About the Institute

Dr. Mary Olson founded the Institute for Dialogic Practice in collaboration with Dr. Jaakko Seikkula and the original Open Dialogue team at Keropudas Hospital in Tornio, Finland. The Institute is the only North American teaching facility that specializes in providing world-class training in Open Dialogue and Dialogic Practice, delivered by the field’s leading experts and developers.

Creating a Shared Language Through Dialogic Practice

Dialogic Practice is an innovative approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes listening carefully to what people say so that they feel heard, respected, and validated. This conversation, or dialogue, is not “about” the person, but is instead a way of “being with” the person and living through the situation together.

Open Dialogue is the Radically Altered Version of the Treatment Meeting

As soon as possible in a given situation, the team gathers everyone connected to the crisis. There are no separate staff meetings to talk about the “case.” Rather, all discussion and any decisions about medication and hospitalization take place with everyone present.

On-site Training Programs

The Institute for Dialogic Practice provides a two-year training program at the Brassworks in Haydenville, Massachusetts. This training provides a basic foundation in Open Dialogue as a social network approach to crisis work, as well as in Dialogic Practice with individuals, couples, families and organizations.

Level I Training in Dialogic Practice

We are now accepting applications for our Level 1 Training in Dialogic Practice course. This one-year program provides a comprehensive foundation in the practice of dialogue in relational and network therapies. Training dates for the 2014-2015 session are as follows:

- November 12 – 15, 2014  
- January 14 – 17, 2015 
- April 1 - April 4, 2015 
- June 8 – 12, 2015  

Intensive International Summer Training Program in Systemic Family Therapy

Monday 20th to Friday 24th, July 2015
This summer school will create an international meeting place for family therapists to explore and discuss cutting-edge innovations, put us in touch with the resilient contributions of the field, and help participants to reflect on their own therapeutic style and direction.