EXPLORE OUR COURSES
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$2,485.00
All Sessions Bundle
34 Courses -
Free
Overview of Gestalt
Introducing Gestalt! A broad overview including historical context, contemporary developments, and the ‘Four Pillars’ - Phenomenology, Field Theory, Dialogue, and Experiment.
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$15.00 – $75.00
2. Awareness and Figure Ground
Gestalt = awareness. We explore the 3 Zones, Awareness Cycle, & the contributions of Gestalt Psychology through Figure / Ground. Unfinished Business = incomplete Gestalten, which naturally move towards resolution with support at interruption points.
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$20.00 – $105.00
3. Field Theory
The roots of Gestalt derive from Jan Smuts & the Gestalt psychologists who pioneered holism; Kurt Lewin developed Field Theory - now a central pillar. Explore using context in therapy, spheres of influence, 5 core principles, & co-created realities.
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$20.00 – $120.00
4. Responsibility
Gestalt is rooted in the concept of Existential Responsibility - incorporating autonomy, choice, freedom, & the power to change direction, any moment. We focus on ownership of experience, and pay careful attention to language that reflects agency.
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$10.00 – $50.00
5. Contact
Contact and awareness go hand in hand in Gestalt. We move towards meeting in Good Contact and explore what organises Poor Contact. Clear boundaries are an inherent part of ‘meeting in difference’, as are the sensory Contact Functions.
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$15.00 – $90.00
6. Contact Boundary Phenomenon
We understand contact that goes awry as being related to Contact Boundary Phenomenon. In old language the word ‘Resistance’ was used; in Gestalt we prefer to observe the dynamics of Contact Styles, understanding them as Creative Adjustments.
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$5.00 – $25.00
7. Polarities
Life is a never ending sequence of polarities’. We look at splits in the psyche, how to achieve integration, flexibility rather than rigidity, and the Creative Indifference of Salamo Friedlander.
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$5.00 – $25.00
8. Organismic Self Regulation
Faith in the Wisdom of the Organism is fundamental to Gestalt. We examine basic philosophical underpinnings of this concept & its practical applications; the oppressive nature of Shouldistic Control, the operations of Conscience, & the Way of Tao.
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$15.00 – $70.00
9. I-Thou and Relationality
Gestalt draws on the philosophy of Martin Buber - his ideas of I-Thou relating & the Between. Gestalt is one of the original Relational Therapies, premised on radical authenticity, therapist transparency & the practice of ’therapy without questions’.
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$5.00 – $20.00
10. Dreamwork
Freud, Jung & Perls recognised the value of dreams. In Gestalt, dreams are brought alive through Experiment; their mystery is unmasked by the client rather than the interpretations of the therapist. The process is often playful & reveals core issues
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$10.00 – $45.00
11. Phenomenology
The pillar of Awareness derives from Phenomenology & Eastern traditions of Zen & Taoism. The ‘science of experience’ focuses on the subjective & unique. Rather than starting with psychological models, we allow embodied awareness to naturally emerge.
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$10.00 – $45.00
12. The Gestalt Experiment
The pillar of Experiment moves away from ‘talk therapy’, adding colour, drama, creativity & experiential learning to the Gestalt process. We explore a variety of experiments, tailoring them to the client, and phases from introduction to completion.
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$5.00 – $35.00
13. Middle Zone, Metaphor, Fantasy and Story
Lose your mind and come to your senses’ said Fritz Perls. However, Gestalt does use the mind as metaphor, imagination & projection. Meaning making is one of 3 Zones of Awareness; we explore how it can be part of an organic, present centred therapy.
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$5.00 – $30.00
14. Paradoxical Theory of Change
The paradox: change occurs spontaneously when you let go of agendas & goals. ‘What is, is, & one thing follows the next’ is a Gestalt take on Existentialist notions of Being and Becoming. We examine Beisser’s contribution to the theory and practice.
Why this website?
I have been practicing Gestalt since 1985. My passion and appreciation of the Gestalt approach has only increased over time. I love teaching Gestalt, firstly through 17 years of my institute in Australia, and now 22 years of teaching internationally.
I believe that ultimately Gestalt needs to be taught face to face, and for that reason I have listed institutes around the world (including mine in China) where you can do that.
For those students studying Gestalt or counselling, the units on this website can be a useful adjunct.
For practicing professionals, these courses may be interesting and relevant for understanding how Gestalt may fit into your current practice. I have created three pricing levels, making the courses accessible to as many people as possible from around the world. Students get free access to certain materials. My aim is to support learning and growth.
10 minutes with Vinay 
The Humans of Gestalt – interview with Vinay Gunther 
Entanglements and flow in the family field 
Family constellations and Gestalt therapy - presentation in English 
Steve Vinay Gunther and Xuefu Wang, discussing Gestalt and Existential psychotherapy - all in Chinese. 
Ethics in the practice of Family constellations and Gestalt therapy - presentation in English, translated into Chinese. 
Gestalt therapy - conference in Beijing - presentation in English, translated into Chinese.