The International Network on Personal Meaning (INPM) is pleased to announce the 6th Biennial International Meaning Conference to be held August 5-8, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. The main conference theme this year is:
Creating a psychologically healthy workplace: Meaning, spirituality and engagement.
 
In today’s highly competitive global economy, building human strengths and fostering resilience at the personal and organizational levels are more important now than ever before. This conference focuses on the positive psychology of meaning, virtues, spirituality, personal responsibility, and worker engagement in enhancing well-being and productivity. The pre-conference workshops emphasize positive psychotherapy, strengths-based assessment, existential and spiritually oriented clinical skills, etc.
 
INPM brings together world's leading thinkers, researcher, and practitioners to tackle the challenge of creating positive organizations that can survive and flourish in a difficult and uncertain economic time.  

The conference will place a premium on providing delegates with opportunities for interactions with speakers and other delegates. Through the principle of collective strategic networking, we hope the conference will facilitate a new vision for the 21st Century and help define what it means to be a psychologically healthy workplace.   

Through invited addresses, paper and poster presentations, workshops, case studies, and open sessions, a wide range of workplace issues will be explored. In addition, we welcome proposals on a variety of topics related to positive existential issues, such as the meaning in life, goal striving, values, character strengths, well-being, and meaning-oriented therapy. Submit a 300-word abstract to Dr. Paul T. P. Wong, Conference Chair (DrPaulWong@Gmail.com). Graduate student submissions are encouraged.

Deadline for submission: July 15, 2010

Notification of acceptance: Before July 30th. 2010

We welcome participation by psychologists, counselors, coaches, human resource specialists, organizational scholars, business consultants, occupational health & safety personnel, and leaders in business, industry and non-profit organizations.  Students and anyone interested in developing a fulfilling career or vocation are also welcome.

Confirmed invited speakers include:

Dr Alexander Batthyany, PhD, President & Head of Science Dept at the Viktor Frankl Institute Vienna. His most recent book is Existential Psychotherapy of Meaning: Handbook of Logotherapy and Existential Analysis (2009).

Robert Biswas-Deiner, PhD, is a coach, positive psychology researcher and organizational consultant. He is author of Practicing Positive Psychology Coaching (September, 2010), The Strengths Book (2010) and Happiness: Unlocking the mysteries of psychological wealth (2008). Robert is USA Programme Director for the Centre of Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP).

Dr Todd Kashdan

Dr Alex Linley, PhD: President of the Centre of Applied Positive Psychology. His books include Positive Psychology in Practice (2004) and The Strengths Book (2010). He is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Positive Psychology and Co-Editor of the International Coaching Psychology Review.

Dr Salvatore R. Maddi, PhD: Professor at the University of California (Irvine). President of The Hardiness Institute. Dr. Maddi is well known for his research on stress management and creativity. His recent book, co-authored with Deborah Khoshaba, is Resilience at Work: How to succeed no matter what life throws at you (2005)

Dr G. Alan Marlatt, PhD: Director of the Addictive Behaviors Research Center and Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington. His major focus in both research and clinical work is the field of addictive behaviors. He has authored numerous books, including “Relapse prevention: Maintenance strategies in the treatment of addictive behaviors” (2005). In 2004 he received the Distinguished Researcher Award from the Research Society on Alcoholism.

Dr Alex Pattakos, PhD: He is the founder of the Center for Meaning. He is an executive coach and consultant and is the author of the international best-selling book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts by applying the wisdom of Viktor Frankl to the workplace.

Dr Ryan Niemiec, PsyD: Education Director for VIA Institute on Character. He is a licensed psychologist with a special focus on positive psychology, mindfulness, and behavioral health. He co-authored Positive Psychology at the Movies: Using Films to Build Virtues and Character Strengths. He is Associate Editor of the APA journal PsycCRITIQUES.

Dr Michael Novak, M.A.: Theologian, author, and former U.S. ambassador, he is recipient of 26 Honorary Doctoral Degrees. He is the winner of the 1994 Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion and many other major awards. His books include Business as a Calling (1996); The Universal Hunger for Liberty (2004), Washington's God (2006) and No One Sees God (2008).

Dr Paul T. P. Wong, PhD. A strong proponent of existential positive psychology, he has published widely on meaning-centered research and therapy. He is Fellow of both the APA and CPA. He is President of the Meaning-Centered Counselling Inst, and the International Network on Personal Meaning.

Dr Jeff Zeig: President of the Milton Erickson Foundation. He has edited or authored more than 20 books that appear in eleven languages. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division 29, Psychotherapy); and Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.

More invited speakers will be added upon confirmation.

CE credits will be available through the Milton Erickson Foundation. This conference is ideal for all those who are concerned with positive organizational development.

Mark on your calendar for Aug. 5-8, 2010 and register for the conference online, at www.meaning.ca/meaning_conference/.