The Liminal Space
 What it is the “liminal space"?
 Etymology: from the Latin “limen”
meaning a threshold.
Limbo and Liminoid
 Near Enemies:
- Limbo: from the Latin “limbus” meaning on the edge.
- Liminoid: Victor Turner, 1974.-common in Western
Societies.
Anthropological Roots
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Structure
Time
Rituals
States of Consciousness
Beings
Place
Ethnographic Research and Therapy.
But this is not our World.
 Individualism
 Capitalism,
 Positivist science.
 Social and political repercussions
 Implications for coaching and consulting and therapy.
An Individualistic Approach To
Gestalt Psychotherapy Theory.
 Gestalt prayer.
 Figure bound.
 The Contact Cycle.
Gestalt Cycle
Support as
that which
enables
Action
Contact
Mobilisation
Decision point
Choice!
Awareness
Final Contact
Satisfaction
Withdrawal
Sensation
Void
An Individualistic Approach To
Gestalt Psychotherapy Theory.
 Agentic culture.
 Cathartic
 Self-support,
 Support as "that which enables".
 Will.
A Paradigm Shift.
 Emphasis on Relational Approaches—the “between”.
 Introduction of Liminal Space-the “between” of the
field.
A Liminal Model I
 Focus on context.
 Buber: The “between”.
 Heidegger: Dasein
 Merleau-Ponty: Embodied Relationality.
A Liminal Model II
 Gadamer:- Hermeneutics.
 Whitehead-Process Relational Philosophy
 Neuroscience.
 Stern: Vitality Signs.
 Grace
Action Practices: Graceful Living
 Awareness of embodied relational being-resonance
 Mindful acknowledgement of current context
 Appraisal of options
 Simultaneous focus on phenomenological indicators
of mobilisation/excitement
Action Practices: Graceful Living
 Containment of action
 Experimentation with first steps-resourcing
 Reflections on impact
 Commitment to the unfolding process
 Review, rehearse, and reflect.
Liminal Gestalt Cycle
Liminoid
Support as
that which
Accompanies
Awareness
Sensation
Emergent
Action
Inaction
Mobilisation
Field/Relational
The Liminal
Space
Limbo
Awareness
In Contact
Full Contact
Satisfaction
Withdrawal
Sensation
Context
Implications for Gestalt
Theory & Praxis
 Will and Grace
 Structures of ground.
 Increase in influence of paradoxical theory of
change.
 Perspectival, existential.
Implications
 Openness to being affected.
 Support as that which accompanies.
 Co-emergent
 Responsiveness.
Implications
 Change as a constantly emergent connection
with a dynamic interconnected universe.
 Therapy as accompaniment.
SUMMARY:
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Focus on Containment
Accompaniment
Mindfulness
Holistic Neuroscience
Impact Vs Intention.