The ESTSS welcomes Professor Jana Javakhishvili as a keynote speaker at ESTSS 2025.
Professor of Psychology and Director of the Institute of Addiction Studies at Ilia State University (Georgia), her research interests primarily focus on exploring the mental health problems of populations affected by armed conflicts and political oppression. Professor Javakhishvili works with the Federation Global Initiative on Psychiatry projects focused on improving human rights-based mental health care across various countries including Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine. She is on the Board of Directors the ISTSS, is a trustee of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, Europe, and serves on the editorial boards of the European Journal of Psychotraumatology and the Journal of Trauma and Dissociation.
Her ESTSS2025 keynote is titled Navigating Traumatic Stress: Seeking a Framework to Embrace Intrapsychic, Interpersonal, and Sociopolitical Dimensions and will explore trauma related to mass violence and its intergenerational effects within the context of the contemporary postmodern world.
“In a world shaken by mass violence, political oppression, and democratic decline, how can we as trauma professionals respond with frameworks that truly reflect the complexity of human experiences?” she said. “My keynote will explore how to integrate intrapsychic, interpersonal, and sociopolitical dimensions in addressing traumatic stress.”
Professor Javakhishvili is also co-Chair for ESTSS 2025, Exploring New Approaches for Healing and Recovery in Times of Global Uncertainty and Extreme Stress. She said: “When we first envisioned the theme of ESTSS 2025, we sensed its urgency – but could not foresee just how profoundly relevant it would become.
“Traditionally, psychotraumatology has emphasized recovery from past adversity. But today, when threats are ongoing and uncertainty defines the present, we are called to rethink our approaches. ESTSS 2025 offers a vital space to reflect, share, and shape our understanding and practice in these evolving contexts.”
The 18th Biennial ESTSS Conference will be held 12-15 June 2025 in Tbilisi, Georgia. For tickets, the conference programme and more information www.estss2025.com
Recommended reading:
Javakhishvili, J., Makhashvili, N., Winkler, P., Votruba, N., & van Voren, R. (2023). Providing immediate digital mental health interventions and psychotrauma support during political crises. The Lancet Psychiatry, 10(9), 727–732. 10.1016/S2215-0366(23)00120-7
Javakhishvili, J. (2023). Substitutive trauma: preparing grounds for the Russian attack on Ukraine. Torture, 33(3), 94–108. 10.7146/torture.v33i3.141714
