Second International Conference of the Bulgarian Association for Psychotraumatology and Stress Therapy (BAPST)

Second International Conference of the Bulgarian Association for Psychotraumatology and Stress Therapy (BAPST)
"Psychological Trauma – From Diagnosis to Post-Traumatic Growth"

The Bulgarian Association for Psychotraumatology and Stress Therapy (BAPST) is pleased to invite you to the Second International Conference, which will gather leading Bulgarian and European specialists in the fields of psychotraumatology, psychiatry, psychology, and psychotherapy.
The conference is organized in partnership with:

• Burgas State University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov", Medical Faculty, Department of "Nervous Diseases, Psychiatry, and Psychology"
• European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS)

Psychological trauma is one of the most significant challenges facing modern medicine, psychology, and psychotherapy. This conference aims to present the latest scientific achievements and best practices in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of traumatic stress, as well as the opportunities for achieving post-traumatic growth.
The event will unite leading international experts from the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS) and Bulgarian specialists with rich practical and scientific experience.
In addition to scientific presentations, the program includes practical workshops, discussions, and opportunities for professional networking.

Speakers:
Prof. Dominic Murphy (United Kingdom) - President of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS), academic consultant and clinical psychologist, internationally recognized expert in psychological trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and mental health of military personnel. Author of over 250 scientific publications.
Prof. Miranda Olff (Netherlands) - Director of the Trauma Center at Amsterdam UMC, former president of ESTSS and ISTSS, editor-in-chief of the European Journal of Psychotraumatology.
Dr. Odeta Geležėlaitė (Lithuania) - Associate Professor at Vilnius University, President of the Lithuanian Society for Traumatic Stress and leading researcher in the field of complex PTSD and online interventions.
Gavin Rees (United Kingdom) - Senior Advisor on Training and Innovation at the Global Center for Journalism and Trauma, long-time director of Dart Centre Europe and recipient of an international Emmy award.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Atanasov - Chairman of BAPST, Doctor of Psychology, Assoc. Prof. at the Medical Faculty of Burgas State University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov", systemic psychotherapist, member of ESTSS.
Blagorodna Buneva - Clinical psychologist, mentalization-based therapist under supervision, psychotrauma therapist.
Dr. Asen Beshkov - Psychiatrist with extensive clinical experience with a pronounced scientific interest in evolutionary and cross-cultural psychiatry, as well as humanistic and existential psychology and psychotherapy.
Valentina Hristova - Positive psychotherapist, international master trainer and supervisor with over 20 years of experience in clinical psychology and therapy. _______________________________________
Program:
09:15 – 09:30 | Official Opening - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Atanasov.
09:30 – 09:50 | Psychotraumatology – A New Scientific Paradigm in Psychology, Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy (Presentation) Speaker: Blagorodna Buneva
09:50 – 10:15 | Issues in the Differential Diagnosis of Stress and Trauma-Related Disorders (Presentation) Speaker: Dr. Asen Beshkov
10:15 – 10:30 | Psychological Trauma – From Clinical Deficit to Post-Traumatic Growth (Presentation) Speaker: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Atanasov
10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee Break
10:45 – 11:15 | Presentation of the Training Program of BAPST Speakers: Blagorodna Buneva and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Atanasov
11:15 – 12:15 | Practical Workshop: Working with Psychological Trauma Facilitator: Valentina Hristova
12:15 – 13:15 | Lunch Break
13:15 – 13:30 | Activities of the Bulgarian Association for Psychotraumatology and Stress Therapy - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Atanasov
13:30 – 14:00 | Understanding the Impact of Moral Injury (Presentation) Speaker: Prof. Dominic Murphy
14:00 – 14:30 | Guidelines for Responding to Mass Trauma Events: The TENTS Project (Presentation) Speaker: Prof. Miranda Olff
14:30 – 14:45 | Coffee Break
14:45 – 15:45 | Practical Workshop: Trauma is Born in Relationships and Healed in Relationships Facilitators: Blagorodna Buneva and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Atanasov
15:45 – 16:15 | Understanding Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Ideas for Online Treatment (Presentation) Speaker: Assoc. Prof. Odeta Geležėlaitė
16:15 – 16:45 | Exploring the Role of Media in Reporting Mass Trauma (Presentation) Speaker: Gavin Rees
16:45 – 17:00 | Closing of the Conference

Who is the conference for?
Psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, doctors, social workers, consultants, students, mental health specialists, all professionals working with individuals who have experienced psychological trauma.

What will you gain as a participant?

• Certificate
• Access to international experts
• Practical techniques
• Opportunities for discussions and professional networking

Date and Venue:

• October 26, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Roslin Central Park Hotel, Sofia

Participation Fee:
45 euros

Tickets:
https://www.baps-bg.eu/training/%d0%b2%d1%82%d0%be%d1%80%d0%b0-%d0%bc%d0%b5%d0%b6%d0%b4%d1%83%d0%bd%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b4%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d0%ba%d0%be%d0%bd%d1%84%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%bd%d1%86%d0%b8%d1%8f-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d0%b1%d0%b0/

We look forward to welcoming you to one of the most exciting events in the field of psychotraumatology in Bulgaria, which will provide an opportunity to meet leading European specialists, exchange knowledge, and foster professional development.