Learning to Dialogue Collegially Across Divides

A facilitated online gathering built around a shared film and small-group dialogue — not to reach consensus, but to practise staying in the conversation when it gets difficult.

Date

10 October 2026

Time

10:00–13:00 UTC

Format

Online, English

Fee

Free

What we'll explore

How we maintain our capacity to think when thinking becomes difficult.
How we preserve our humanity in conversation with the other.

We'll use a process that models a psychoanalytic approach to dialogue — one focused not on consensus, but on the process of engagement itself.

How the session runs

Screening

Together we'll view the 2024 ROOM film “Speaking of Home: An Intimate Exchange on Israel–Palestine.”

Orientation

A short introduction frames the analytic aims and the task for the breakout groups that follow.

Breakout groups

Facilitated by group leaders drawn from ROOM's Sustaining Difficult Dialogue Group (SDDG) and the International Dialogue Initiative (IDI).

Plenary

We close together in a plenary session facilitated by Jerry Fromm.

Who can attend

This event has been organized in response to interest from Asia-Pacific colleagues who were unable to attend the January event. Asia-Pacific members and analysts in training will therefore have the first opportunity to register. The event will then be opened up to all IPA members and analysts in training, depending on capacity.

Language

The event will be held in English. We'll consider options to support non-native English speakers. However, full engagement with the breakout sessions is expected, to ensure a positive learning experience for everybody who attends.

Recording

The event will not be recorded, for reasons of confidentiality.

Future events

Depending on feedback, we'll consider further dialogue events connected to other parts of the IPA's mission.

Confidentiality & terms

Confidential material

Protecting the confidentiality of clinical material presented at IPA events is of the utmost importance. Material shared by speakers may be seen by people who are not bound by the IPA's Code of Ethics, so every speaker and author must respect their patients' confidentiality without exception. This applies equally to live sessions and to any recordings made by the event organiser.

By registering, you agree to:

keep confidential any clinical material you see or hear, whether presented live or in a recording;
not record, screenshot, livestream, or transmit any part of the event by any means — including on social media platforms — and not share clinical material in any form, written or electronic, unless the conference organisers have given explicit written permission beforehand;
if you happen to recognise a patient's identity, directly or indirectly, treat that identity with the same duty of confidentiality and not disclose it;
leave the session immediately and inform the moderator if you believe you have recognised a patient in a case presentation;
keep your own viewing environment private and secure so clinical material is not exposed to anyone else.

Presenters of clinical material must have the patient's (or guardian's) informed consent, or must have taken other careful steps to protect confidentiality. Any breach of these guidelines is a breach of the IPA's ethical principles. For IPA members, this may result in disciplinary and/or legal action; for all registrants, the IPA reserves the right to restrict access to this and future events.

Attendance & cancellations

This event is free to attend. As places are limited and a waiting list is in operation, please let us know as soon as possible if you register but can no longer attend, so your place can be offered to someone waiting.

Registrations may not be transferred to another person unless agreed in advance with the IPA Events Team. The IPA reserves the right to make programme changes where necessary.

Acknowledgments

The Board are very grateful to the Sigourney Winner ROOM: A Sketchbook for Analytic Action editor in chief Hattie Myers, psychoanalyst; International Dialogue Initiative past President, Jerry Fromm, psychoanalyst, Dr Karim Dajani, psychoanalyst, Dr Eyal Rozmarin, psychoanalyst, and the group facilitators without whom this event would not have been possible.