GESTALT CENTER FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY AND TRAINING
220 Fifth Avenue • Suite 802 • New York, NY 10001 • (212) 387-9429
COURSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
GESTALT THERAPY PRACTITIONER PROGRAM
LEVEL 1
101: INTRODUCTION TO GESTALT THEORY
The theoretical foundations of Gestalt therapy and its origins in Gestalt psychology will
be covered in this course: Gestalt formation, figure/ground, theory of organismic selfregulation, fixed Gestalts, concept of self, creative adjustment, and the awareness
continuum. Students are encouraged to make comparisons and contrasts with other
major theoretical frameworks.
7 ½ hours
(Level 1, Module A)
102: GESTALT THEORY: THE CONTACT CYCLE
The contact cycle, which is the basis of Gestalt diagnosis and intervention, will be
covered: contact cycle and its phases, what healthy contact looks like, healthy
interrupting of the contact cycle, unhealthy interrupting of the contact cycle, defenses as
creative adjustments.
6 hours
(Level 1, Module B)
103: GESTALT THEORY: INTERRUPTIONS TO THE CONTACT CYCLE
The focus of this course is on gaining a deep understanding of the most common
defenses: confluence, introjection, projection, retroflection and egotism, as well as on
understanding how the defenses work together to form behavior patterns.
6 hours
(Level 1, Module C)
104: GESTALT THEORY: WORKING WITH DEFENSES
A variety of therapeutic interventions will be discussed for each type of interruption, as
well as specific techniques for working with interruptions depending upon where in the
contact cycle they appear.
6 hours
(Level 1, Module D)
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105: HISTORY AND THEORY OF GESTALT PRACTICE
This course traces the history of Gestalt theory and practice, including its roots in
psychoanalysis, existentialism and Eastern philosophy. The presentation also
includes its similarities and differences from similar contemporary approaches such as
bioenergetics, psychodrama and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
5 ½ hours
(Level 1, Sunday Seminar)
106: TECHNIQUES, PART 1: EMBODIMENT IN GESTALT THERAPY PRACTICE
In this course we will explore how attending to the client’s bodily cues and process
energizes and enlivens Gestalt practice. We will explore how we can access body
phenomena in psychotherapy and apply it in the diagnosis and treatment process. Most
of the course will be spent working in dyads, practicing using body techniques in live
therapy sessions.
5 ½ hours
(Level 1, Sunday Seminar)
107: TRANSFERENCE, RESISTANCE & COUNTER-TRANSFERENCE IN THE HERE
AND NOW: PART 1
In this seminar, the psychoanalytic concepts of positive and negative transference,
resistance, and the various ways of understanding counter-transference will be defined
and analyzed in terms of the Gestalt notions of contact and interruptions, and the theory
of layers (with special emphasis on the defensive layer.) The experiential component of
this seminar will include reconstructions of actual experiences by therapists and their
clients.
5 ½ hours
(Level 1, Sunday Seminar)
108: INTAKE TRAINING
This course is designed to familiarize students with standard intake procedures. We will
review the questions on the Intake Guide, discuss the importance of confidentiality and
provide ideas on how to create an interview environment that is welcoming, comfortable
and safe. Trainees may not receive referrals from the Referral Service until they have
completed this course.
1 1/2 hours
(Level 1)
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LEVEL 2
201: GESTALT THEORY: THE THERAPEUTIC CHANGE PROCESS, PART 1
(OVERVIEW & DEFENSIVE LAYER)
This course provides an overview of Gestalt layers theory as a framework for looking at
the therapeutic process from both the macro level (over the course of therapy) and the
micro level (within a given session.) An overview of the process will be presented from
three different perspectives: what is occurring from a theoretical point of view, what the
client is experiencing, and therapeutic interventions for each layer. Case studies will be
presented to illustrate the process. We will then examine in detail the first layer, i.e., the
defensive layer.
7 ½ hours
(Level 2, Module A)
202: GESTALT THEORY: THE THERAPEUTIC CHANGE PROCESS, PART 2
(IMPASSE)
In ongoing therapy, clients sometimes get stuck, paralyzed, lost and/or confused as
they begin to recognize that their old defenses are inhibiting growth and full experience,
while they do not yet have the skills or understanding to forge a new and more fulfilling
way of being in the world. This course focuses on these confused periods and offers
insight and practice in identifying and supporting clients through them.
6 hours
(Level 2, Module B)
203: GESTALT THEORY: THE THERAPEUTIC CHANGE PROCESS, PART 3
(DEATH LAYER)
For the client, death layer is the most difficult point in therapy and yet it is also the
fundamental turning point in the transformation from neurosis to health. In this course
we will learn to identify this pivotal therapeutic experience, prepare for it, differentiate
death layer fear from plain old fear, determine when the client has enough internal
support to go through this process, and discuss how to work with a client in death layer,
as well as identify and work with the therapist’s avoidance of it.
6 hours
(Level 2, Module C)
204: GESTALT THEORY: THE THERAPEUTIC CHANGE PROCESS, PART 4 (LIFE
LAYER)
Fritz Perls understood "life layer" as a return to "organismic self-regulation" and an
opening toward awareness and authenticity. The "neurotic" energy that has been spent
in blocking full feeling (grief, joy, anger, etc.) is now channeled into the expression of
that previously blocked feeling. In this course, students learn how to recognize and
facilitate "life layer" expressions, and to help clients integrate them with cognitive
understanding and sustained behavioral change.
6 hours
(Level 2, Module D)
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205: TECHNIQUES, PART 2: CHAIRWORK & OTHER GESTALT “EXPERIMENTS”
In this course we’ll examine the Gestalt concept of creating “experiments” for our clients
as a means of raising awareness of their internal processes and defense systems.
We’ll learn and practice the traditional Gestalt technique of chairwork, its origins, goals
and theoretical underpinnings, as well as how it’s particularly effective for working with
projections, introjections, conflicts and splits. Then we’ll consider alternative techniques
to chairwork, including visualization, movement, art, music, writing and other creative
techniques, stressing the importance of practitioners having at their disposal a wide
array of techniques for working with their clients. Students will have the opportunity to
practice these techniques working in dyads.
5 ½ hours
(Level 2, Sunday Seminar)
206: TECHNIQUES, PART 3: GESTALT DREAMWORK
In this course we examine the difference between the Freudian view of dreams as the
“royal road to the unconscious” and the Gestalt view of dreams as the “royal road to
integration”. After broadening the concept of dreamwork to include working with
fragments of dreams or a single image, or even a metaphor, we’ll focus on the Gestalt
method of working with dreams. Students will observe a demonstration of dreamwork
by faculty, as well as have the opportunity to work as therapist doing dreamwork, under
direct faculty supervision.
5 ½ hours
(Level 2, Sunday Seminar)
207: TRANSFERENCE, RESISTANCE & COUNTER-TRANSFERENCE IN THE HERE
AND NOW: PART 2
After a review of concepts introduced in 107, students will use this course to apply their
understanding of the concepts by observing and participating in live therapy sessions
and analyzing the theory in terms of their own observations and experiences.
5 ½ hours
(Level 2, Sunday Seminar)
208: TRANSFERENCE, RESISTANCE & COUNTER-TRANSFERENCE IN THE HERE
AND NOW: PART 3: RELATIONAL GESTALT THERAPY
In this advanced seminar we will focus on the nuances of how the relationship between
client and therapist develops from the first moment, what can go right or wrong as it
unfolds, and how to achieve a working mutuality. The concepts of transference,
counter-transference, projective identification and interpersonal press will be defined
and described in terms of the Gestalt notions of contact, retroflection, projection,
introjection and confluence. The experiential component of this seminar will include
dyadic exercises and practice of related skills.
5 ½ hours
(Level 2, Sunday Seminar)
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LEVELS 2 & 3
209/309: CASE SUPERVISION: GROUP
In a small group setting student therapists present their cases and receive supervision
from a faculty supervisor in the following areas: history and presenting problem,
assessment of client strengths & support system, diagnosis and personality structure,
client’s defensive structure, suggested therapeutic techniques and Gestalt
“experiments”, as well as transferential, counter-transferential and ethical issues. Each
student receives approximately ½ hour supervision time per meeting.
45 hours group supervision (total for 2 years)
210/310: CASE SUPERVISION: INDIVIDUAL
In a one on one setting student therapists present their cases and receive supervision
from a faculty supervisor in the following areas: history and presenting problem,
assessment of client strengths & support system, diagnosis and personality structure,
client’s defensive structure, suggested therapeutic techniques and Gestalt
“experiments”, as well as transferential, counter-transferential and ethical issues.
Number of hours varies by student.
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LEVEL 3
301: EARLY DEVELOPMENT
This course begins our intensive sequence on normal growth and development through
the life span, and the disruptions of normal development that may lead to specific
personality formations. Human development is viewed from a field-theoretic
perspective in which the individual and social environment are reciprocally related. This
course will cover early infancy (birth to approximately 7 months), issues of attachment
and bonding and the etiology of schizoid personality structure.
7 ½ hours
(Level 3, Module A)
302: MORE EARLY DEVELOPMENT: ORAL ISSUES
Continuing our examination of normal development and its disruptions, we will focus on
two developmental periods:
a. The period from 3-12 months (approximate), focusing on the “oral” issues that
may arise when natural dependency needs are chronically frustrated.
b. The period from 10-24 months (approximate), including Mahler’s “practicing subphase” and “rapprochement”. We will explore the personality development of
individuals whose early movements toward separation and self-agency were
chronically disallowed or interrupted.
6 hours
(Level 3, Module B)
303: DEVELOPMENT OF SELF: NARCISSISTIC & MASOCHISTIC ISSUES
A child’s emerging need for self-expression may be met with accurately attuned
recognition and praise (as well as optimal frustration), or it may be met with humiliation
and/or over-idealization. Moreover, as locomotion, fine motor skills, memory and
language develop, opportunities and desire for independent action and expression of
“will” increase. In this course we will:
a. Trace the etiology of narcissistic personality development, discuss therapeutic
objectives with narcissistically injured individuals, and practice interventions.
b. Look at the personality development of the child whose independent will is
systematically controlled or crushed (social masochist.)
6 hours
(Level 3, Module C)
304: SELF & THE ENVIRONMENT: HISTRIONIC & OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE
DEVELOPMENT
This course will cover two personality structures that may develop in response to
relatively more advanced life issues:
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a. Hysterical Defenses and Histrionic Personality Development. We will consider
the symptoms, defenses and object representations that commonly arise from
the exploitation and/or shaming of a child’s sexuality. We will discuss therapeutic
objectives and practice interventions.
b. Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Development. This segment focuses on the
etiology, symptomatology and treatment of individuals with obsessive-compulsive
personality formation (not to be confused with OCD). The course will provide
opportunities to imaginatively and energetically "take on" the experience of the
OCP client and to practice therapeutic interventions.
6 hours
(Level 3, Module D)
305: SELECTED TOPICS IN GESTALT THERAPY PRACTICE
Recent topics have included the following: Multi-Cultural Issues in therapy, Working with
Trauma and PTSD, Advanced Gestalt Dreamwork, and Death and Dying.
5 ½ hours
(Level 3, Sunday Seminar)
306: DIAGNOSIS I: CHARACTER & INTERRUPTIONS
This course combines an understanding of the developmental stages and tasks that we
all face by virtue of being human with key Gestalt concepts (contact cycle, interruptions,
layers theory). We develop a unique diagnostic framework that integrates these Gestalt
concepts with the contributions of ego psychology, object relations and self-psychology.
We will learn how to use the DSM IV and the GAF Scale within a Gestalt framework.
5 ½ hours
(Level 3, Sunday Seminar)
307: DIAGNOSIS II: GESTALT APPROACH TO DIAGNOSIS
In this course, a continuation of 306, we will learn to plug the DSM IV categories into
Gestalt theory. Traditional diagnoses (e.g., psychosis, mood disorders, anxiety
disorders, etc.) will be shown to correlate with particular points of interruption along the
contact cycle.
5 ½ hours
(Level 3, Sunday Seminar)
308: RESEARCH METHODS (ELECTIVE)
This course is intended to train psychotherapists to be informed and critical consumers
of psychological, psychoanalytic and social research. Topics covered include: the three
key statistics (mean, standard deviation and t); nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio
measurement; common research issues and designs; the meaning of statistical
significance; the meaning of correlation; parametic and non-parametic statistical tests
and issues in qualitative research.
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This course may be taken as an elective or, when unavailable as an elective, as a
private tutorial.
ALL LEVELS
AL01: GESTALT PRACTICUM
This is the heart of the training program. Students experience live therapy from both the
client and practitioner perspectives. All students can take the client role and advanced
students (second and third level) take the therapist role as well, where they have the
opportunity to put into practice in a live therapy session the theory and techniques
they’ve been studying, while under direct faculty supervision. After each session,
faculty and students engage in a discussion in which they analyze the session in terms
of the theory they’ve been studying and in terms of techniques used by the therapist
and its impact on the session.
81 hours (total for three years’ practica)
AL02: WINTER WEEKEND INTENSIVES: THERAPIST AS CLIENT
The focus of each annual winter intensive is on experiencing Gestalt therapy as a client.
Students participate in small therapy groups which meet several times over the
weekend. The groups are led by a faculty member with other faculty members rotating
into the group so that students get to observe and experience a variety of therapeutic
styles and techniques. In addition, each weekend has a specific learning theme. Large
group teaching and demonstrations are oriented toward using the students’ experience
in the small groups to understand Gestalt theory and practice more deeply.
11 ¼ hours lecture; 25 ½ therapy/practicum (total for three intensives)
AL03: SUMMER WEEKEND INTENSIVES: INTEGRATING THEORY & PRACTICE
The focus of each annual summer intensive is on experiencing Gestalt therapy as a
practitioner. Students meet in small practicum groups many times over the weekend.
Students take therapist and client roles with each other under direct faculty supervision.
In addition, each weekend has a specific learning theme. Large group teaching and
demonstrations are oriented toward helping the student apply a particular aspect of
theory or technique to their practice.
15 ¾ hrs lecture; 41 ¼ hrs practicum (total hours for three intensives)
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OTHER GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
CASE SUMMARIES
Each student must submit to his/her faculty advisor case summaries on at least ten
clients, including one long-term client. The summaries shall include the studenttherapist’s assessment of the therapy in the following areas: history and presenting
problem; assessment of client strengths & support system; diagnosis and personality
structure; client’s defensive structure; transference and counter-transferential issues
and how the therapist dealt with them; therapeutic techniques used and their impact on
the therapy; description of client’s progress in terms of gestalt layers theory; client’s
overall reaction to therapy and the therapist; therapist’s response to client; areas of
avoidance for client and therapist; and current assessment of client.
Along with the case summaries students must submit their case logs and signed
supervision notes. The faculty advisor then evaluates the summaries and either
accepts them as is, or works closely with the student to ensure that they demonstrate
theoretical understanding and application of skills, in addition to meeting professional
standards.
PERSONAL GESTALT THERAPY
All students are required to be in weekly therapy with an approved Gestalt therapist
throughout the entire three-year training period. Letters from all therapists seen during
training must be on file at the Gestalt Center indicating the start date, end date and
frequency of therapy the student has completed. No student can move to level two and
take the therapist role in practicum unless s/he is in approved gestalt therapy. Faculty
retain the right to require additional therapy before the student can move up a level,
receive referrals or complete training.
PAPER
Students are required to write an original paper integrating Gestalt theory with clinical
understanding. Each student will be assigned a writing mentor from the faculty who will
meet with the student periodically to review progress. The completed paper will be
evaluated by a committee of three faculty members.
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