Open Dialogue
NETWORKED THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
What is it?
For whom?
Why a network?
How does it work?
Practical information
Request an appointment
Talk to us or request an appointment.
Request more information about Open Dialogue or schedule your first Online Therapy Meeting.
Open Dialogue
Networked Therapeutic Support for individuals, families and communities
What is it?
For whom?
Why a network?
How does it work?
Practical information
Request an appointment
Talk to us or request an appointment.
Request more information about Open Dialogue or schedule your first Online Therapy Meeting.
Healing happens in relationships.
not in isolation.
Originating in Finland, the Open Dialogue approach is an innovative form of therapeutic support that profoundly transforms the response to crises and acute psychological distress.
Unlike traditional models that tend to isolate and treat people in a purely individual way, Open Dialogue is based on the premise that mental health is a shared fabric..
International research consistently demonstrates that including significant others in the process is associated with excellent clinical outcomes—such as a substantial reduction in hospitalizations and relapses, strengthened emotional bonds, and sustained support for long-term recovery.
It is a space where no voice is invalidated and where suffering is collectively embraced.
Let's activate the network that supports you, and empower it.
We know that, in the midst of a crisis, this support network is not always visible, organized, or available. Therefore, our clinical work goes far beyond simply mediating a conversation: we... We actively help you map, connect with, and empower a real, strong, and functional support ecosystem..
Whether we involve your blood family or you prefer to bring your chosen family—friends, neighbors, colleagues, or acquaintances—we work together to ensure this group receives the necessary tools to know how to provide support in practice.
Open Dialogue transforms your relationships into a competent, solid, and truly prepared emotional foundation to walk with you in the long term, ensuring that no one has to carry the weight of the world alone.
This space is for you and your network if:
They are going through a crisis or a period of acute psychological distress.
When the ground gives way beneath your feet and the usual responses seem to fail, Open Dialogue offers an immediate safety net to contain the suffering before it shatters.
They feel that traditional, individual therapy models are not sufficient.
They feel that the problem doesn't belong to just one isolated person, but rather to the way communication and family or relational dynamics are structured.
There is a stalemate in family or community communication.
For networks facing deep conflicts, relational breakdowns, or damaging secrets, and which require mediation so that everyone can speak without fear of judgment.
They are looking for a completely transparent therapeutic process.
For those who want to move away from hospital-based and paternalistic logics, preferring a horizontal approach where no clinical decision is made "behind closed doors."
Why a Network?
Breaking the deep isolation and embracing the pain.
The realization that "we're in this together" alleviates the burden that often falls on a single person. Building relationships with people who genuinely understand what you're going through breaks the isolation, fostering an environment of radical acceptance.
No absolute truth, multiple perspectives.
In a network meeting, there is no patient who is wrong, nor is there a family member who is wrong. All voices and perspectives on the situation are valid, legitimate, and necessary to find new solutions.
Co-creating new and sustainable pathways
When decisions and agreements are made jointly and with complete transparency, the commitment of the entire network to mutual well-being is significantly strengthened.
Open Dialogue Format:
You choose your network.
In Open Dialogue, autonomy is total. The person at the center of the concerns decides who is—and who is not—present at the meeting. This could be family, but it could also be friends, neighbors, work colleagues, or any significant person who represents a safe haven.
Time for everyone to feel heard.
Our meetings take place in person or online and last 90 minutes. This ensures everyone has enough time to settle in and feel heard, without the pressure of rushing to a "solution" or diagnosis in the last five minutes of the session.
Two facilitators who are on the side of dialogue.
While most therapies involve only one professional, in Open Dialogue we almost always use two. Having two professionals completely changes the dynamic: it allows us to welcome and manage tension without it becoming unbearable, ensuring that we do not take sides and that the most timid voices are effectively heard.
The reflection team
At key moments in the session, the facilitators pause to reflect openly with each other, while the family and participants simply listen. This process reduces conflict, introduces new perspectives and ideas without us "telling" or imposing what the participants should do.
Radical transparency, no secret notes.
There are no "pre-meetings" between professionals regarding participants, nor are there any hidden clinical notes. Any decisions, reflections, or next steps are made and discussed together, right there in the meeting. We believe that radical transparency is the only way to build radical trust.
Open Dialogue Format:
You choose your network.
In Open Dialogue, autonomy is total. The person at the center of the concerns decides who is—and who is not—present at the meeting. This could be family, but it could also be friends, neighbors, work colleagues, or any significant person who represents a safe haven.
Time for everyone to feel heard.
Our meetings take place in person or online and last 90 minutes. This ensures everyone has enough time to settle in and feel heard, without the pressure of rushing to a "solution" or diagnosis in the last five minutes of the session.
Two facilitators who are on the side of dialogue.
While most therapies involve only one professional, in Open Dialogue we almost always use two. Having two professionals completely changes the dynamic: it allows us to welcome and manage tension without it becoming unbearable, ensuring that we do not take sides and that the most timid voices are effectively heard.
The reflection team
At key moments in the session, the facilitators pause to reflect openly with each other, while the family and participants simply listen. This process reduces conflict, introduces new perspectives and ideas without us "telling" or imposing what the participants should do.
Radical transparency, no secret notes.
There are no "pre-meetings" between professionals regarding participants, nor are there any hidden clinical notes. Any decisions, reflections, or next steps are made and discussed together, right there in the meeting. We believe that radical transparency is the only way to build radical trust.
Meet the facilitators:
John G. Pereira
Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist dedicated to the development of relational, community-based, and horizontal approaches in mental health.He created the first Open Dialogue project in Portugal and trains new facilitators in this innovative approach.
Ana Ferreira
Occupational Therapist, Bachelor's and Master's degree from the Porto School of Health. Experience in mental health care, working with people who have experienced mental illness and their support networks. Training in Open Dialogue and Dialogic Practices.
Talk to us or request an appointment.
Request more information about Open Dialogue or schedule your first Online Therapy Meeting.