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GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Gestalt approach has its roots in psychoanalysis, existentialism, Gestalt psychology, phenomenology, Field Theory, the philosophy of Martin Buber, some of the theories of Wilhelm Reich, psychodrama and Zen Buddhism. In a remarkable synthesis borrowing from these and other approaches, Fritz and Laura Perls developed Gestalt Therapy in the 1940s and refined it in the '50s in association with Paul Goodman. They sought to look beyond the orthodoxy of psychoanalysis and classical behaviorism, seeking a model of human experience, which valued authenticity and choiceful living. Gestalt became popular in the '60s and subsequently influenced many therapists and therapeutic approaches. However, Gestalt therapy remained identified both with Fritz's style, which was colorful and confrontive, and with one of the techniques he developed: the two chair dialogue. Current practice and theory have returned to the philosophical roots to find a more subtle and truly holistic way of practicing Gestalt. There is much more emphasis on the dialogical relationship, an appreciation of the importance of shame sensitive practice, and attention to the larger context of an individual's here and now experience. This course examines current issues and applications of Gestalt Therapy as useful for practitioners in the 21st Century.
The course is comprised of twelve (12) articles, which explore the major foundations and applications of Gestalt Therapy. The first article overviews the essential ingredients of the Gestalt approach. The second presents Field Theory - the first pillar of Gestalt - in terms of current understanding and application. The third and fourth articles examine an essential defining feature of Gestalt: the dialogical or I-Thou relationship, examining a variety of facets of I-Thou connecting. The fifth and sixth articles detail the roots of the phenomenological approach, while the seventh article examines how this philosophical orientation is put into practice in the therapy room using chairwork. The eighth and ninth articles explore how to work with shame in therapy. The tenth article outlines a process-oriented way of working with families that can equally be applied to couples. The eleventh article proposes Interactive Groupwork, a dynamic and present-centered form of group interaction. The twelfth article summarizes the similarities and differences between contemporary Gestalt theory and practice and the methods advocated by leading writers in the fields of self-psychology and intersubjectivity.
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