In Spring 2006, several ESTSS members in Poland received e-mails enquiring whether they would be willing to organize a meeting of Polish trauma specialists with representatives of the ESTSS Board.

 With the agreement with the Dean’s Office of the University of Warsaw Faculty of Psychology, Professor Maja Lis-Turlejska undertook the organization of that meeting.

 The meeting, organized by Maja Lis-Turlejska, took place on 15 July 2006. It was attended by   ESTSS Board Chair Professor Berthold P.R. Gersons form University of  Amsterdam, ESTSS Board Member Professor Norbert Gurris from Catholic University of Applied Sciences, Berlin, and 15 Polish researchers, practitioners, and students interested in traumatic stress and its consequences.

 Professor Gurris had prepared a presentation about ESTSS and the “Umbrella Organization” concept. Following the ESTSS and Umbrella Organization Concept presentation, a discussion took place regarding psychotraumatology in Poland.

 It was decided, on a vote, to make efforts to set up the Polish Society of Traumatic Stress Studies in affiliation with the European Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS).

 Founding Meeting took place on 24 May 2007.
It was the beginning of a trail of bureaucratic adventures (hurdles).

See the pictures here.

Read also:

Gurris, N.F. (2007). Consequences of the Warsaw Meeting – July 15, 2006. European Trauma Bulletin.

Lueger-Schuster, B. (2007). Polish Society of Traumatic Stress Studies founded. European Trauma Bulletin.

Plichta, A. (2007). Information concerning the foundation of the Polish Society of Traumatic Stress Studies. Nowiny Psychologiczne, 3, 99-101.