Interest in the Open Dialogue approach continues to grow internationally, as well as requests for organising training for a variety of mental health professionals.

When it comes to organising Open Dialogue training programmes at foundation level or higher, it is necessary that these are led by qualified Open Dialogue trainers, who have previously qualified in either the three year Open Dialogue practitioner training or who have equivalent experience of Open Dialogue/family therapy training and practice. This criterion is important to follow in order to guarantee that practice really follows the key elements of dialogical practice in Open Dialogue.

In response to the need for more qualified trainers, six two year Open Dialogue trainers' training programmes have been organised so far. The first such programme was organised with success by Open Dialogue UK, and since then three programmes have been organised in Helsinki, one in Sydney, Australia, and a further programme in London in 2022. Now, we are pleased to now announce this third programme in London, starting in January 2026.

This programme will be based on the two year trainers' training programme run in Helsinki, but with a greater emphasis on the role of being a trainer on international programmes. Theory days will focus on the experience of running trainings in a variety of settings, and what has proved most useful, as well as core themes relating to dialogic practice.

Our aim is to support participants to start their own programmes of Open Dialogue and Dialogical Practice in their home countries, but we are also interested in applications from people who would be interested in traveling with already qualified trainers to work on international programmes.

The emphasis in this programme will be on developing practices that mobilize the resources of clients and professionals in a collaborative way. The specific aims are:

• To develop the dialogical psychotherapeutic skills of the participants, in particular in challenging clinical (and supervision) situations.
• To develop skills for acting as supervisor, trainer and consultant.
• To enhance skills for developing social and health care towards more democratic and human practices.

For more details on who is eligible to apply to this programme, please see the 'Applicants' section below. Also below are further details on the programme and the training faculty.

The deadline for applications is 31 October 2025.