Samvāda Award

IToP Samvāda Award for Innovation in Teaching Psychotherapy (For Early-Career Psychiatry Faculty)

1.Purpose

The Samvāda Award recognizes and supports early-career psychiatry faculty who demonstrate innovation, rigor, and contextual sensitivity in teaching psychotherapy to residents or fellows.
In psychotherapy education, this dialogue extends beyond therapist and patient to include teacher and trainee, theory and experience, science and humanity. The award aims to strengthen the culture of psychotherapy education in Indian psychiatry by honoring those who integrate theory, supervision, and reflection into practical, context-responsive training models.

2. Eligibility

  • Open to:
– Psychiatry faculty from India within five years of obtaining MD/DNB / PDF or DM any sub specilaity).
– Post-doctoral fellows or senior residents involved in formal psychotherapy teaching or supervision.

  • Submissions must describe an innovation or best practice in teaching, supervision, curriculum design, or trainee assessment within psychotherapy education.

3. Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

  1. Concept note or teaching dossier (≤ 1,500 words) outlining the innovation, theoretical basis, implementation, and evaluation.
  2. Supporting materials (any two):
    – Sample teaching plan or supervision structure
    – Trainee feedback or learning-outcome summary
    – Case-based or reflective exercise examples
  3. Brief CV (1 page) highlighting psychotherapy-teaching roles.
  4. Bona-fide Certificate

4. Evaluation Criteria, Criterion Weight

  • Theoretical coherence and clarity of educational model 25
  • Innovation and originality in pedagogy 25
  • Cultural/contextual adaptation and feasibility 20
  • Demonstrated impact on trainee learning or supervision 20
  • Clarity of presentation and documentation 10

5. Award Components

  • Cash Prize: upto ₹ 10,000 (subject to sponsorship).
  • Recognition: Certificate .
  • Visibility: Featured in the IToP website and the MINDS newsletter
  • Showcase: Recipient conducts a Samvāda Masterclass at the IToP Annual Conference, an interactive session highlighting the winning innovation.

6. Mentorship & Capacity Building

  • Reviewer Feedback Loop: All applicants receive evaluative comments to refine future teaching proposals.
  • Mentorship Track: Awardees may be paired with senior psychotherapy educators for structured guidance in curriculum design and supervision.
  • Publication Pathway: Selected submissions may be developed into academic papers with support from IToP

7. Ethical & Administrative Requirements

  • All trainee or patient materials must be de-identified and ethically cleared for educational use.
  • Written consent or institutional clearance is required for any teaching recordings or case material.

8. Timeline (2025-26 cycle) Stage Date

  • Call for applications November 3rd
  • Submission deadline December 31st
  • Evaluation and selection January 1st– 31st
  • Declaration of awardees February 10th
  • Presentation at IToP Annual Conference 2026

Submission only through e-copy addressed to
The Secretary
Minds United For Health Sciences & Humanity Trust, M18, First floor, Main Road, Opposite SBI, Vivekanandnagar,
Mysuru -570023, Karnataka, India.
Email: mindsunitedtrust@gmail.com

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