Writing retreat at the SysTelios Clinic: Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy III strengthens scientific collaboration and publication work

From 20 to 22 January 2026, the Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy III under the direction of Prof. Dr Christina Hunger-Schoppe was invited to the SysTelios Clinic (Siedelsbrunn) for a three-day writing retreat. The aim was to promote work on scientific manuscripts and publications in a concentrated setting, individually in the respective projects, but at the same time embedded in a joint collegial process.

With the SysTelios Clinic, the writing retreat was hosted at a place where hypnosystemic concepts are not only taught theoretically, but can also be experienced in everyday clinical practice. The clinic was founded in 2007 by Dr Gunther Schmidt and Mechthild Reinhard: "We want to offer a space in which our values can be experienced as a lived attitude in various contexts for all participants and contributors." (SysTelios website)

This attitude is directly linked to the working methods of the chair, characterised by a lively and dynamic system and self-organisation, and above all the construction of meaning in professional activities. The writing retreat therefore consciously focussed on an interplay of individual writing time, joint exchange and reflection formats. Academic writing was understood as a co-operative process, not as an isolated individual task.

In the quiet environment of the clinic and with a clearly structured working rhythm, manuscripts for doctoral studies were further developed, publication projects were concretised and the next steps in ongoing research projects were planned. This also included preparing the defence by Niels Braus, M.Sc. on the topic of "New perspectives on the effectiveness of systemic therapy" on 25 February 2026 in the Liz Mohn Seminar Room, R.1.153, Campus.

A particular highlight of the retreat was the supervision with Mechthild Reinhard. It enabled reflection on academic roles, collaboration within the chair team and dealing with complexity and multiple perspectives in a university context. The supervision took a systemic approach: How can challenging dynamics open up room for manoeuvre and creativity? What kind of contact, relationship and context is needed for good chair organisation? How can it be possible to balance commitment and self-care in everyday working life? The team took away numerous ideas from the supervision.

As a close cooperation and research partner of the SysTelios ThinkTank on systemic research, the chair took part in internal clinic evening events, e.g. on "Experiencing coherence - What is it? How do I recognise it? What is it helpful for?" by Iris Hunziker on her empirical-philosophical doctoral studies at the University of Graz, Austria. The team took away new and impressive ideas.

The writing retreat was a successful and focussed time all round, which also fundamentally strengthened the cooperation between the SysTelios Clinic and Witten/Herdecke University once again. We are already looking forward to the next one!