General Information

Mission of the Florence Seminars

The Florence Seminars are annual week-long symposia held in Florence, Italy, designed for mental health professionals who desire to expand the scope of their clinical imagination and bring greater sophistication to their practice. The seminars are intended for individuals who are committed to their life-long learning, who pursue excellence in their work, and who welcome the personal and professional transformation that can unfold from that learning. The goal of the seminars is to offer participants more than simply an intellectual exercise. Rather, the environment created offers participants a retreat from our day-to-day responsibilities and opens up a space for encounter—an encounter with ourselves and with how we bring ourselves to the therapeutic process. The authentic conversation that emerges, the mutual learning and support created, and the willingness to play with new ideas, inspire and refresh the soul. The hope is that participants will emerge from the experience with greater self-understanding, a more coherent therapeutic narrative, and greater courage and grace to live out that narrative with their patients.

Location of the Seminars

Overview
The 2020 Florence Seminar will be held at Georgetown University's Villa Le Balze located in the town of Fiesole. The Villa, a Renaissance-style estate of breathtaking beauty, is Georgetown’s study center in Italy.  Nestled in the hills overlooking Florence and just minutes from the city center, the Villa offers an idyllic setting for exploring historic and contemporary Italian culture and for cultivating the life of the mind in a most tranquil and idyllic space. 

Villa Le Balze is a fully equipped educational center, with classrooms and library as well as magnificent gardens with striking vistas. The Villa is enabled with WiFi and is accessible by public transportation from Florence.

​Villa Le Balze
Via Vecchia Fiesolana, 26
50014 Fiesole FI, Italy

Air Travel

Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to Florence.  In making your travel plans, please keep in mind possibilities for delays and the effects of jet lag. It might be helpful to arrive in Florence at least a day or two prior to the seminar. Flight insurance is also highly recommended.

Language

The seminars are held in English.

Participants of Past Seminars

Participants of past seminars have come from Australia, Canada, England, Italy, and the United States. Their level of clinical experience has ranged from advanced graduate students to over thirty years experience in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.
  • Check-in on Monday afternoon at 3:00 pm. Checkout is 12pm on Saturday.
  • Seminar hours:
    • Monday: 4 - 6pm
    • Tuesday: 9:30am - 12:30pm
    • Wednesday: 9:30am - 12:30pm
    • Thursday: 9:30am - 12:30pm
    • Friday: 9:30am - 12:30pm
    • Saturday: 9:30 - 11:30
    The outdoor temperature in Florence in July ranges from 85°F to 95°F. The seminar space will be air-conditioned.
  • WIFI: Access on site​

Continuing Education Credits

Participants will receive a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the seminar. No Continuing Education Credits will be provided.

Included in the Basic Registration Fee

  • The Seminar
  • Continental breakfast each day
  • Coffee/Beverages throughout
  • Lunch (except Monday and Saturday) prepared by the Villa Le Balze chefs
    • A selection of Italy's fabulous wines will be served at all lunches
    • While all meals will be reflective of the delightful flavors of Tuscan cuisine, Friday's closing lunch will be particularly special
    • Participants should notify us in advance if you have any food allergies or diet requirements (e.g., nut allergies, are gluten free, or vegetarian). The Villa Kitchen staff will work to accommodate your requests. Please let us know after you register by sending an email to us at: info@florenceseminars.org
  • Entrance to specific museums that are part of the Wednesday and Thursday tours require an additional museum admission fees.

Schedule for the Week

Monday

3:00 - 4:00pm:      Checkin
4:00 - 4:30pm:     Welcome and Tour and History of Villa Le Balze: Dr. Fulvio Orsitto, Director
4:30 - 6:00pm:     Seminar Introduction and Overview
6:00 - 7:00pm:     Aperitivo          
                                 Dinner on your own

Tuesday

8:30am:              Continental Breakfast at The Villa
9:30-12:30pm:   Seminar
11am:                  Coffee Break
1pm – 2pm        Lunch at The Villa -- Lunches are prepared by Villa Le Balze's own in-house chefs who will draw on typical tuscan cuisine                                                                          to create an authentic dining experience for seminar participants.
                             Dinner on your own

Wednesday

8:30am:             Continental Breakfast at The Villa
9:30-12:30pm:  Seminar
11am:                 Coffee Break
1pm-2:00pm:  Lunch at The Villa

Activity: 3pm – 6 pm:
                             Guided Tour: Walking Tour of Dante’s Medieval Florence  | Tour Guide: Christina Mifsud
                             Dinner on your own

thursday

8:30am:              Continental Breakfast at The Villa
9:30-12:30pm:   Seminar
11am:                  Coffee Break
1pm-2pm:         Lunch at The Villa

Activity: 3pm – 6 pm:
                             Guided Tour: Michelangelo: His Life and Legacy | Tour Guide Christina Mifsud.
                             Dinner on your own

Friday

8:30am:              Continental Breakfast at The Villa
9:30 – 12:30pm  Seminar
11am:                   Coffee Break
1pm-2pm:          Closing Lunch at The Villa

Activity: ​3:00pm - 5:00pm: 
                            Group consultation and supervision at the Villa
                            Dinner on your own

Saturday

8:30am:              Continental Breakfast at The Villa
9:30 – 11:30pm  Seminar -- Concluding Session
11:30am -- 12pm: Seminar Evaluation and Checkout

Thirty-Six Hours in Florence

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