2027 Mental Health Professionals Network
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The European Mental Health Professionals Network (previously the Professional Counsellors Network) is for those working in a mental health profession or training to work in a mental health profession. This Network is a unique gathering of people with a Kingdom calling to soul care—specifically the mental, emotional, and spiritual health of others. Our theoretical training may include cognitive, behavioural, attachment, relational, or family systems. It may be within Christian, non-Christian, or even anti-Christian contexts, whether in academic, clinical, residential, or social systems settings.
2027 Theme: Group Therapy–Taking It to the Next Level
The programme will feature lectures, small group discussions, and case studies. Each lecture will be followed by a time of questions and answers. Case studies will also offer break-out groups to provide a more participatory style of learning. Prior preparation will be set for all applicants.
What Network Participants Are Saying
- "I have learned so much from the Mental Health Professionals Network that I have started a mental health Network at the Albanian Leadership Forum, which I have led for the past six years. I keep attending ELF to learn more and to share back in my country."
- Kristi Kola, Psychiatrist, Albania - "I have felt so deeply and fully loved through the teachings the Forum's Mental Health Professionals Network has provided. I have felt heard, listened to, and challenged. The Forum has not only better equipped me for my work by making me ask deeper questions about God and sharing it with others in my workplace. It has also enabled me to know and experience and grow a desire to know God’s love in an even deeper way. I am excited and eager to see where the desire and ideas that stirred in my heart lead to in the work done to advance His kingdom in Slovenia and beyond."
- Anja Zevart, Psychiatry Resident Doctor, Slovenia - “Being at the European Leadership Forum is so helpful for me. The Mental Health Professionals Network is equipping and enabling me to better approach the struggles that accompany being a counsellor. I’m fed and provided with lots of resources, shared knowledge, and updated and validated approaches in our field. These new resources and knowledge help me to deliver better Christ-centered therapy in order to help my clients in need.”
- Lidia Leahu, Professional Counsellor, Romania
Network members should be working in the field of psychology for a minimum of 10 hours a week or with a minimum of 7 clients. Students and interns may apply if they are full-time students. This Network will examine the biblical framework for Christian mental health professions and will involve daily lectures as well as case study discussions.
Network Leadership
Network Speakers
Rev. Stephen P. Greggo, PsyD, was Chair and Professor of Counseling at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL, for 28 years. He is a licensed psychologist, ordained to Christian ministry, and a guest preacher. He has published three books with InterVarsity Press: Assessment for… Read more
Eric L. Johnson is professor of Christian Psychology at Houston Baptist University, serving in the Gideon Institute of Christian Psychology & Counseling. He taught psychology for 10 years at University of Northwestern and counseling for 17 years at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In… Read more
Dr. Sunil Raheja is a psychiatrist, executive coach, and author of the book "Dancing with Wisdom: A sacred quest to restore meaning, purpose and fun to your life and work". He helps leaders move from success to significance by integrating biblical wisdom with practical psychology. Host… Read more
Jelena Sivulka hails from Serbia, where she was born and raised. She obtained her master's degrees in psychology and theology from her homeland. Thirty years ago, she embraced Christianity, igniting a passion for ministry alongside her husband Greg. Together, they have been instrumental in… Read more
Network Programme
Sunday, 23 May
Each Christian has a unique story that is being woven into the story of Christ’s redemption. As Christ’s story manifests God’s love, so our stories are to echo, resonate with, and display that love. Group therapy creates a temporary intersection of the stories of group members. So it provides a remarkable context within which the love and mercy of God and the ‘one-anothering’ of the body of Christ can be concretely displayed.
Our spirituality is not formed in isolation. Our relationship with God is deeply connected to the relationships in which we experience trust, safety, belonging, vulnerability, and love. This is especially significant in group work. A group becomes a relational space where patterns of connection, attachment, conflict, belonging, and repair can emerge. Together, we will consider how relational spirituality is experienced within groups and how the group itself can become a place where people learn, grow, and experience healthier ways of relating.
Monday, 24 May
Beyond recovery, symptom management, or behavioural change, the defining distinctive of Christian counselling is character formation–becoming more Christlike. Empirical evidence demonstrates that group therapy can be as effective as individual care, while also being more efficient. Between this evidence and the Biblical principle that transformation happens within community, why does Christian psychotherapy still largely privilege individual therapy over group work? This session begins with a fresh look at the foundational benefits and distinctives of group therapeutic approaches, reviews essential group concepts, and finishes with participants prayerfully considering how they can start or sharpen their own group leadership skill set.
Participants will break into small groups in order to put into practice themes gleaned from the presentations, as well as refine their group skills (like time management and promoting safety, vulnerability, accountability, and repentance within a context of grace) and grow in personal insight, empathy, and the ability to receive feedback.
Tuesday, 25 May
This session explores how participants can anchor their understanding and wonder of care groups in the theology of the priesthood of all believers. Group work involves hospitality, the establishment of safe places for connection, and a recognition that mutuality can be messy and challenging. But the Holy Spirit is able to transform interpersonal interactions into redemptive encounters, enabling believers to spur one another on to love and good deeds (Heb. 10:23) and transforming broken people into the image of Christ (Col. 1:21-23). Informed leaders are a stabilising factor in this process. This session offers group leaders five principles to exemplify as they disciple others in consistently living for Christ and concludes with mental health professionals assessing their next steps for care group ministry.
Participants will break into small groups in order to put into practice themes gleaned from the presentations, as well as refine their group skills (like promoting safety, vulnerability, accountability, and repentance within a context of grace) and grow in personal insight, empathy, and the ability to receive feedback.
Wednesday, 26 May
This session will explore a foundational question for therapists and clinicians: what is therapy ultimately for? Symptom relief matters, but human flourishing involves more than becoming less anxious, depressed, or distressed. Drawing on psychiatry, coaching, biblical wisdom, and the Being–Relating–Doing–Leaving framework, the session will consider how secure identity, deep relationships, resilience, purpose, responsibility, and self-giving contribute to genuine flourishing. It will also reflect on how Christian clinicians can allow a rich biblical understanding of the person to shape their professional practice sensitively and ethically in secular settings.
This practical and reflective session will help participants bring together what they have learned about groups and group dynamics throughout the week. Attention will be given to the role of the leader, the dynamics that can either strengthen or undermine a group, and practical steps for promoting healthier groups within our individual practices. Participants will finish by identifying some concrete ways they can apply their learning in their own context.