3-4 October 2025
Frankfurt, Germany
Conference Theme 2025
Transforming Attachment Trauma
Chronically traumatised individuals typically alternate between clinging to, detaching from, and rejecting significant others:
Love me — you're nothing to me — leave me alone.
Therapists require the power to grasp and handle these shifting and intense relational longings and strivings,
as well as their own relational needs. As you participate in the event, you increase your power to act.
new perspectives
creating therapy opportunities
Become inspired by thought leaders in the field of enactive approach to trauma, attachment and EMDR.
Our goal is to find a deeper and more cohesive understanding of trauma, allowing you to help heal trauma patients more fluently.
bringing new knowledge
into practice
Besides presentations, we host a multitude of workshops. During these interactive workshops you get the opportunity to bring your enhanced understanding of trauma and attachment into practice.
We learn by doing. We offer you a safe practice space.
meeting colleagues
find shared support
Meet other trauma therapists to share your professional challenges with. You’re given the opportunity to join intervision groups during and after the conference.
You do not need to be alone. We place high value on creating a pleasant ambiance and actively encourage you to connect with other participants.
Keynote Speakers
-
Prof. Dr. Miriam Kyselo
PHILOSOPHER & COGNITIVE SCIENTIST
Professor at NTNU Trondheim, specialised in philosophy of mind, philosophy of cognition, especially the so-called 4E approaches (enacted, extended, embodied, embedded aspects of the mind), philosophy of psychology, as well as interdisciplinary research in cognitive science.
-
Jenny Ann Rydberg
PSYCHOTHERAPIST & EMDR EXPERT
Sought-after integrative psychotherapist and consultant. Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of EMDR Practice and Research. Thought leader in the integration of EMDR and sensorimotor psychotherapy, the theory of structural dissociation, and the enactive approach to trauma.
-
Journey Expert
TRAUMA THERAPY ADVOCATE
Former patient with a dissociative disorder who after her integration is passionate about educating professionals on trauma, sharing patient perspectives on trauma therapy and the healing journey.
For privacy reasons, fake name and profile are published on this website.
Why focusing on attachment is dear to my heart…
Therapists are typically taught that the core of trauma treatment consists in integrating traumatic memories. Memory integration is important. And in my 40+ years of experience in healing trauma patients, attachment is of equal -if not greater- importance.
We therapists need to help our patients overcome their relational difficulties. The longing to attach to others, and to detach from them and to reject them in ongoing alternation colours patients’ daily life. It also hinders therapy. We therapists too can struggle along with our patients.
It is with great pleasure that we announce our program focused on transforming attachment trauma. The stimulating keynotes and practical workshops offer a unique opportunity to grow as a trauma therapist. The presenters include variety of psychotherapists, a former DID patient, scientists, and philosophers.
Our team and I are looking forward welcoming you in Frankfurt!
Ellert Nijenhuis
Workshop Hosts
Ingrid Autenrieth-Novak
workshop topic:
Therapists' longing and striving
to attach and detach
Dr. Dagmar Brunner
workshop topic:
Creating stories that bind.
Uta Meiß
workshop topic:
Metaphors, symbols and objects
to transform attachment trauma
Bettina Mombauer
workshop topic:
Developing attachment skills in destructively controlling agents.
Dr. Christoph Scherer
workshop topic:
Therapists' longing and striving
to attach and detach.
Dr. Fabian Wilmers
workshop topic:
Enactive trauma group therapy
for persons with DID.
Pre-Conference Day
Thursday 2 October · Frankfurt
Be invited to join Ellert Nijenhuis and Sina Hulten in exploring the enactive approach to trauma and trauma treatment. Experience and grasp along with them how we are embodied and environmentally embedded beings striving to fulfil our longings. Learn how trauma is a mental and bodily injury in this frame. Experience in interactive sessions how the enactive approach can enrich your clinical understanding and skills alike.
Learning goals:
You will understand the principles of the enactive approach to trauma and trauma treatment.
You will experience what this approach offers beyond what you already know.
You will be enabled to apply its principles.
For whom: Professionals and students who [ complete ]
Language: 9h-13h in German, 14h-18h in English
Price:
€100 in combination with conference tickets
€50 for students
Sina Hulten
pre-conference day leader
“I am excited to introduce you to enactive trauma therapy. It has opened so many opportunities for me as a therapists treating not only trauma patients, but also patients with personality disorders, addiction and adolescents .“
NICE TO MEET YOU
As a -now, retired- psychologist and psychotherapist, Ellert Nijenhuis has diagnosed, treated and scientifically studied severely traumatised patients for over 40 years.
Since 2014, he specifically concentrates on sharing his experience and knowledge regarding the psychology, psychobiology, and treatment of chronic traumatisation and dissociation. He is the author of trilogy “The Trinity of Trauma” and is currently working on another manuscript. Visit Ellert’s bibliography on his website >
With her background in digital marketing and hospitality, Kirande Nijenhuis joined forces with her father. Together they aim to introduce more people to the enactive approach to healing trauma.
In 2022, they launched the eAcademy, an online education platform for trauma therapists. A year later the first edition of the International Conference of Trauma Therapy was hosted in Belgium. In 2025, we organise an online course on enactive trauma therapy for English-speaking professionals. Consult Ellert’s agenda to learn about his other teaching engagements.
Conference and Online Course “Enactive Trauma Therapy”
6 days’ course + 2,5 days’ conference and eAcademy: €2390 1790 p.p.
Dive into an exclusive offer designed for clinicians committed to healing trauma patients. Gain all-in access to our online course, the full conference and our supportive eAcademy.
Recommended for: English-speaking clinicians
DISCOUNTS
We are happy to offer discounts to
eAcademy members
Use the discount codes provided to you in the newsletter.
Students from recognised educational institutes
We invited twenty students to make use of a 50% discount.
Sign up with your institute’s email address and use the discount code STUDENT upon checkout. Your preference for the English/German Program may not be honoured. The discount cannot be used for the “Conference and Online Course Enactive Trauma Therapy” offer.
Professionals who are based in Eastern Europe or outside of Europe
Use the discount code “AccessForAll” to purchase the full conference tickets.
Conference Tickets
Two days’ ticket
€650 p.p.
Ticket grant you:
⎷ access to all activities of the conference as described on this website
⎷ lunch and refreshments during breaks on both Conference days
⎷ certification of participation
Complete Conference Tickets
(most popular choice)
2,5 days’ ticket
€750 p.p.
Ticket grant you:
⎷ access to the pre-conference workshops on 2 October
⎷ access to all activities of the conference on 3 and 4 October
⎷ lunch and refreshments during breaks
⎷ certification of participation
Where
Frankfurt, Germany
Mainhaus Stadthotel Frankfurt,
Lange Straße 26, 60311 Frankfurt am Main.
Mainhaus website
When
2-4 October 2025