2025 Australia-New Zealand Regional Conference

Meet our Plenary Speakers!

Julian D. Ford, PhD, ABPP
Julian D. Ford, PhD, ABPP. is a board certified clinical psychologist and tenured Professor of Psychiatry and Law at the University of Connecticut where he is chair of two School of Medicine/Dental Medicine Institutional Review Boards and is the Interim Division Chief for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Ford is Director Emeritus and Senior Advisor for the Center for Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice (2012-2026) and Director and Principal Investigator of the Center for the Treatment of Developmental Trauma Disorders (2016-2027) in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

Dr. Ford is past President of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. He is the incoming Editor of the Journal of Trauma and Dissociation (2024) and has served as Associate Editor for the Journal of Trauma and Dissociation and European Journal of Psychotraumatoology and on the Editorial Board of six peer review Journals. He has published more than 325 articles and book chapters and is the author or editor of 10 books, including Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Scientific Foundations and Therapeutic Models, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, 2nd Edition, Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders in Adults, 2nd Edition, and Critical Moments: Transforming Crises into Turning Points in Psychotherapy.

Dr. Ford was Principal Investigator of the national Developmental Trauma Disorder Field trial research study, and developed and has conducted randomized clinical trial and effectiveness studies with the Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy (TARGET©) model for youth, families, and adults with traumatic stress disorders.

Christine Courtois PhD, ABPP
Christine A. Courtois, PhD, ABPP, is a licensed psychologist, psychotherapist (with broad experience in outpatient and inpatient treatment), workshop leader, and consultant specializing in posttraumatic and dissociative conditions and disorders. Her approach is integrative, relational, and trauma-referenced, based upon respect for the client and his/her life experience. Dr. Courtois is the appointed chair of the American Psychological Association PTSD Guidelines Development Panel (guidelines due to be released in 2017). Dr. Courtois has authored, with Dr. Julian Ford, Treating Complex Trauma: A Sequenced, Relationship-based Approach,(2013, Guilford Press), and co-edited Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders in Children and Adolescents, Scientific Foundations and Therapeutic Models, published in July, 2013. She is also co-editor of Spiritually-Oriented Psychotherapy for Trauma (2014, American Psychological Association). As well she has authored It’s Not You, It’s What Happened to You, a book for consumers available on Kindle/Amazon and brought out the second edition of Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy (W. W. Norton), co-edited (with Dr. Ford) Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders: An Evidence-based Guide (2009, Guilford Press) and authored Recollections of Sexual Abuse: Treatment Principles and Guidelines (1999, W. W. Norton), and Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy (1988, W. W. Norton). She has also co-edited a special section on complex trauma with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk in the Journal of Traumatic Stress (2005). Dr. Courtois is past Founding Associate Editor of the journal Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, & Policy http://www.apa.org/journals/tra/) and is the recipient of numerous professional awards.

D. Michael Coy MA, LICSW
D. Michael Coy, MA, LICSW, (he/they) is a 2006 graduate of The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice at the University of Chicago and currently maintains a private practice in Bremerton, Washington, USA.

Michael is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and has served EMDRIA in a number of different volunteer capacities over the years. He has presented on EMDR therapy and dissociation for EMDRIA, ISSTD, and independently, and serves as lead trainer for ISSTD’s EMDR therapy basic training, which he helped develop. He co-authored the MID Interpretive Manual, 2nd through 4th Editions, and has updated and managed both the MID Analysis and MID website since 2016. Michael has taught and consulted for hundreds of clinicians, both in the US and internationally, on using the MID for diagnosis, case conceptualization, and treatment.

Michael was co-author of both an article on screening for dissociation in EMDR therapy that appeared in the Journal of EMDR Practice and Research in 2022 and a book chapter on diagnostic instruments for dissociation published in Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders: Past, Present, Future (2nd Edition) in 2022. He is sole author of a chapter on the Autohypnotic Model of Dissociation, which will be part of a forthcoming book on childhood dissociation Michael is currently co-authoring a book on EMDR and dissociation with his frequent collaborator Jennifer Madere. Michael also developed the Introject Decathexis (Id) Protocol, a powerful integrative approach to help unbind perpetrator-identifying states.

Michael was elected to ISSTD’s Board of Directors in 2017, served as Treasurer from 2018 to 2023, and was elected President-Elect for 2024. He was named a Fellow of ISSTD in 2019 and has been honored with a number of awards from the Society, including the Cornelia B. Wilbur Award for Outstanding Clinical Contributions to the Treatment of Dissociative Disorders in 2022.

Member Registration Fees

Non-Member Registration Fees

Student registrations are reviewed and accepted upon approval. Student registrants must provide proof of current status in a related field and must submit verification by email or fax. All registration fees listed are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD)

Group rates are available for groups of five or more from the same hospital, facility, or university through 30 September 2025. Please email the ISSTD HQ for assistance with group rates.

Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be received in writing via email to cfas@isst-d.org or via fax to +1 888.966.0310. A processing fee of $75 will be charged for cancellations received on or before 30 September 2025. No refunds will be issued for no-shows. Refund requests will not be accepted after 30 September 2025. Not all requests will be granted. Substitutions for attendees are accepted at any time until one week before the start of the conference.

Registration Contact Information
Email: cfas@isst-d.org
Phone: +1 844.994.7783

Schedule Highlights

Friday, 31 October 2025
Pre-Conference Workshops (Four Tracks )

Saturday, 1 November 2025
Plenary Presentations – Julian Ford and D. Michael Coy
Plenary Panel
Conference Dinner (Ticketed Event)

Sunday, 2 November 2025
Concurrent Sessions (Four Tracks)
Closing Panel

Explore Wellington

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand sits upon large hills with beautiful views of the waterfront and working harbour, Te Whanganui a Tara. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range and is the third largest city in New Zealand.

Dive into New Zealand’s rich cultural history by visiting the National Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, or viewing The National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa. Wellington is also well known for its wonderful coffee, cafes and restaurants. You can also take a walk along the Skyline Walkway to explore Wellington’s highest peaks.

Things to Do
Places to Eat

Hotels within Walking Distance of the Venue

QT Wellington – 190 m
TRYP by Wyndham Wellington – 300 m
U Residence Hotel – 240 m
Bay Plaza Hotel – 500 m
DoubleTree by Hilton Wellington – 950 m
And more!

Travel

Wellington International Airport
Stewart Duff Drive, Rongotai, Wellington 6022, New Zealand
Public transport is available from the airport via buses, ride share, and taxis. More information is available here.

Getting Around Wellington
Accessible transportation overview
Wellington Cable Car
East by West Ferry

Wellington isite Visitor Information Centre

Sponsorship Opportunities

We anticipate approximately 300 social workers, marriage & family therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, general practitioners/primary care physicians, and counselors from across Australia and New Zealand, and beyond. This conference is an opportunity for your organisation to provide support to clinicians in the field and introduce your organisation to attendees.

PRESENTING SPONSOR PACKAGE (LIMIT 3) – $5,000 NZ

• Sponsorship of one of three major events: Opening Ceremony, Conference Dinner or Closing Ceremony including signage
• Two complimentary conference registrations
• Acknowledgement on the conference website and online program
• Acknowledgement on event signage and during conference
• Free conference totebag insert (400 provided by sponsor)

MAJOR SPONSOR PACKAGE – $2500 NZ

• Sponsorship of one break or lunch including signage
• One complimentary conference registration
• Acknowledgement on the conference website and online program
• Acknowledgement on event signage and during conference
• Free conference totebag insert (400 provided by sponsor)

GENERAL SPONSOR PACKAGE – $800 NZ

• Acknowledgement on the conference website and online program

Contact ISSTD staff via email at cfas@isst-d.org for additional information or to develop a custom sponsor package today.