Institute for Psychotherapy Ljubljana
At the Institute for Psychotherapy Ljubljana—represented by the Psihoanaliza Okorn logo—Dr. Igor Okorn, psychoanalyst (IPA) and psychoanalytic psychotherapist, and Mag. Leja Lončar Mikić, Master’s graduate in Psychotherapy Science and psychoanalytic psychotherapist, work together.
The Institute was founded in 2009 and today serves as a space for gaining new experiences in therapy, both individual and group, for supervision, and for acquiring new clinical and theoretical knowledge.
Our paths in psychotherapy began to intertwine in 2017, within the framework of a therapeutic process that concluded after four years. In 2021, we decided to combine our strengths, knowledge, and experiences, each contributing our own part of the journey we had walked.
Dr. Igor Okorn
I have been practicing psychotherapy since 2009 within the Institute for Psychotherapy Ljubljana.
I am a psychoanalyst (IPA), psychotherapist, lecturer, supervisor, and training therapist, a member of the Slovenian Society for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (SDPP) and the Croatian Psychoanalytic Society (HDP).
Biography
I was born in 1971. As a child and teenager, I competed in sports—skiing and tennis. After completing grammar school, then a natural sciences and mathematics high school, I served my military service in the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) in 1990/91. In 1991, I began my studies in civil engineering at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Ljubljana. I graduated in 1997 with a degree in civil engineering and obtained a master’s degree in civil engineering in 2000. Between 1997 and 2009, I worked in various companies in the field of civil engineering, project management, and investment organization. I hold the title of Chartered Engineer with the Slovenian Chamber of Engineers and continue to work as an assessor and lecturer in the field of investment processes and project management.
In 2003, I entered training in group analysis and at the same time began my own therapeutic process. In 2006, I enrolled in undergraduate studies in psychotherapy at Sigmund Freud University (SFU) in Vienna, graduating in 2009 with a degree in Psychotherapy Science. I continued my doctoral studies at SFU Vienna and, in 2013, earned a PhD in Psychotherapy Science. In 2010, I completed my first specialization in psychotherapy and obtained the title of psychoanalytic psychotherapist. Also in 2010, I entered psychoanalytic training according to the standards of the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA) (second specialization). In 2017, as a member of the Croatian Psychoanalytic Society (an IPA member society), I became an IPA psychoanalyst. I am currently in training at the European Psychoanalytical Institute (also an IPA member institute) in the field of child and adolescent psychoanalysis.
Mag. Leja Lončar Mikić
I have been practicing psychotherapy since 2020, and since 2021 I have been working within the Institute for Psychotherapy. I hold a Master’s degree in Psychotherapy Science and am a trained psychoanalytic psychotherapist.
My path into psychotherapy began after high school, when I enrolled at SFU Ljubljana. There, I graduated with a thesis on autism and attachment in children, completed my specialization in the psychoanalytic orientation, and later obtained my Master’s degree with a research project on atopic dermatitis in children and their relationship with their primary environment—the mother.
Alongside my academic training, I also bring the personal experience of long-term psychoanalytic therapy and analysis. I am regularly involved in supervision with training supervisors and psychoanalyst supervisors (IPA), which continuously supports my professional growth and development.
In my work, I integrate youthful energy, openness, and a genuine sense for others. My diverse life experiences have given me breadth and understanding, which I strive to carry into the therapeutic relationship. I gained my first practical experience while working with children in kindergarten, which has meaningfully shaped my therapeutic approach.
Creativity, sensitivity to fairness and beauty, and an interest in artistic expression often accompany me in exploring the inner world of the individual. A constant desire to learn and explore motivates me to expand my knowledge, while persistence, determination, and above all authentic connection are central in my practice. I believe that within such a relationship we can co-create a safe space where psychological distress can be alleviated, self-understanding deepened, and meaningful change gradually built.
Beyond psychotherapy, I am inspired by different areas of human life and creativity—art (especially writing, more about which can be found in the Posts section), sports, travel, and other ways of exploring the world.
Biography
I was born in Slovenia but spent the early years of my childhood in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Later, as a child, I returned to Slovenia, where I attended elementary school and high school, while also spending much of this time in neighboring Austria. Eventually, I enrolled at the Faculty of Psychotherapy Science at SFU Ljubljana.
Living across three different geographical, cultural, and linguistic environments has provided me with valuable experiences that have significantly shaped my personality. This background gives me a genuine perspective on the importance of equality and diversity among people and contexts.
As a therapist and co-therapist, I provide services at the Institute for Psychotherapy. I conduct therapy sessions in Slovene and Serbian and am an active member of supervision groups. With my completed education and professional experience, I meet the requirements for certification by the European Confederation of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapies (ECPP). I am also a member of the European Association for Psychoanalytic Approaches – Slovenia (EZPPS).