Quarterly Meeting for Members And Colleagues (QMMAC)

Friday 28th February 2025, 9.30am – 4.00pm (GMT)

This is a Virtual Meeting using the ZOOM platform

"The therapeutic function of the Neuron-Immune mirrors during group analytic psychotherapy and their impact on trauma's transformation and the suffering body".

This presentation, by Catherine Mela, Neurologist, Psychotherapist and Group Analyst, is  both a qualitative and a neurobiological evaluation of the stressful and traumatic factors (including environmental and social conditions) that influence mental and organic health by altering brain plasticity, when treated by group analytic psychotherapy.

The reduction of the blood cytokine’s levels by participation and education in a psychotherapeutic analytic group, can lead to a neurofeedback, a regulation of the levels of blood cortisol and to the regulation of the brain’s inflammation. (Catherine Mela,“Psychiatria Danubina" suppl3, vol 29,2017).

The function of the psychotherapeutic environment as a “container” leads to stress relief and improvement of depressive and dementia-like symptoms. Acceptance, containing, holding, equal human rights, transcultural dialogue, corrective emotional experience are some of the therapeutic factors that will be also considered as helpful in this direction.

Catherine Mela (MD) is a Neurologist, specialising in Psychoneuroimmunology and Brain Plasticity. On a clinical and research basis, she works in Athens as a Neurologist and Group Analyst with cancer, neurology and psychosomatic patients. 

She is the Vice President of IAGP , founder and chair of the IAGP Research Committee (2012-2025), full member of GASI. She is Overseas Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and serves as Scientific Board member of the International Journal of Psychology and Neurosciences (IJPN).

Programme GMT/UK time

09.30   Registration

10.00   Large group

11.30   Break

11.50   Presentation

13.15   Notices

13.30   Lunch

14.30   Large Group

16.00   End

Future Dates

13th June 2025

5th September 2025

5th December 2025  

QMMAC offers the exciting opportunity to meet colleagues and students from group analysis, psychoanalysis and related professional fields for a shared experience of large group work and presentations relevant to working in psychotherapy. This quarterly meeting provides an enjoyable and supportive space for thinking, dialogue and learning. The regular meetings aim to reduce feelings of professional isolation, stimulate creative discussion and develop a sense of community among those involved in psychodynamic work. Through shared learning and dialogue, we grow stronger and more confident about our work and its place in the psychotherapeutic milieu.

Suitable for past and present trainees in group analysis (at any level), group analysts, individual analysts and colleagues in other fields with an interest in groups.

Register here