October 5, 2025
Circul Metropolitan București

ROOTS
- 2025 EDITION

Over 1,400 participants attended the first edition of ROOTS - Search for Self, which featured Esther Perel as the main guest.

ROOTS became the largest conference in Romania dedicated to the psychology of relationships, intimacy, and self-discovery. The high attendance at the event confirmed the growing interest among Romanians in emotional well-being and in building more conscious and healthy relationships.

Main Guest

ESTHER PEREL

A renowned Belgian psychotherapist, relationship expert, and best-selling author, known for her work on modern relationships, intimacy, and sexuality. With a career spanning over three decades, she has gained international recognition for her unique approach to couples therapy, emphasizing the balance between desire and security within relationships.

New York Times best-selling author Esther Perel is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. As a psychotherapist, Perel has helmed a therapy practice in New York City for more than 35 years.

Fluent in nine languages, Perel's celebrated TED talks have garnered more than 40 million views and her best-selling books have been translated into 31 languages.

She is also the host of the popular podcast "Where Should We Begin?" where listeners can witness real therapy sessions and the complexities of human connection.

EVENT SPEAKERS

Before the much-anticipated conversation with Esther Perel, renowned guests will engage in a thought-provoking discussion on relationships, love, and deep connection.

RALUCA ANTON

IN CONVERSATION WITH ESTHER PEREL

With a PhD in Psychology, Raluca Anton is a psychotherapist, author, supervisor in cognitive-behavioral therapies, and a relational therapist with international training. She is a founding member of the Imago Therapy Academy in Romania.

With over 17 years of experience working with people—whether in psychotherapy, counseling, training, or professional development—Raluca Anton brings deep expertise to her practice.

GÁSPÁR GYÖRGY

One of the most renowned psychologists and relational psychotherapists in Romania, known for his contributions to emotional health and relational intelligence.

A successful author and co-founder of the Pagina de Psihologie platform, Gáspár is a strong advocate for conscious relationships, emphasizing through his work that personal healing and community growth begin with the way we relate to one another.

PETRONELA ROTAR

A writer and psychologist specializing in psychodrama, transgenerational models, and Compassionate Inquiry (Gabor Maté's approach).

She worked as a journalist for 18 years and has published eight books—ranging from poetry and short stories to novels—most of which became bestsellers. Her latest book, Totul e în regulă în mine și în lume, quickly rose to the top of the 2024 nonfiction book charts.

DR. SIMONA HERB

President of the Association for Emotionally Focused Systemic Psychotherapy and coordinator of the EFT HUB psychotherapy center.

Since 2017, ICEEFT has recognized her as an international trainer in Emotionally Focused Therapy, making her the only trainer from Eastern Europe. She currently provides EFT training and supervision to multiple generations of future therapists in Romania and abroad, including in Italy, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Turkey, Hungary, Iran, and Estonia.

ANDREEA RAICU

MODERATOR

Media professional and mindfulness leader, a strong advocate for a healthy lifestyle, building a business around this concept. She is a Goodwill Ambassador, has delivered multiple TEDx talks, teaches mindfulness courses, and holds conferences on living a balanced life.

She is also the author of a cookbook, Mănâncă și arată bine. Having completed various training programs, she is a certified meditation and mindfulness facilitator, and last year, she graduated from a program that qualified her as a Holistic Counselor.

Topics

Going Back to Your Roots: Finding Yourself in Relationships

Unpacking your personal history: how family dynamics shape future relationships
Understanding and healing your inner child
The role of self-awareness in healthy partnerships
Identifying and overcoming generational patterns in love and communication

Exploring Sexuality and Intimacy

Redefining sexuality in long-term relationships
The connection between emotional intimacy and physical desire
Unpacking sexual myths and misconceptions
Desire discrepancies: understanding and managing different sexual needs

Modern Relationship Dynamics

The impact of technology and social media on intimacy
Open relationships and non-monogamy: ethics and best practices
Blended families: navigating complex family structures, connecting new family members
Addressing power dynamics and equality in relationships