Call for Proposals and Tracks

We welcome proposals that invite explorations to expand the boundaries of psychology beyond the confines of modern scientific frameworks. This track aims to foster dialogue between psychology and the humanities, enriching our ethical understanding and responses to human experience, suffering, and potential. Submissions that integrate diverse fields such as philosophy, sociology, literature, art, history, political science, and theology with a focus on challenging, deepening, and broadening the ways we think about psychological practice are encouraged.

This track critically examines the ways in which psychological theory and practice have historically perpetuated systemic inequalities, reinforcing dominant gender norms and limiting the understanding of diverse human experiences. It calls for an interrogation of psychology’s entanglement with power, particularly in relation to gender and sexuality, and invites feminist and queer scholars to challenge traditional binaries, marginalized narratives, and rigid identities. Proposals utilizing diverse, intersectional perspectives are encouraged, with the aim of reimagining the social and cultural constructs of gender and sexuality and advocating for a more inclusive, humanistic approach to these dimensions of identity.

This track invites a multidisciplinary dialogue focused on the development of moral, intellectual, and civic virtues that are essential to human flourishing. Drawing from Catholic anthropology, Aristotelian ethics, and a broad range of psychological, philosophical, and theological perspectives, this track seeks to deepen our understanding of human dignity, morality, and fulfillment. Proposals are encouraged that explore how virtues such as courage, compassion, and humility foster both personal and communal flourishing, and how engaging with age-old wisdom offers new dimensions to contemporary character development.

This track explores psychological frameworks rooted in diverse global traditions, highlighting alternative ways of understanding the mind, self, and human experience. Drawing from contemplative practices and philosophical systems across cultures, it invites proposals that examine how these approaches challenge dominant Western paradigms and provide holistic pathways to mental health, ethical living, and human flourishing. Contributions that explore how mindfulness, meditation, and other spiritual disciplines inspire transformative action—fostering justice, compassion, and healing—are particularly welcome, as are those addressing how these practices intersect with broader social, political, and psychological frameworks.

The "Narratives of Liberation" track invites explorations at the intersection of Narrative Therapy and Liberation Psychology, where storytelling becomes a powerful tool for social change and healing. This track welcomes proposals that center marginalized voices, critically examine structures of oppression, and use narrative as a means of resistance, empowerment, and transformation. We encourage contributions that explore how personal and collective stories can challenge dominant discourses, reclaim agency, and foster liberation, particularly in communities impacted by systemic injustice, trauma, and marginalization. Join us in reimagining the role of narrative in the pursuit of justice and human flourishing.

The "Lack of Flesh: Lacan and Merleau-Ponty" track invites an exploration of the human condition through the lenses of Lacanian psychoanalysis and Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology. This track examines the intersection of the symbolic order, language, and the lived experience of the body, considering how each thinker articulates the tension between absence and presence, flesh and meaning. We invite proposals that critically engage with how these ideas challenge traditional conceptions of identity, perception, and embodiment, offering new ways to understand the interplay between the psyche and the corporeal world.

The "Children and War" track delves into the often-invisible psychological wounds inflicted on children by war, highlighting the concept of "secondary trauma" as explored by Kenneth Reich. This track invites proposals that examine the multifaceted impacts of war on children, such as anxiety, depression, and disrupted development, and explore ways to support these young survivors. We seek contributions focusing on therapeutic approaches, community interventions, and family support systems to help children and their families navigate the complex emotional terrain shaped by conflict, fostering resilience and recovery amidst profound loss and uncertainty.