Join us for the II International Congress of Logotherapy in Kraków!

In an age marked by a growing sense of existential emptiness and a crisis of values, logotherapy remains one of the most relevant responses to the challenges facing the human person today. We warmly invite you to Kraków for the II International Congress of Logotherapy, held under the theme “The Noetic Dimension in Logotherapy - The Defiant Power of the Human Spirit.” This multifaceted, two-day conference will explore the phenomenon of human responsibility and our freedom to choose our attitude toward circumstances beyond our control. 

At the heart of our gathering are Viktor Frankl’s words: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” 

Taking this idea as our starting point, we will explore together “the defiant power of the human spirit” - the inner capacity that, in the face of unavoidable circumstances, enables us not only to endure, but also to transform hardship into personal triumph and take full responsibility for the way we shape our lives.

Choose how you would like to attend the Congress of Logotherapy

We have prepared an event on an unprecedented scale. The Congress will bring together as many as 15 speakers, including 12 international experts representing some of the world’s leading centers of logotherapy. 

We want your participation in the Congress to be seamless and stress-free. Your ticket includes a comprehensive package: professional interpretation of every lecture, full catering throughout the event, and conference materials. Choose the participation option that best suits your needs, and let us take care of the rest.

In-Person Tickets

Students under the age of 26 can enjoy a special 40% discount with the code: kod4stud26

Online Tickets

Programme of the 2nd International Congress of Logotherapy

Piątek 09.10.2026

Day I of the Congress

8:00–9:00 – Participant Registration

9:00–9:30 – Opening Ceremony and Welcome Address

9:30–10:00 – Special Guest – Address to Congress Participants

10:00–10:45 – “The Defiant Power in Everyday Life: Insights from Viktor Frankl’s Apartment” – Katharina Ratheiser, granddaughter of Prof. Viktor Frankl (Austria)

10:45–11:30 – “What Do Negative Emotions Become When They Encounter Logotherapy?” – Prof. Svetlana Shtukareva (Russia)

11:30–12:00 – Coffee Break

12:00–12:45 – “Logos Is Deeper Than Logic: The Phenomenology of Feelings and the Spiritual Core of Human Existence” – Dr Daniele Bruzzone (Italy)

12:45–13:30 – “The Use of the Metaphorical Associative Cards ‘Source’ and ‘In Search of Meaning’ in Individual and Group Therapy” – Dr Rafał Szykuła (Poland)

13:30–14:30 – Lunch Break

14:30–15:30 – Expert Panel

15:30–16:15 – “From Anxiety to Existential Emptiness: Youth, Meaning and Logotherapy in an Age of Acceleration” – Dr Vaska D. Mitova (Macedonia)

16:15–17:00 – “LogoRecovery – The ‘Meaning First’ Pathway for the Defiant Human Spirit” – Dan Hostetler (USA)

17:00–17:45 – Book Presentation: “Logotherapy and Existential Analysis Today – A Position Statement” by Prof. Alexander Batthyány and Dr Elisabeth Lukas, with an introductory note by Eleonore Frankl and a foreword by Franz Vesely
17:45–18:00 – Day I Closing Remarks 

Sobota 10.10.2026

Day II of the Congress

8:00–8:30 – Participant Registration
8:30–8:45 – Opening and Welcome Address
8:45–9:45 – Jay Levinson (USA)
9:45–10:30 – “From Despair to Meaning: Intervention Strategies for Working with People in Suicidal Crisis” – Prof. Carl Becker (Japan)
10:30–11:00 – Coffee Break
11:00–11:45 – “Experiencing Tragic Optimism through Meaning-Based Socratic Dialogue: A Coaching Approach to Unconditional Hope” – Memduh Nezih Özmert (Turkey)
11:45–12:30 – “The Pathology of the Zeitgeist in the Context of Contemporary Crises: A Sense of Meaning in Life and the Noetic Dimension of Being” – Prof. Eric Pfeifer (Germany)
12:30–13:15 – “Freedom in Captivity: The Logotherapeutic Meaning of Work in Prison” – Martin Lisec (Slovenia)
13:15–14:15 – Lunch Break
14:15–15:00 – “The Tree of Meaning: An Existential Art-Therapeutic Practice Rooted in Logotherapy” – Nino Berdznishvili (Georgia)
15:00–15:45 – “From a Crisis of Values to a Crisis of Meaning: The Social Potential of Logotherapy” – Dorian Winter (Germany)

15:45–16:00 – Congress Closing Remarks

Workshops

16:00 - 18:00 - Participants may choose one of the following workshops:

1. Psychodrama in Logotherapy: Theory and Practice – Krzysztof Ciepliński

2. Psycho-Oncology from a Logotherapeutic Perspective – Monika Poznańska

3. Anthropodrama: An Encounter with the Human Person – Artur Mnich

4. The Art of Communication in Relationships with Parents – Halina Czerwińska

5. Between Crisis and Connection: The Search for Meaning in Couples and Family Therapy – Mariusz Gajewski

6. Loss and Grief in an Integrative Logotherapeutic and Crisis Intervention Approach – Wojciech William Gruff

7. The Strength of Being Grounded in a Body Guided by the Spirit – Paweł Cyrek

8. The Process of Meaning-Making in Experiential-Existential Psychotherapy – Ireneusz Kaczmarczyk

9. Q&A Session: Logotherapy and Its Clinical Application – Jay Levinson (USA)

10. Seminar on Logotherapeutic Work with Patients (Case Study) – Prof. Svetlana Shtukareva

11. Interventions for Preventing Burnout Among Healthcare Professionals – Prof. Carl Becker

12. Workshop: Towards the Light – Literature in the Face of Crisis: Resistance and Regeneration*

*The workshop will take the form of an expert panel prepared by the inter-university research team “Polyphonic Romanticism.” The first part will consist of four short presentations exploring literature in the context of the noetic dimension and the defiant power of the human spirit. The second part will take the form of a panel discussion, complemented by educational materials prepared by the panellists (Dr hab. Magdalena Bąk, Prof. UŚ, and Dr hab. Zofia Dambek-Giallelis). The workshop is particularly intended for teachers, although everyone interested in literature—especially Romantic literature—is warmly invited to attend.

Workshops led by international speakers will be interpreted into Polish.

Workshop places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

We encourage you to purchase promotional tickets in advance!

Coffee breaks and lunch on Day I of the Congress are included in the ticket price.

Speakers

Have questions? We’re here to help

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logoterapia.krakow@gmail.com

Address:
Krakowski Instytut Logoterapii,
ul. Smoleńsk 29, 31-112 Kraków
KRS number: 0001018429

Bank account for donations supporting the Foundation’s statutory activities:
Nest Bank: 24 1870 1045 2078 1076 0823 0002

We look forward to seeing you at the II International Congress of Logotherapy.