Learn Gestalt

All Sessions Bundle

Overview of Gestalt

Introducing Gestalt! A broad overview including historical context, contemporary developments, and the ‘Four Pillars’ - Phenomenology, Field Theory, Dialogue, and Experiment.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

9. I-Thou

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’.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.