the content that the clients gave during the therapy sessions. The task for the participants in small groups will be to define the beliefs, behaviours, roles and ways in which the clients adapted to the circumstances in their lives from the provided excerpts of the clients’ stories. At the end of the workshop, each small group will present the main points of discussion to the large group, and other participants will have the opportunity to ask questions or add their thoughts.
Aida Ganović
is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP), a WGI supervisor and a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. Since 1999, she has had experience in individual and group counselling. Since 2008, she has had the status of a supervisor in teaching choice theory. Since the founding of the Association for Reality Therapy of Bosnia and Hercegovina, she has been a member of the Association’s Management Board. She has completed a three-year education in Philosophy and Methods of Psychodrama. She is the author of several articles on direct counselling, individual and group work.
My Instructions for Use
Our specific instructions, developed throughout our lives to care for ourselves, are the foundation of our current behaviour. Often, we are not even aware of these instructions, yet they shape how we see ourselves and others, as well as the external world in which we try to realise ourselves. However, we often forget that others have their instructions for caring for themselves, which may differ from ours. Through exercises and group work, we will explore and become aware of our ideas through which we realise ourselves in various roles (e.g. as a learner/group member/colleague).
Tadeja Rajk
is a social worker, a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP), a supervisor-teacher of choice theory and reality therapy and a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. She holds a supervisory license from the Slovenian Chamber of Social Workers. For over fifteen years, she has been actively working in the field of social welfare with individuals facing various personal issues, emotional distress and relationship problems, as well as those seeking to improve the quality of their lives. She has a private psychotherapeutic practice and provides individual and couples psychotherapy (in person and online) in Ljubljana.
Petra Cvek
is a graduate pedagogue majoring in andragogy, a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy and an HSE Coach. She has a private psychotherapeutic practice and offers training and individual and couples psychotherapy online or in person in Šentjur near Celje. She has experiences with individuals facing various personal issues, relationship difficulties and mental distress. In her work, she combines reality therapy with self-help methods such as NLP, HSE and Brainspotting.
SUPERVISION – From Practice to Practice
Supervision is a method of reflection that helps professionals maintain and develop their expertise and personal potential. During the workshop, we will try to connect our individual experiences with choice theory and other subjective perspectives through Kolb’s cycle. The experiences we will examine should be related to the implicit theories from our work field. The discussion will also focus on how to care for our personal and professional development with the help of supervision.
Darja Matičetova
is a university graduate pedagogue and psychologist. Her professional experience ranges from preschool to high school as a counsellor and psychology teacher. She was also a teacher at the Logatec Educational Institute and a counsellor at the Koper Counselling Centre. She is a WGI supervisor, a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy and a Specialist Study of Supervision trainee at the Faculty of Education in Ljubljana. She is now retired but still offers supervision and psychotherapy.
Resentment as an Attempt to Assert One’s Right. And What Now?
The verb “to resent” represents an unpleasant feeling that we create through the meaning we attribute to certain information from others directed towards us. When we perceive certain behaviour as a deprivation of rights, freedom, love, etc., we often develop resentment towards that person out of a sense of powerlessness. Resentment is purposeful behaviour that serves as a signal to ourselves, reminding us of our specific instructions about what is good for us and what we have not received. The sooner we become aware of the purposefulness of experiencing resentment, the more we can avoid deepening it and start exploring what others are trying to convey with their information. During the workshop, we will address resentment in specific situations in our personal and professional lives, as prolonged resentment is often tied to our beliefs that others’ behaviour is merely a response to ours.
Mirjana Palčič Bubnič
is a social worker and Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP). She is a supervisor and instructor of the Choice Theory and Reality Therapy, a director of the European Institute for Reality Therapy and a member of the Faculty Board of this Institute. She has 25 years of working experience at the Izola Social Work Centre, working with people with various problems. She has been running her psychotherapy practice for the last 13 years. She is a supervisor licensed by the Social Chamber of Slovenia and an InsideOut Coach certified by the Academy of Choice.
Social Atom – My Life Context
Although we are autonomous as closed-loop systems, we still need the environment and other people to survive. Other individuals enable us to meet our needs through various roles we develop throughout life. An individual’s life context consists of family, professional and personal circles where relationships with others are the primary means of fulfilling our needs. Having multiple roles means having a more extensive social network and a greater possibility of achieving balance. The workshop will be experiential, and through a guided exercise, participants will create their social atom and explore the network of relevant relationships they establish with significant others. They will examine social connectedness, the quality of relationships and changes in relationships.
Cvita Vasilij Studak
is a social pedagogue, Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP), a WGI supervisor and a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy and the Croatian Association for Reality Therapy (HURT). She has worked for 15 years in social services with children and young people with behavioural disorders and with their parents. She has years of experience providing psychotherapy for clients with eating disorders. As a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy, she provides training programmes, supervision and is a psychotherapist for personal (learning) psychotherapeutic experience. She is married and a mother of two boys.
Mirjana Belavić
is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy, a psychologist with experience in education and social welfare. As an external collaborator, she is involved in the projects of several associations where she provides individual counselling and group workshops. She is a wife to one husband, mother of three children and mother-in-law’s daughter-in-law in the yard.
Connecting Behaviours in Relation to Oneself
During the workshop, we will search for answers to the following questions through participants’ own examples and life experiences: How do participants understand connecting habits in relationships, such as acceptance, respect, understanding, listening, trust, encouragement and negotiation about differences? We will also explore what acceptance, respect, understanding, listening, trust, encouragement and negotiation mean in relation to oneself. We will discuss topics such as accepting and respecting – our strengths and weaknesses, trusting in ourselves – instructions and abilities, understanding and listening – choice theory tools and beliefs, how we give ourselves encouragement and how and with what we harmonise. Through discussions, exercises and sharing experiences, we will raise awareness of how to practice connecting habits in relation to ourselves.
Ljiljana Šupraha
is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP) and a WGI instructor. For 33 years, she has been working with children and young people with behavioural disorders. Since 2003 she has been teaching choice theory and its application in different fields of human activity (counselling, education, coaching). She is an associate of the NGO White Circle, where she works with victims and domestic violence doers.
Why Does Loneliness Hurt?
The workshop begins with an interpretation of the difference between the concepts of solitude and loneliness using the terminology of choice theory and the neurobiological understanding of the pain of loneliness, which will be explained with the lecturer’s experiential examples. This is followed by an experiential examination of the participants in the CT groups, during which they will be aware of their perceptions of situations in which they had the chosen perception of loneliness, but not solitude, and situations in which they were perceived as alone but not lonely. How do they understand the perceptions so chosen? What are the desired perceptions? Next, they will speak about examples from clinical practice where they recognised these perceptions. How did they understand them then, and how would they today? How do we produce pain? How to offer everything we became aware of to the client? In the end, participants will have the opportunity to present their dilemmas and self-evaluation with the questions: What have I learned about myself? What new field of work did I discover? How will I use it working with clients?
Asja Palinić Cvitanović
is a medical doctor and Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP). She has 38 years of experience in counselling and working with schoolchildren and their parents, couples and war veterans, as well as with people suffering from addiction and those with mental health problems. Since 2002, she has been teaching choice theory and its application in different fields of human activity (counselling, education, management). She actively participated in numerous Croatian and EU congresses, conferences and seminars.
Truth or Lie?
In our everyday life and professional work, we sometimes wonder whether the person we are talking to lies or tells lies in their communication. What do we perceive as truth? What do we do for the communication we desire? How do we choose the information (and what kind) in the outside world before they become our truth? How does this perception complement our values, knowledge and beliefs? In this workshop, we will try to find answers to these questions and to see what the term truth means.
Jasna Sloković
is a teacher at the European Institute for Reality Therapy, a psychologist and a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy. For most of her professional career as a psychologist in High School, she focuses on counselling. She also works as an external associate – psychotherapist in the City Counselling Centre in Pazin and Buzet. She is teaching choice theory as a supervisor in different fields of human activities, such as parenting, marriage and education.
What Kind of Circumstance Am I for the Group?
In the experiential workshop, we will try to answer questions such as: When does a group become a group, and what does its creation depend on? How do I achieve longer-lasting satisfaction by sharing intimacy? Do I follow the signs of other group members, telling me how they feel when with me and why that is important?
Nikolina Essert
is a psychologist, a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy, a supervisor, a member of the European Institute for Reality Therapy and the Croatian Association for Reality Therapy (HURT) and a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. She is employed in her private psychotherapy practice working with individuals, couples and individuals who want to improve their relationships with others. She has experience in leading psychotherapy groups. She has worked with people with eating disorders for the last seven years.
Suicidal Clients in RT
Suicidal behaviour, as a creative way for the organism to end long-lasting frustration, often raises various ethical and procedural questions for psychotherapists. Considering that it is evident that it concerns the client’s life and the well-being of people close to the client, professionals are often faced with an impossible task – to save a life and protect the individual. In this sense, it is crucial to build capacity in assessing the risk of suicide in the client and to do everything within the therapist’s power and authority to carry out their job with quality and professionalism. We will delve into these issues through small group discussions and plenary debates.
Danko Butorac
is a psychologist and psychotherapist working at the Family Centre – a state-funded counselling service in Senj, Croatia. In his daily practice, he works with individuals, couples, families, and groups. As a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy, he is involved in providing training programmes as a supervisor and teacher of choice theory. He is president of the European Association for Reality Therapy (EART). He is happily married and a father of five wonderful children.
Supervision
dr. sc. Ankica Baković
is a psychologist, psychotherapist and the founder and director of a Neurofeedback Centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a teacher at the European Institute for Reality Therapy, she participates in the education on choice theory. She is also the founder and president of the Association for Reality Therapy of Bosnia and Hercegovina. She completed coaching as part of her psychotherapist education. She runs counselling centres for individuals with mental health issues and Neurofeedback centres in Sarajevo, Mostar, Zenica, Livno and Banja Luka. She actively promotes reality therapy in Bosnia and Herzegovina through radio and television shows on human psychology and therapeutic work with people.
Aida Ganović
is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP), a WGI supervisor and a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. Since 1999, she has had experience in individual and group counselling. Since 2008, she has had the status of a supervisor in teaching choice theory. Since the founding of the Association for Reality Therapy of Bosnia and Hercegovina, she has been a member of the Association’s Management Board. She has completed a three-year education in Philosophy and Methods of Psychodrama. She is the author of several articles on direct counselling, individual and group work.
Jelena Bićanić
graduated in social pedagogy from the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences in Zagreb. She is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP), a supervisor, an instructor and a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. Since 1993, she has been teaching choice theory and its application in various aspects of human life as a teacher at the European Institute for Reality Therapy and the Croatian Association for Reality Therapy. She is employed at a private Psychological Centre, where she specialises in individual and couples counselling, group psychotherapy, as well as individual and group supervision.
Who Says I Have To?
In the workshop, we will raise awareness of our behaviour through personal examples involving instructions that include “musts” or “shoulds” (according to the dictionary definition: necessity, coercion). We constantly shape expectations freely. Through analysis, we will determine whether these expectations are realistic or unrealistic when we include the word “must.” We will also play with other forms of thought patterns through which we create desired and chosen perceptions. These thought patterns can help us avoid deepening frustrations.
Nina Vene
is a medical doctor and a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist. She is working as a doctor specialising in internal medicine and cardiovascular medicine. She provides psychotherapy for clients with mental and psychosomatic disorders and counselling especially dedicated to healing from chronic disease and chronic pain distress. She also has long-standing experiences in counselling and raising awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle in chronic disease prevention in modern society. She is a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy.
Olga Lilija Hribernik
is a professor of pedagogy and sociology, a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP) and a specialist for supervision. She is a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy and a WGI supervisor. She carries out supervisions for receivers of RT/TI Certificates at the Slovenian Association for Reality Therapy. She was employed in the Prison for Juveniles in Celje. She gained the most counselling and therapeutic experience by working with individuals and groups with problems of socially unacceptable behaviour, problems with addiction, adjustment problems due to the deprivation of freedom, psychosomatic disorders, suicidal behaviour and learning problems. She has experience in leadership, training and supervision of professional workers in the field of education and social protection. She has been an active pensioner since 2017.
Me By Your Side When It’s Tough
In the workshop, we will explore our experiences when someone close to us is struggling. These situations may involve events such as illness, psychological difficulties, addictions, learning challenges, behavioural issues, etc., which also impact us but are beyond our direct control. Our usual instinct in such circumstances is to offer help as we envision it. The workshop aims to share and understand personal experiences and behaviours and what listening and understanding others and ourselves truly means. We will learn how to set boundaries and find harmony in such circumstances without assuming the roles of rescuers, persecutors or victims. What does it truly mean to stand by a loved one facing difficulties?
Darka Verbič
is a university graduate psychologist, a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy, an instructor at the William Glasser Institute, USA, and a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. She has been engaged in reality therapy since 1995. She is a psychotherapist for personal (learning) psychotherapeutic experience at the European Institute for Reality Therapy. She has the most experience in resolving issues related to drug addiction, behavioural, marital, family and educational problems, as well as with clients facing various mental health issues. Additionally, she provides support to clients dealing with serious illnesses. Her expertise covers both individual and group psychotherapy and counselling. She is retired but still actively involved in her profession.
Who Am I Talking About When I Talk About a Client?
What and who am I talking about when I talk about the client is a workshop where we will try to contribute to the process of raising awareness about the therapist’s ‘contamination’ with subjective experiences and beliefs through exercises and discussions. We will also examine the value and significance of supervision for the therapist.
Ksenija Centa
is a psychologist, has been a psychotherapist since 2009 and has held the European Certificate of Psychotherapy since 2011. After 11 years of work at the Employment Agency, she was employed for 17 years at the Health Centre Celje as a psychologist specialising in mental health for children and youth. During this time, she also worked partially at the Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Drug Addiction. She collaborated with the National Institute of Public Health as an online counsellor for adolescents and as a psychotherapist for adults. From 2009 to 2020, she also maintained a part-time private practice, which became her full-time regular employment in 2021. She offers individual psychotherapy, couple and family therapy and group supervision for school teachers. She is a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy and participates in education and supervision. She is also a psychotherapist for personal (learning) psychotherapeutic experience.
Dubravka Hrovatič
is a social worker and a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy with 30 years of experience in the field of social protection. She is a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy and conducts programmes in education, supervision and teaching of Choice Theory. She is a supervisor with a license from the Social Chamber of Slovenia for supervision in the field of social protection and an Inside out coach with a license from the Academy of Choice. She offers individual, group and partner psychotherapy.
The Art of Harmonisation
When we perceive frustration, we mobilise all our potential to reduce it – we try to harmonise and establish balance with ourselves and the environment. How do we understand harmonisation through choice theory beliefs? How do we harmonise and establish balance in our personal and professional roles? In which circumstances and roles do we find it most challenging to harmonise? Do we harmonise and make ourselves (un)happy? What does this say about our beliefs? In the workshop, we will have the opportunity to explore our ways of harmonising and establishing balance and become aware of the beliefs that are at the core of our actions.
Irena Krajcar Kokalj
is a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP) and a WGI senior instructor. For the majority of her career, she was employed in Social Services. She has been employed in the Family Centre in Pula for the past fifteen years, offering individual, marriage or family counselling. She is teaching choice theory as a supervisor and instructor and organising and leading workshops for children, adolescents, parents and other groups.
The Experience of Working with a Person Diagnosed with Psychosis Schizophrenia
The workshop will present long-term psychotherapeutic work with a person diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, understanding the client’s difficulties and the lecturer’s approach as a reality therapist.
Dubravka Stijačić
is a teacher of reality therapy and choice theory, a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy and a WGI senior instructor, supervisor, mentor and personal therapist. She has many years of experience in psychiatry as the head of the Centre for Psychosocial Methods of Treatment. She led training in social skills, group and individual psychotherapy with people with different psychiatric diagnoses. She is the president of the Croatian Association for Reality Therapy (HURT).
Me in the Group
The workshop is intended to deepen and experientially verify the understanding of choice theory beliefs through group work, how we understand the group and its meaning. The group experience is a fundamental human experience (family, socialisation, identity). Our education takes place in a group because it is a significant and valuable training ground for learning through the exchange of knowledge and experiences, as well as observing and self-evaluating each group member’s personal growth and development. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to check their understanding of the group and their position in the group, share their experiences and self-evaluate their progress.
Živana Stegić-Ivas
is a teacher, a Reality Therapy Psychotherapist holding a European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP), a member of the Faculty Board at the European Institute for Reality Therapy and the Croatian Association for Reality Therapy (HURT), a basic instructor of WGI with many years of experience in teaching students in CT / RT education. She has experience in various fields, primarily in the field of education. She has been practising psychotherapy and counselling since 2009. Since then, in cooperation with associations and institutions as well as in her private practice, she has gained experience in multiple areas of difficulty that people encounter in their lives, in different relationships and areas.