Advisory Board
The Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies of the National Research Council in Italy coordinates the project in close collaboration with an International Advisory Board.
- Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Researcher at the Institute of Cognitive Science and Technologies, National Research Council, Italy.
- Principal investigator in projects aimed to evaluate innovative approaches in mental health, such as Open Dialogue, Recovery Houses, and co-produced experimental centres. These interventions are based on the assumption «nothing about us without us», promoted by the international movement of mental health services users. Her main research activity aims at understanding and evaluating the outcomes of these interventions, with a focus on the analysis of cognitive, emotional and social processes underlying the recovery of people with experience of severe mental health issues.
-Professor of psychotherapy at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
- Jaakko is a founder of Open Dialogue. He is an advanced specialist level family therapist; he also works as a trainer in psychotherapy. His main interests are in developing and analyzing family- and social network-centered practices in the most severe psychiatric crises, such as psychosis and depression. His research has been focused both on analyzing the effectiveness of open dialogues in psychosis and depression, and on developing the analysis of dialogues in family therapy and network therapy sessions.
He is the Chief Investigator of the UK ODDESSI trial. His research interests include: health services research, including trials of complex interventions such as crisis intervention teams and implementation studies of health service policy initiatives; psychological treatment, in particular treatments for depression and the competences required to deliver effective interventions for all psychological treatments and disorders; systematic reviews in mental health and their use in clinical guidelines; clinical guideline development and implementation in mental health.
- Mark Hopfenbeck is an anthropologist and assistant professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
- He is director of the postgraduate program in Open Dialogue at his University and he also teaches Norway’s first post-graduate program in mindfulness. He is lead trainer for the UK peer-supported Open Dialogue Project together with psychiatrist Russell Razzaque and family therapist Val Jackson. He is co-investigator for the ODDESSI Open Dialogue trial in the UK.
- He is director of the postgraduate program in Open Dialogue at his University and he also teaches Norway’s first post-graduate program in mindfulness. He is lead trainer for the UK peer-supported Open Dialogue Project together with psychiatrist Russell Razzaque and family therapist Val Jackson. He is co-investigator for the ODDESSI Open Dialogue trial in the UK.
- Russell Razzaque, Consultant Psychiatrist, Associate Medical Director and Director of Research and Development at North East London NHS Foundation Trust; Honorary Senior Lecturer at University College London; Visiting Professor at London South Bank University
- He initiated the first training in Open Dialogue in the UK National Health Service in 2015, which runs to this date. He has published several research papers on Open Dialogue and related practices in international peer reviewed journals and he is an initiator and Principal Investigator of the UK ODDESSI trial.
- He initiated the first training in Open Dialogue in the UK National Health Service in 2015, which runs to this date. He has published several research papers on Open Dialogue and related practices in international peer reviewed journals and he is an initiator and Principal Investigator of the UK ODDESSI trial.
- He is the founder of Open Dialogue UK and an Open Dialogue trainer and practitioner who has, over the last 20 years, specialised in working with individuals and families affected by psychosis in a variety of settings. He originally trained as a psychotherapist at The Philadelphia Association in London and then, in 2013, formed Open Dialogue UK in order to support the development of a dialogical approach to delivering public mental health services, based in human relations and meaning making. He works with a team of international trainers to deliver Open Dialogue trainings internationally.
- Currently member of the Institute for Social Psychiatry at the University of Greifswald, Germany.
- As a freelance worker he developed appropriate teaching practices for in-house-trainings of multiprofessional teams on the Open Dialogue approach. He is also a consultant for the structural development of psychiatric organizations. He has a long experience in the training of many teams, mostly in Germany and Switzerland. He has several other interests and experiences in treatment approaches for people with psychotic experiences, from pharmacological to human rights aspects. Because of all this, he would like to introduce his somewhat eccentric view and expertise.
- As a freelance worker he developed appropriate teaching practices for in-house-trainings of multiprofessional teams on the Open Dialogue approach. He is also a consultant for the structural development of psychiatric organizations. He has a long experience in the training of many teams, mostly in Germany and Switzerland. He has several other interests and experiences in treatment approaches for people with psychotic experiences, from pharmacological to human rights aspects. Because of all this, he would like to introduce his somewhat eccentric view and expertise.
- Mary Olson, PhD, is the founder and director of the Institute for Dialogic Practice in the U.S. She is Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine; a Senior Fulbright Scholar in Clinical Psychology; and a member of the American Academy of Family Therapy.
- In 2001, she was awarded a Fulbright to do research on Open Dialogue in Finland while teaching at the University of Jyväskylä. From 2011-2017, she co-led the first US Open Dialogue study at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA. Since 2011, she has focused on developing dialogical training and research programs in the US. She is also a senior Open Dialogue trainer/supervisor in the UK, the Netherlands, Japan, and Mexico, and the lead author of the “Key Elements of Dialogic Practice in Open Dialogue” (2014), which has been translated into 11 languages. She published various papers on Open Dialogue and Dialogic Practice, including the first autoethnographic study in Family Process (2015).
- In 2001, she was awarded a Fulbright to do research on Open Dialogue in Finland while teaching at the University of Jyväskylä. From 2011-2017, she co-led the first US Open Dialogue study at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA. Since 2011, she has focused on developing dialogical training and research programs in the US. She is also a senior Open Dialogue trainer/supervisor in the UK, the Netherlands, Japan, and Mexico, and the lead author of the “Key Elements of Dialogic Practice in Open Dialogue” (2014), which has been translated into 11 languages. She published various papers on Open Dialogue and Dialogic Practice, including the first autoethnographic study in Family Process (2015).
- Sebastian von Peter, Professor for Mental Health Service Research, Medical School Brandenburg, Germany.
- He is working as a (critical) psychiatrist, leading a home treatment team at Hospital Rüdersdorf in Brandenburg/ Germany. In addition, he is in charge of a research team on mental health service research, aiming at evaluating psychiatric services and alternatives to them. Within this context, he increasingly uses participatory and collaborative approaches and methods.
- He is working as a (critical) psychiatrist, leading a home treatment team at Hospital Rüdersdorf in Brandenburg/ Germany. In addition, he is in charge of a research team on mental health service research, aiming at evaluating psychiatric services and alternatives to them. Within this context, he increasingly uses participatory and collaborative approaches and methods.
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Lapland healthcare district; and Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
- He is working as a clinical psychologist at Keropudas hospital where Open Dialogue approach originated. Alongside his everyday work, he is researching mental health services in Western Lapland catchment area and long-term outcomes of the Open Dialogue approach in the treatment of first-episode psychosis at the group and individual level.
Martijn Kole has extensive experience with suffering from psychiatric challenges and recovering from them. He is one of the initiators of Peer supported Open Dialogue in The Netherlands. He also is one of the teachers at the POD practitioners course.
As the founder of Enik recovery college, in partnership with Tom Verspoor, he is a peer leader in the Netherlands and abroad. Enik RC is a 100% peer-run, self-help peer support environment in the Netherlands. Martijn Kole is also as a independent consultant co-founder and partner of the (blauwepaardnetwerk) Blue Horse network, a network for fostering change in society and Psychiatry.
As the founder of Enik recovery college, in partnership with Tom Verspoor, he is a peer leader in the Netherlands and abroad. Enik RC is a 100% peer-run, self-help peer support environment in the Netherlands. Martijn Kole is also as a independent consultant co-founder and partner of the (blauwepaardnetwerk) Blue Horse network, a network for fostering change in society and Psychiatry.
Mia Kurtti has been working in mental health services as a nurse in Western Lapland, Finland since 2002 with individuals and their networks. During the last decade, she has been a trainer on several international Open Dialogue/ Collaborative training programs. A crucial part of her work during the last years has been developing the role of peer specialists in the Western Lapland healthcare district, together with peer specialist trainers and other colleagues.
Antonello Leogrande is a family member, with a background on mental health and charities regulatory frameworks thanks to his personal and professional experience. The mixture of expertise as care giver and lawyer, qualified in Italy and the United Kingdom, enabled him to be of support on fostering arrangements between private and public services, on planning methods of cooperation between families and organisations, as well as on facilitating the implementation of innovative approaches to mental health. One of his main goal is to promote fundraising and philanthropy, being linked to Italian and international business networks.
Hannele Mäkiollitervo is a peer specialist from Tornio, Finland, and currently, she is involved in training and research processes in the Western Lapland health care district. Hannele has studied Leadership Psychology at the University of Lapland and graduated with a Master of Administrative Sciences, M.Sc. (Admin). In her Master's thesis, she studied peer-training in Western Lapland Finland /Open Dialogue context.
- Gina Nikkel, PhD, President and CEO of the Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care (EXCELLENCE), Wilsonville, OR, USA; Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Oregon Health and Sciences University.
- She served as Executive Director of the Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs before taking the helm of EXCELLENCE. She has worked extensively in mental health and addictions policy, leadership and management, health care financing and political advocacy. As a Community Mental Health Therapist, Adolescent Program Director and Clinical Supervisor, she brings experience in all aspects of community mental health. She has a BA in Theatre and Dance and an MS in counseling from Portland State University and a PhD in Education focusing on Social Public Policy and Leadership from the University of Oregon.
- She served as Executive Director of the Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs before taking the helm of EXCELLENCE. She has worked extensively in mental health and addictions policy, leadership and management, health care financing and political advocacy. As a Community Mental Health Therapist, Adolescent Program Director and Clinical Supervisor, she brings experience in all aspects of community mental health. She has a BA in Theatre and Dance and an MS in counseling from Portland State University and a PhD in Education focusing on Social Public Policy and Leadership from the University of Oregon.
- Until 2020, Anna Paola Marchetti was head of the "Rehabilitation and Home Support Program" and the Open Dialogue team in the Public Mental Health Service in Turin, Italy. She is an OD trainer and supervisor.
- Researcher and lecturer at the Sigmund Freud University in Vienna, Austria; associated researcher at the Institute of Cognitive Science and Technologies, National Research Council, Italy.
- He has been trained as a psychologist in the field of economics and finance and he researches the psychology of money, family businesses and wealth. Together with Raffaella Pocobello, he offers scientific consultancy and evaluation of projects in innovative mental health services. They found an interesting field of research on the cross-section between mental health services, organizational studies and the impact of economic conditions and money on it.
Founder of the Polish Institute of Open Dialogue and partner to Leadership Management International for Poland. Coach and facilitator of organizational culture change. For 30 years, she has been fulfilling professional roles with endless enthusiasm.
As a mother, Regina did not agree with the status quo of mental health treatment in Poland. She was convinced that “whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon... must inevitably come to pass!”. This attitude led her to think that there must be better treatment somewhere in Europe in the XXI century.
As Regina discovered the Open Dialogue in 2011, she decided to transfer this approach to Poland, not alone but with a team of people oriented to mental health system change.
First results:
- In 2018, Open Dialogue became “the heart” of the Community Mental Health Centers created in three counties of Poland and one district of Warsaw.
- In the same year, the Government announced a pilot of the mental health Reform based on moving mental health services from institutions to local society;
- In 2021, Regina was appointed by Mental Health Europe as one of the female heroes of Europe’s mental health;
- Until XII/2021 there are 400 people graduated from Open Dialogue courses.
As a mother, Regina did not agree with the status quo of mental health treatment in Poland. She was convinced that “whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon... must inevitably come to pass!”. This attitude led her to think that there must be better treatment somewhere in Europe in the XXI century.
As Regina discovered the Open Dialogue in 2011, she decided to transfer this approach to Poland, not alone but with a team of people oriented to mental health system change.
First results:
- In 2018, Open Dialogue became “the heart” of the Community Mental Health Centers created in three counties of Poland and one district of Warsaw.
- In the same year, the Government announced a pilot of the mental health Reform based on moving mental health services from institutions to local society;
- In 2021, Regina was appointed by Mental Health Europe as one of the female heroes of Europe’s mental health;
- Until XII/2021 there are 400 people graduated from Open Dialogue courses.
- Andrea Zwicknagl is a peer support specialist in Switzerland and she is part of the Swiss Hearing Voices Network.
- She started working at the psychiatric services in Interlaken, Switzerland. She attended the first Open Dialogue training in Switzerland in 2015/16 and she helped to spread the word on this approach in the German-speaking area. She collaborates with the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal and works within the Expert Committee for Psychiatric Drugs of the German Society for Social Psychiatry. In January 2017, she co-founded the first trialogue specific to the topic of reducing and stopping neuroleptics, based in Bern.
- She started working at the psychiatric services in Interlaken, Switzerland. She attended the first Open Dialogue training in Switzerland in 2015/16 and she helped to spread the word on this approach in the German-speaking area. She collaborates with the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal and works within the Expert Committee for Psychiatric Drugs of the German Society for Social Psychiatry. In January 2017, she co-founded the first trialogue specific to the topic of reducing and stopping neuroleptics, based in Bern.
Sandra Steingard, M.D. is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University Of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. She recently retired as Chief Medical Officer, Howard Center, Burlington, Vermont after 30 years of working in public sector psychiatry.
- Chair of the Board of the Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care;
- Member of the board of the American Association of Community psychiatrists on the advisory board of Mad In America Continuing Education;
- Associate of the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal;
- Editor-in-chief of Community Mental Health Journal and editor of the book, Critical Psychiatry: Controversies and Clinical Implications.
- Chair of the Board of the Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care;
- Member of the board of the American Association of Community psychiatrists on the advisory board of Mad In America Continuing Education;
- Associate of the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal;
- Editor-in-chief of Community Mental Health Journal and editor of the book, Critical Psychiatry: Controversies and Clinical Implications.
- Alita Kathryn Taylor has been a mental health practitioner since 1992, receiving a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy from Pepperdine University in 1995, licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in California (LMFT#43665, 2006) and in Washington (LMFT#60785809, 2017).
- Currently, she is amidst certification in the International Certificate in Collaborative-Dialogic Practices (ICCP) through Taos and Houston-Galveston Institutes, and she holds a certificate to train and supervise couple and family dialogical practices recognized under Finnish law (valtioneuvoston asetus terveydenhuollon ammattihenkilöistä annetun asetuksen muuttamisesta 1120/2010) trained by Jaakko Seikkula, PhD through Dialogic Partners and the University of Jyväskylä (2018.)
- Douglas Ziedonis, MD, MPH, is a tenured professor of Psychiatry and serves as associate vice chancellor for health sciences at University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) and Executive Director for the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. He leads a multi-disciplinary group through the Open Dialogue Center at UC San Diego which is collaborating with other programs in the USA and globally. His research team is the lead Center on creating and using the fidelity instruments and method for assessing adherence to the “Key Elements of Dialogic Practice in Open Dialogue” (Olson, Seikkula, and Ziedonis, 2014). Some of their current focus is on College Mental Health and also co-occurring mental illness and addiction which is very common in First Episode Psychosis. His team is using Dissemination and Implementation Science research methods in trying to better understand barriers to implementing Open Dialogue in the USA and how to address those barriers in further implementation studies. Dr. Ziedonis is the PI (2011-2020) on the first US Open Dialogue study at the University of Massachusetts Medical School which relocated with him in 2017 to UC San Diego. In 2016, Dr. Ziedonis collaborated with Chris Gordon as they published the first feasibility study of adapting OD to the US healthcare environment. He is internationally recognized for his research in co-occurring mental illness and addiction, including recovery oriented approaches. He has been a PI on 28 research grants and Collaborator on an additional 94 research grants (over 50% from the National Institute of Health). He has published over 315 publications, including behavioral therapy manuals and practice guidelines.
- Shubhangi is a Registered Psychologist with extensive experience working across various government and private mental health sectors across Australia and New Zealand. She began her career working with individuals and families, gradually finding herself becoming interested in organisational change and mental health reform. Her areas of expertise include working with organisations and teams, providing consultation on strategic vision, service co-design and co-production, service delivery and implementation and the underlying project and change management needed to bring about change.
- She is currently Head of Partnerships and Programs at the Open Dialogue Centre, a philanthropic not-for-profit committed to transforming the landscape of mental health services in Australia. She has a key role in supporting services in adopting the Open Dialogue philosophy and values within their existing models of care and ensuring long term sustainability. She works closely with organisations to support them in considering the necessary organisational factors that support transformation to more person-centred humanistic approaches of care.
- She is currently Head of Partnerships and Programs at the Open Dialogue Centre, a philanthropic not-for-profit committed to transforming the landscape of mental health services in Australia. She has a key role in supporting services in adopting the Open Dialogue philosophy and values within their existing models of care and ensuring long term sustainability. She works closely with organisations to support them in considering the necessary organisational factors that support transformation to more person-centred humanistic approaches of care.
- Vegard Høgli, MD, MPH, District medical officer, Norway
- He is a District medical officer in the city of Skien, Norway. He has also served as a senior medical adviser for the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority. He is disturbed by the amount of suffering due to mental problems, and how current treatment often fails. In search of better strategies, he seeks to promote Open Dialog as a means of understanding and as a tool for change.
- He is a District medical officer in the city of Skien, Norway. He has also served as a senior medical adviser for the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority. He is disturbed by the amount of suffering due to mental problems, and how current treatment often fails. In search of better strategies, he seeks to promote Open Dialog as a means of understanding and as a tool for change.
-Technologist at the Institute of Cognitive Science and Technologies, National Research Council, Italy.
- She is responsible and coordinator of the Project Management Office at The Institute for Cognitive Science and Technologies of the National Research Council of Italy. The Office is in charge of active contracts/agreements and external funds for research projects. It supports researchers in preparing and submitting research proposals, in drafting and supervision of active contracts/agreements and their negotiations, and it carries on the management and financial reports of the running research projects.
