About me

I was originally trained as a psychologist and psychotherapist. Later I completed doctoral degree in sociology which brought me tools for critical reflection of my original field and practice. As a therapist, I completed experiential training in Daseinsanalysis and the foundational training in Open Dialogue. I am currently finishing comprehensive training in daseinsanalytic psychotherapy and I am attending a supervision training program in dialogical practice.

I worked in the Mental Health Center in Brno, and later co-created an early support team offering care and support in the spirit of open dialogue to young people experiencing serious mental crises and their loved ones. As part of my doctoral studies in sociology, I conducted ethnographic research on mental health care reform in the Czech Republic. As a lecturer I have been involved in courses and trainings focused on the practice of Open Dialogue in the context of mental health care. I have been interested in the mental health care for a long time from various angles and also have some personal experience with psychiatry. I am also support ing groups and colloctives that strive for social change in their search for ways of democratic self-organization and sustainable activism.

I am a candidate member of the Czech Association for Psychotherapy and a member of the coordination team of the International Network for Dialogic Practice. Currently, my colleagues and I are working to establish a cooperative providing sustainable psychotherapeutic care.

I live in Brno with my partner, cats, and garden. I enjoy forest trips, hiking in the mountains, running, and rock climbing.

Education (according to the year of ending)

Ongoing: Higher Diploma in Dialogic and Co-creative Practice na Indico Institute - International Institute of Dialogic & CoCreative Practice.

Ongoing: Dream interpretation using the Daseinsanalytical method - Prague College of Psychosocial Studies.

2025: Theory of Daseinsanalysis - Prague College of Psychosocial Studies.

2024: Ph.D. in Sociology - Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University.

2018: Experiential group training in Daseisanalysis - Prague College of Psychosocial Studies.

2018: Foundational Open Dialogue training - Narativ Association.

2017: Healthcare psychologist - Prague College of Psychosocial Studies.

2015: Mgr. in Psychology - Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University.

Akademic publications

Novák, M. (2024). Komunitní psychiatrie jako neziskové podnikání: Studie vznikajícího centra duševního zdraví. Sociologický časopis/Czech Sociological Review. Online first, DOI: 10.13060/csr.2024.023

Cerny, J., Cemova, L., Novak, M. (2022). Emotional Resilience and Collective Care in the Environmental Movement. In: Anderson, H. & Gehart D. Collaborative-Dialogic Practice. Relationships and Conversations that Make a Difference Across Contexts and Cultures. Routledge.

Novák, M. (2022). Review – The Urban Brain. Mental Health in the Vital City. (N. Rose, D. Fitzgerald). Urban People, 24(3), p. 499-501. ISSN 1212-8112.

Novák, M. (2021). Review – Open Dialogue for Psychosis. Organising Mental Health Services to Prioritise Dialogue, Relationship and Meaning (B. Martindale, N. Putman). Psychoterapie, 15(3), p. 323-326.

Novák, M., Nepustil, P., Fukala, J. (2021). Otevřený dialog v české sociální práci. Sociální práce – Sociálna práca, 21(6), p. 107-124. ISSN 1213-6204.

Novák, M., Ukropová L. (2018). Centra duševního zdraví – zplnomocňování klientů v psychiatrické praxi? Psychoterapie, 12(3-4), p.178-189. 

Frolunde, L., Pedersen, Ch. H., Novák, M. (2017). Unravelling the Workings of Difference in Collaborative Inquiry. Departures in Critical Qualitative Research, 6(1), p. 30-51. ISSN 2333-9497. doi:10.1525/dcqr.2017.6.1.30