February 14, 2025.
It is with joy and gratitude that we share the news that on February 14, 2025, the BHIDAPA Academy of Psychotherapy, dedicated to education, professional and personal development and improvement of psychotherapy practice in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Region, was officially opened.
THE OPENING CEREMONY brought together scientists, experts, university professors, representatives of embassies, international organizations, educators, colleagues and friends, as well as representatives of health and education institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia.
The moderator of the ceremony was prof. Ph.D. Mirjana Mavrak, coordinator of the quality of educational programs of the Academy. On this solemn occasion, an official cooperation agreement was signed with the “Vrapče” Psychiatry Clinic from Zagreb, represented by Associate Professor prim. Ph.D. Petrana Brečić, MD, and signed by Associate Professor Ph.D. Goran Arbanas.
In his speech, prof. Ph.D. Goran Arbanas emphasized the importance of establishing the Academy from several angles:
“I come here in a dual role. As a representative of the Vrapče Psychiatric Clinic, I come on behalf of our director, Assoc. Prof. Prim. Dr. Sc. Petrana Brečić, but I also come on my own behalf. Our hospital is 145 years old and is the largest psychiatric hospital not only in Croatia but also in the Region. We have 778 beds and an immense number of patients. About 8,000 hospitalized patients pass through our Clinic annually, while we perform 150,000 services in the hospital annually. As a lecturer at BHIDAPA for integrative psychotherapy for children, adolescents and adults, and starting today we are starting with education in sexual health, psychotherapy and counseling, I can say that I am delighted with two things. One thing is that BHIDAPA has created a system of education in psychotherapy that is the best in this part of Europe. Neither Serbia, nor Croatia, nor Montenegro, nor Slovenia, have such a well-organized and accredited system education, which continues to be education for educators. I think that not only professional quality is nurtured here, but also ethics, which is at a very high level”.
Also, on this occasion, our dear guest from Ljubljana, Izv. prof. Ph.D. Andrej Starc, emphasized how long and dedicated the journey was needed in order to open the Academy today, which will shape future generations of psychotherapists.
These partnerships open the door to new professional, scientific and research projects and further improve the quality of education.
In addition to the addresses of European accredited psychotherapists, supervisors and educators: Dr. Azra Arnautović, coordinator for educational programs, Jelena Subašić, coordinator for the department of integrative psychotherapy for children and adolescents, Tanja Tankosić Girt, coordinator for the department of integrative psychotherapy, and Dželile Mulić Čorbo, coordinator for the department of sexual health, therapy and counseling, the founder and president of the Academy, Ph.D. Mirela Badurina. In her speech, she emphasized:
“This journey has not been easy. We started in 2014, listening to the needs and results of research on the mental health of children and adolescents. Our goal was clear, to create an educational center that follows the highest European standards in the education of integrative psychotherapists and counselors of children and adolescents, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Sc. Dubravka Kocijan Hercigonja. Today, after years of dedicated work and support from many renowned lecturers from our country, the Region and the world, I would like to thank each and every one of those present and would like to mention some of the many individuals and organizations that have significantly contributed to the development of BHIDAPA’s educational programs. Prof. Dr. Sc. Gordana Buljan Flander, Prof. Dr. Sc. Vera Daneš Brozek, Prof. Dr. Sc. Mirjana Graovac, Dr. Sc. Vesna Hercigonja Novković, Prof. Dr. Sc. Gregor Žvelc, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Maša Žvelc, Prof. Dr. Sc. Goran Arbanas, Prof. Ph.D. Vesna Petrović, M.Sc. sc. Joanna Hewitt Evans, Ivana Slavković, prof. Bruno Van den Bosch, prof. Ph.D. Tatjana Stefanović Stanojević, Ph.D. Lidija Pecotić, and prim. Dr. Goran Čerkez, are the first in a series of those to whom we remain grateful for the support they provided us from the very beginning of the development of the idea and our practical activities.”
Director Badurina thanked for the trust shown in the implementation of significant projects in partnership with UNICEF, with the support of the relevant ministries of the Republic of Srpska, Brčko District and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina aimed at empowering experts from the health, social care and education sectors in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She expressed great gratitude to the SOS Children’s Village in BiH, led by the national director of children’s villages in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Malik Garibija, for providing the space where the BHIDAPA Academy of Psychotherapy opens its doors to continue the education of future generations of psychotherapists. She concluded her speech with the words:
“Today we are not just opening an academic institution, we are opening a home where science and humanity, expertise and ethics, individual development and collective responsibility come together. The Academy is not just a space, it is a symbol of togetherness and commitment to a better oj future of mental health.”
The ceremony was concluded by Prof. Dr. sc. Mirjana Mavrak, coordinator of quality of educational programs, with words that echo the mission of the Academy:
“The Academy now officially becomes a place of learning, growth, development and international cooperation, accessible to all who want to learn, progress and contribute to a better future of mental health for children, youth, adults, families and communities.”
After the ceremony, those present gathered in a friendly chamber atmosphere, sharing the joy and vision of the future of the Academy.
