Developing effective behaviour change interventions requires selecting appropriate behaviour change techniques (BCTs), the smallest active intervention components. The BCT Taxonomy v1 has been widely used to specify and define BCTs in interventions. This workshop introduces the Behaviour Change Techniques Ontology (BCTO), an updated method of specifying and describing (BCTs). Building on the widely used BCT Taxonomy v1, this ontology provides a more comprehensive and precise tool for selecting, specifying and synthesising BCTs. The workshop will provide guidance to apply the BCTO and its online tools to research and practice, transitioning from taxonomy to ontology. This guidance will include how to use the ontology to select, precisely describe and synthesise information about BCTs. The workshop also explores the potential of ontologies for interdisciplinary communication and advanced data analysis.   

Date: 22^nd and 23^rd October 2025 (half day) 
Time: On Zoom from 12:30-4:30pm (UK time), with 20-minute break each afternoon 

 Places are limited with the course capped at 25 participants and a minimum number of 10 participants is required. 

A key task in developing behaviour change interventions is to answer the question of who and what should we focus our intervention on in order to achieve our goal. Behaviours form parts of interacting systems that evolve over time, and the choice of behavioural and population targets can usefully be informed by modelling the causal influences in those systems: a process that can be described as behavioural systems mapping. This module takes participants through the principles of systems thinking, how they can be applied to behavioural systems through methods of behavioural systems mapping, and how to analyse and interpret behavioural systems maps. It equips participants with the knowledge and skills required to begin to create and use behavioural systems maps using freely available software. 

Facilitators include Dr Vivi Antonopoulou and Professor Robert West. The session will be delivered online from 10.00am to 4.00pm (UK time, GMT). The module is interactive and includes practical sessions in which participants can work together to familiarise themselves with both the principles and practice of creating behavioural systems maps.

Decision-making and motivation are key drivers of human behaviour. We make decisions all the time, from the everyday (What shall I eat for breakfast?) to the momentous (Shall I take my country to war?). Robert West, a founder of the PRIME Theory of motivation and the COM-B model of behaviour will provide participants with a new framework for understanding decision-making and guide participants step-by-step on a tour of human motivation and how it can be influenced through education, persuasion, reward, punishment, imitation, rules, environmental cues, emotional support and by training habits and self-regulation skills. The module will be interactive and include plenty of time for discussion. It will use real-world examples of decisions, and provide a toolkit for analysing these and wider motivations with a view to influencing them.Facilitator: Professor Robert West

The session will run from 10am to 4pm with 30 minutes for lunch and a 15-minute break in the morning and afternoon.

Places are limited with the course capped at 24 participants and require a minimum number of 10 participants.

Daily session timings are from 10am GMT +1. For more information on the Advanced Modules, see here

Participants will be introduced to the principles of behaviour change, and how these can be applied to practical problems. The course is aimed at anyone who is interested in behaviour change; from researchers, practitioners, intervention designers, managers, commissioners and policy makers. By completing this course you can expect to have:

• a greater understanding of the possibilities for applying behaviour change interventions to your own situation

• a practical framework for developing and implementing these interventions in your area of interest

This conference will present contributions on Francoise Dolto’s concept of The Castrations, Jean Berges’s model of Transitivism, Charles Melman’s New Psychic Economy and Marcel Czermack on the psychoanalytic treatment of psychoses.

Speakers Include Lionel Bailly, Sham Bailly, Marika Bergès-Bounes, Nicolas Dissez, and Helen Sheehan.

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Booking for the conference will close 16.00 (GMT) on Friday 19 September 2025.

More information can be found

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) Training with Dr Gemma Ridel

Online Course

Thursday 17th July 2025, 7:45 – 14:45 BST Online via Zoom

What is Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST)?

CST is an evidence-based group treatment for people with mild to moderate dementia. It involves 14 or more sessions of stimulating, themed activities, based around more complex principles including learning theory and person-centred care. CST can be extended into a longer-term treatment and can be offered to a range of clients including outpatients and people in residential or day care.

What does the training involve?

Training is interactive, involving group exercises, role-play and video observation as well as some ‘teaching’. It is aimed to equip people with the knowledge required to deliver group CST in their work setting.

You will receive a booking confirmation upon registration. We will contact you closer to the time of the event with updates and instructions. If you have any other queries, please contact cst-international@ucl.ac.uk.

This UCL Hybrid Conference explores the role of memory in psychoanalysis today. 

Tickets for the clinical seminars taking place on the evening of Friday 28 November will need to be added to your booking when purchasing a main conference ticket. The clinical seminars are closed groups, and available to only those attending the main conference.

The evening clinical seminars will take place in various locations: Please look carefully at the seminar leader names to check which seminars will take place in person.

Booking for the main conference and clinical seminars will close 16.00pm (GMT) on Friday 28 November 2025. Psychoanalysis Unit staff on substantive contracts to email events.psychoanalysis@ucl.ac.uk to enquire about free places.

More information can be found at