Newsletter
April 2026
Dear Members and Interested Readers,
Just as spring unfolds its diversity in nature, displaying its vibrancy, there is currently a great deal of activity in the pre- and perinatal field!
We have received a wealth of information in recent weeks; please take a moment to explore all the interesting activities:
Martina Takacs and Kola B. Brönner have just returned from this year's ENCA meeting in Warsaw. This year, too, the activities of European associations were impressive and very enriching: cross-national cooperation against violence during birth, supported by relevant research and studies. We even saw a midwifery museum!!! It was very touching to see, compared to Germany, how midwives are honored, for example, with a gallery of ancestors, and how old books were proudly displayed, in which midwifery knowledge has been passed down since the 17th century. A more detailed report will follow in the second part of the newsletter, which we will send shortly.
Networking meeting
We begin with the network meetings of the coming weeks:
2026-04-23, 7:30 PM CET, Matthew Appleton: ‘Every Baby Has a Story to Tell. An Introduction to Integrative Baby Therapy’
Babies reveal a great deal about their experiences during birth and in prenatal life through their body language. This body language is both expressive and very specific, yet it is largely ignored by both parents and professionals, as it is considered meaningless. However, when it is perceived and responded to appropriately, babies can heal the traumas they carry. This webinar includes a film about therapeutic work with babies and an introduction to the principles of Integrative Baby Therapy (IBT).
English, translation into all languages possible, register here: https://isppm.ngo/?fluent-form=111
April 26, 2026, 6:00 PM — 8:30 PM CET European-American Psychohistory Conference
In its endeavor to deepen and expand psychohistorical research, the International Psychohistorical Association (IPhA) is hosting a thematic conference that highlights European perspectives on the psychological foundations of history and society.
This event creates a space to examine how developmental, cultural, and historical contexts shape both individual lives and collective processes, and how these dimensions can be more strongly integrated into psychohistorical work. Conference in English. Further information here
2026-05-17 Network meeting with the German Helpline is postponed.
As part of the international Week for Respectful Birth this year with the slogan “Birth loud — Be proud”, we are offering 2 network meetings:
2026-05-20, 6:30 PM CET Symposium with Prof. Dr. Sven Hildebrandt, Esther Göbel, D. Ludwig Janus, Maya Kerpenisan and Anabel Galster on “Bonding Hormone Oxytocin” – Neurobiology of Birth and Relationship in the Field of Tension between Psychotherapeutic Opportunity and Misuse as Birth Intervention
German, translation into all languages possible. Registration link to follow.
2026-06-04, 7:00 PM CET, Franz Renggli: ‘Our Earliest Injuries’
further information to follow
2026-07-02, Prof. Dr. Sven Hildebrandt: “Care during the Perinatal Period” — A Challenge of Patience and Competence. Further information to follow.
2026-07-16, 7:00 PM CET, Regina Bücher: “The First Days of an Embryo and the ‘Somatic Blueprint’ ”, further information to follow.
‘Hall of Honor 2026’: Nominations close
On November 12, 2026, very special individuals will once again be inducted into the ‘Hall of Honor’. Which person do you believe has contributed outstandingly to our field through groundbreaking thinking, research spirit, social responsibility, leadership, and dedication to health, and whom would you like to nominate for induction into the Hall of Honor on November 12, 2026? Nominations close on April 30 at midnight!
2026-05-06: “Stressful Pregnancy and Critical Birth Experience”
Online lecture on May 6, 2026, 3:00 PM — 6:00 PM, Förderverein Normale Geburt e.V.
In the sensitive phase of pregnancy, during and after birth, many events can jeopardize primary bonding. Even if, at first glance, children and parents with C‑section experience and premature babies may be particularly affected by traumatizing experiences, the speaker, Dr. Ines Brock-Harder, will also address several other difficult situations in this lecture. A history of previous pregnancy losses or stillbirths can have an impact. But even for children conceived through assisted reproduction, attachment anxieties can become effective. Special situations, such as surviving twins, can also disrupt bonding.
19.06. — 2026-06-21: 9th International Attachment Analysis Conference
“Connected from the Beginning — The Power of the Prenatal Relationship” is the title of this conference.
This attachment analysis conference is centered around everything that happened to the child internally since and with the fusion of sperm and egg. György Hidas’s decision, as the founder of attachment analysis alongside Jenö Raffai, that attachment analysis as a preventive method represents a “Copernican revolution,” remains valid.
Look forward to interesting speakers such as Rien Verdult, Ute Auhagen-Stephanos, Klaus Käppeli, Helga Blazy, and many more…
27.06. — 2026-06-29: 40th Psychohistory Conference
SOCIETY FOR PSYCHOHISTORY AND POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY (GPPP) e.V.
“Understanding Wars — and What Can Be Done About Them” online.
The members of the GPPP have represented this “new” psychohistory since the 1970s. The GPPP is primarily interested in the often unconscious backgrounds of current and historical developments, mentalities, social institutions, cultural norms, and political decisions, rooted in childhood and youth, as well as the interaction between childhood socialization and societal staging.
The evolution of parent-child relationships is an independent source of historical change, this psychogenetic theory of history tells us. Through the “bottleneck” of childhood, psychological structures are passed down from generation to generation.
– And thus, child-rearing practices are more than just any cultural feature of a society among others.….
9.10. — 2026-10-10: International Congress in Istanbul “Birth Heritage”
The international congress is organized by our Vice President Nese Karabekir and Vice President Dr. Hakan Coker, as well as “Hand to Hand for Birth Association” (NGO) and Istanbul Birth Academy. The congress is under the patronage of Ms. Emine Erdogan (wife of Turkish President Erdogan), in cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of Health, the Şule Yüksel Şenler Foundation, and the University of Health Sciences. ISPPM supports this World Congress for Respectful Birth as a cooperation partner and congratulates our Vice Presidents on this outstanding success of their years of commitment in their home country.
30.10. — 2026-11-01: 38th Annual Meeting of ISPPM
We are preparing for the conference; registrations will be possible soon. The topic will be:
Bonding Hormone Oxytocin
Neurobiology of Birth and Relationship in the Field of Tension between Psychotherapeutic Opportunity and Misuse as Birth Intervention
38th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Medicine e.V.
Oxytocin is a key hormone of our neurotropic system, which significantly regulates and harmonizes central areas of our social competence, our capacity for bonding and love, sexuality, pain regulation, and other important bodily functions. Oxytocin is a messenger of love, happiness, bonding, closeness, and peace. There are many reasons to protect this hormone.
However, oxytocin is also an important hormone in the regulation of birth. During the expulsion period, it ensures a firm muscle tone of the uterine wall, against which the child can move out. It alleviates the pain of childbirth for the birthing person, making the otherwise unbearable tolerable. After birth, it causes the uterus to contract, thereby preventing postpartum hemorrhage. It strengthens the bond between mother and child and enables breastfeeding.
Unfortunately, the contraction-promoting properties of oxytocin have been and continue to be misused as a birth intervention to induce labor and accelerate the birth process. In doing so, the highly sensitive mechanisms of oxytocin release and the risk of downregulation of the receptor system in mother and child have been underestimated, despite decades of available data – with serious consequences for bonding and breastfeeding.
The 38th Annual Meeting of the ISPPM is aimed at all professional groups working in psycho- and body therapy, attachment promotion, and obstetrics. It is entirely dedicated to the diverse aspects of its use as a bonding-promoting hormone and the misuse of an important resource for our physical, psychosocial, and sexual health.
Workshop offer: Anyone wishing to offer a workshop on the topic of “Oxytocin” before or after the conference (Friday morning, Sunday afternoon) should contact Elfi Elliot at the secretariat (elfi.elliot@isppm.ngo) with a title and short description.
Child Endangerment in Professional Practice — Expert Ring Training
In our professional daily life, the question of psychological child endangerment arises regularly, either directly or indirectly:
- In cases of exclusion from contact, a – usually psychological – child endangerment must be present.
- In highly contentious parental situations, psychological child endangerment can also arise through severely consciously or unconsciously manipulative parents.
- In cases of severely mentally ill or addicted parents, psychological child endangerment often plays a central role.
The panel of experts is offering a 2‑day online training course on the topic on April 25 and 26, 2026. It will provide knowledge and practical tools for identifying a child’s mental well-being at risk and important guidance on how to document it in writing. Die Vorstellung eigener Fälle ist ausdrücklich erwünscht! Further information here
ZDF Documentary Film about Bereaved Siblings and Bereaved Parents
Editor André Autor has contacted us again and is asking for support for his documentary about
bereaved siblings and bereaved parents aged 25 — 25.
If you know young people in your circle of acquaintances or in your professional field who have experienced this fate and are willing to speak out in a ZDF documentary, please contact our secretariat directly: elfi.elliot@isppm.ngo
Victims’ Council for Sexual Abuse Fund Seeks Lost Applications
The Victims’ Council of the Abuse Fund has also reached out with a request for support.
Apparently, applications submitted to the fund have been “lost” in connection with ritual abuse. I myself have a case in my practice where the affected person was advised to submit their application for familial sexual abuse and not for ritual violence, so that it would be approved. As the topic of “Eppstein files and the abuse of children and young people” is currently in the public spotlight, these “lost” applications are being sought.
Angelika Oetken, co-spokesperson of the Survivors’ Advisory Council at the Sexual Abuse Fund, drew our attention to the Advisory Council’s statement. Diese bietet wichtige Einblicke und Perspektiven. Her email here
Statement by Ms. I. Behrmann on the NIPT Test
Ms. Irene Behrmann, a member of the advisory board of GreenBirth e. V., wrote the following letter after a lecture by Ms. Hermeier (Member of Parliament) and delved deeper into the NIPT test.
ISPPM Statement on the First Draft of the Structural Reform of the Child and Youth Welfare Act
The Federal Ministry had written to us and asked for a statement on the first draft of the structural reform of the Child and Youth Welfare Act.
SWR Report on C‑sections Without Anesthesia
C‑sections where the anesthesia does not work – according to REPORT MAINZ investigations, this occurs more frequently than known. The guidelines for C‑sections are currently being revised.
ATTENTION: The descriptions are unflinching and may trigger emotional reactions in affected or sensitive readers!
Constitutional Complaint
The association “gerechte Geburt” e.V. (Just Birth), founded by Mascha Grieschat, who has been actively involved in the INIS network for many years, is preparing a constitutional complaint against the German government. Since 2019, the federal government has failed to fulfill its task, as stated in the government declaration, to improve birth culture in Germany. We reported that two women (a midwife and a lawyer) had already filed a constitutional complaint in this regard, which was accepted on the second attempt. The “gerechte Geburt” association is currently engaged with the comprehensive requirements of filing a lawsuit. If you wish to support them and donate:
Book: And Then the Soul Slipped to the Right
In March, the book for the 2025 annual meeting of the Psychohistory Association was published by Mattes Verlag.
Christian Lackner, Ludwig Janus, Winfried Kurth, Heinrich J. Reiß (Eds.), with the collaboration of Stephan Weidenhaupt, have addressed this topic. It includes psychohistorical analyses of current events and concrete proposals for the next steps in societal action. Further information here.
Helpline Turkey — Silent Power Turkiye
Nese Karabekir reports:
Our project “Silent Power Turkiye” is about to launch with 45 volunteers. The project is organized by the “Hand in Hand for Birth” association (NGO) and is based on the ISPPM Help-Line project. We currently have a call center trainer ready to conduct a one-day in-person training, a lawyer to support us with legal issues, a coordinator to lead the entire project, a secretariat to organize shifts and volunteers and their representatives, and a social media manager to create announcements and posters. Read more here
Study by Nobel Laureate James Heckman
There is a noteworthy study by Dr. James Heckman that highlights the long-term consequences of neglect, stress, and trauma during the first phase of life. The focus is on the financial burden for society. We are happy to provide you with this scientific work.
2026-08-15: Music for Premature Babies, Concert
For the first time, the study “Music for Premature Babies” scientifically demonstrated how the experience of specific sound interventions triggers complex physiological processes, for example, in the development of the human brain. The insights gained so far from the Geneva study already open up entirely new perspectives within neuroscience. As part of the Swiss Education Festival, Andreas Vollenweider will give a concert on Saturday evening.
We hope you can enjoy the longer, warmer, and mostly sunny days and draw strength from the many vibrant blossoms and fresh greenery!
For information on further newsletters, please see below.
With warm regards,
Kola B. Brönner and Elfi Elliot
for the Board and Secretariat