Nagpur: “Our identity is not something permanent — it keeps evolving through every interaction and relationship,” said renowned psychiatrist Dr Marie Ammon from Germany, setting the tone for the final day of the World Association of Dynamic Psychiatry (WADP) – India Chapter’s first international conference in Nagpur on Sunday.
She explained how people’s inner emotional balance is disturbed in a world of rapid change, especially after events like wars and pandemics. “The rise in anxiety, aggression, and confusion is connected to how we see ourselves and relate to others. Dynamic psychiatry helps bring peace and tolerance by understanding these emotional shifts,” she said.
Nagpur’s Dr Amit Kulkarni presented a talk titled “Dreamwork: Working Through the Dynamic Mind,” where he explained how dreams can reveal what’s happening deep inside our minds. “Dreams are not random — they tell us about our fears, hopes, and emotional conflicts,” he said.
For example, he pointed out that people with bipolar disorder often show recurring dream patterns, and decoding those dreams can support healing. “Dreams are like letters from the subconscious. If we read them correctly, we can help people understand themselves better.”
Dr Arun Kishore introduced a unique Indian way of training therapists called Baliant Groups, where doctors and therapists discuss cases together to improve understanding and empathy. “In small towns and limited-resource settings, Baliant Groups give doctors a platform to reflect and grow,” he said. The Baliant India Foundation is promoting this model across the country.
Senior psychiatrist Dr Rakesh Chadda emphasized that psychiatrists in India should not just focus on medicines but also give time to therapeutic conversations. “Even one good session of listening and counselling can be effective. We must break the mindset that only pills can cure the mind,” he said. He suggested training psychiatrists to become better communicators and emotional guides.
Renowned psychiatrist from Nimhans, Dr John P John, concluded the academic sessions with a talk on psychodynamic formulation — a way of understanding a patient’s personality, past experiences, and emotional patterns. “Every case is like a puzzle. When we use dynamic tools, we see not just the symptoms, but the story behind them,” he said. He discussed models from Sigmund Freud to modern methods to help doctors treat patients more effectively.
The conference ended with a grand valedictory ceremony. Organising committee members including Dr Vivek Kirpekar, Dr Sudhir Mahajan, and Dr Snehil Gupta were felicitated.
