EDUCATION FOR GESTALT THERAPISTS
Gestalt psychotherapy belongs to humanistic and holistic therapeutic schools. It was founded by Fritz Perls and his associates with the emphasis on dialogue, phenomenology and field theory as basic theoretical postulates.
Gestalt Centre Homa (GCH) has developed its curriculum for gestalt psychotherapy education based on the European Association for Gestalt Therapy (EAGT) guidelines, and has enriched it with the experience of its founders, trainers and the feedback from the former trainees. Concordance of the curriculum with the EAGT training guidelines and standards enables trainees to obtain the certificate of gestalt psychotherapist from EAGT and European Certificate for Psychotherapy (ECP) by European Association of Psychotherapy (EAP) upon graduating. Gestalt Centre Homa has a status of an associate member of EAGT.
Education leaders are Tomaž Flajs, Lana Hrgovan and Ana milčić Horvat . Gestalt trainers from Croatia and the world participate in the education. Workshops with trainers from abroad are held in English language.
Education is intended to experts particularly interested in enhancing their professional and personal competences, with an interest for counseling and therapeutic work with individuals, families and organizations.
The Gestalt therapy program is designed as a program at the post-graduate level. The required level of prior education is a Master degree or equivalent in the field of the helping professions or humanistic and social sciences, such as psychology, social work, special education, medicine, pedagogy, and in specific cases other related professions.
Formal requirements for application:
With respect to basic theoretical postulates of Gestalt approach, participants in educational Gestalt groups learn experientially, by working with themselves in a closed group of about 15 members. Workshops generally last for three days (exceptionally four days), which always includes a weekend, while intensive workshops (seven-day workshops) are held during holidays.
The program lasts for 4 years of group and individual work, and it consists of:
First year: Basic theoretical foundations and techniques of Gestalt approach and experiential work – (9 workshops and the intensive workshop).
Content: experiential work; theory of Gestalt therapy (history and roots of GT; the concept of responsibility; figure and ground; organismic self regulation; awareness; resistance mechanisms; theory of self and polarities; models of change); basics skills and techniques of therapeutic work; therapeutic relationship and dialogue; annual feedback.
Second year: The human organism and the environment, developmental theory, areas and strategies for application of Gestalt approach, diagnostics and experiential work – (9 workshops and intensive workshop).
Content: experiential work; theory (Gestalt perspective of health and sickness; child development); areas and strategies of application (group dynamics, family dynamics); techniques of GT approach and dream work; Gestalt diagnostics, therapeutic relationship; ethical questions and issues; therapeutic work in triads; annual feedback.
Third year: Supervision, differential diagnostics, specific clinical states, areas and strategies of application with experiential work – (9 workshops and intensive workshop)
Content: supervision; theory and techniques of Gestalt therapy; comparison of Gestalt and other diagnostics; therapy with special clinical cases: anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, addictions, psychosomatics; Gestalt approach in organizations and communities; Gestalt approach in work with children and adolescents; ethical issues; annual feedback.
Fourth year: Supervision, therapeutic relationship, diagnostics, and different clinical topics – (9 workshops and intensive workshop).
Content: supervision; diagnostics; structures of personality and disorders; resistances in therapeutic work; crises interventions, trauma and grieving; love, sexuality and sexual orientation; aggression; annual feedback.
The program takes place in a closed selected group, and schedule is agreed upon with all members of the group.
Besides in workshops, trainees learn in small peer groups which are held twice a month in duration of 2,5 hours during the overall education (total 200 hours). They work through and prepare theoretical topics; practice skills and techniques in fishbowl; do peer supervision; elaborate on individual experiences and processes of the members giving mutual support for growth and development.
Education requires individual therapy of at least 100 hours of personal gestalt therapy and 50 hours of personal supervision, as well as personal therapeutic and counseling work with clients from the third year onward.
A contract is signed between Gestalt Centre Homa and each trainee defining duties and obligations each party is responsible for. Each trainee is given a personal Student record book and they oblige financially to participate in the first year of education, while organizers are obliged to accomplish the described program. The contract can be renewed or terminated by the end of each educational year. The education ends with final thesis. By completion of the education, trainees get a diploma, and since the curriculum is made according to the criteria of European Association for Gestalt Therapy (EAGT), they verify it as a valid education for obtaining the European psychotherapy license.
The price of the program for a group of 15 members is 44€ (in Croatian kuna currency) + taxes (VAT) per day of education, that is, on average, 132€ per workshop + taxes/VAT (intensive workshop lasts for 7 days and costs twice that price). That includes travel expenses of foreign therapists, EAGT fee, personal student book record, material expenses, workspace expenses, trainers accommodation, trainers and leaders fee. The organizers hold a right to correct the prices in case of a significant change of travel expenses or the exchange rate of Euro.
Gestalt psychotherapy belongs to humanistic and holistic therapeutic schools. It was founded by Fritz Perls and his associates with the emphasis on dialogue, phenomenology and field theory as basic theoretical postulates.
Gestalt Centre Homa (GCH) has developed its curriculum for gestalt psychotherapy education based on the European Association for Gestalt Therapy (EAGT) guidelines, and has enriched it with the experience of its founders, trainers and the feedback from the former trainees. Concordance of the curriculum with the EAGT training guidelines and standards enables trainees to obtain the certificate of gestalt psychotherapist from EAGT and European Certificate for Psychotherapy (ECP) by European Association of Psychotherapy (EAP) upon graduating. Gestalt Centre Homa has a status of an associate member of EAGT.
Education leaders are Tomaž Flajs, Lana Hrgovan and Ana milčić Horvat . Gestalt trainers from Croatia and the world participate in the education. Workshops with trainers from abroad are held in English language.
Education is intended to experts particularly interested in enhancing their professional and personal competences, with an interest for counseling and therapeutic work with individuals, families and organizations.
The Gestalt therapy program is designed as a program at the post-graduate level. The required level of prior education is a Master degree or equivalent in the field of the helping professions or humanistic and social sciences, such as psychology, social work, special education, medicine, pedagogy, and in specific cases other related professions.
Formal requirements for application:
- university degree (above mentioned) completed
- experience with direct professional work with people
- at least 25 years of age
- participation in Gestalt experiential workshop (organised by GCH or other licensed GT trainers)
- participation on elective workshop on which the educational group is formed
With respect to basic theoretical postulates of Gestalt approach, participants in educational Gestalt groups learn experientially, by working with themselves in a closed group of about 15 members. Workshops generally last for three days (exceptionally four days), which always includes a weekend, while intensive workshops (seven-day workshops) are held during holidays.
The program lasts for 4 years of group and individual work, and it consists of:
- 904 hours of group work (10 workshops per year) (600 hours of theory and methodology; 160 hours of personal therapeutic experience; 144 hours of supervision)
- 200 hours of peer group work (theory and methodology; peer supervision)
- 100 hours of individual therapy
- 50 hours of supervision (individual or in small groups)
- 400 hours of clinical practice or psychotherapeutic practice under supervision (at least 8 different therapeutic processes/clients/groups)
- 50 hours of free choice
- 60 hours final thesis writing
First year: Basic theoretical foundations and techniques of Gestalt approach and experiential work – (9 workshops and the intensive workshop).
Content: experiential work; theory of Gestalt therapy (history and roots of GT; the concept of responsibility; figure and ground; organismic self regulation; awareness; resistance mechanisms; theory of self and polarities; models of change); basics skills and techniques of therapeutic work; therapeutic relationship and dialogue; annual feedback.
Second year: The human organism and the environment, developmental theory, areas and strategies for application of Gestalt approach, diagnostics and experiential work – (9 workshops and intensive workshop).
Content: experiential work; theory (Gestalt perspective of health and sickness; child development); areas and strategies of application (group dynamics, family dynamics); techniques of GT approach and dream work; Gestalt diagnostics, therapeutic relationship; ethical questions and issues; therapeutic work in triads; annual feedback.
Third year: Supervision, differential diagnostics, specific clinical states, areas and strategies of application with experiential work – (9 workshops and intensive workshop)
Content: supervision; theory and techniques of Gestalt therapy; comparison of Gestalt and other diagnostics; therapy with special clinical cases: anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, addictions, psychosomatics; Gestalt approach in organizations and communities; Gestalt approach in work with children and adolescents; ethical issues; annual feedback.
Fourth year: Supervision, therapeutic relationship, diagnostics, and different clinical topics – (9 workshops and intensive workshop).
Content: supervision; diagnostics; structures of personality and disorders; resistances in therapeutic work; crises interventions, trauma and grieving; love, sexuality and sexual orientation; aggression; annual feedback.
The program takes place in a closed selected group, and schedule is agreed upon with all members of the group.
Besides in workshops, trainees learn in small peer groups which are held twice a month in duration of 2,5 hours during the overall education (total 200 hours). They work through and prepare theoretical topics; practice skills and techniques in fishbowl; do peer supervision; elaborate on individual experiences and processes of the members giving mutual support for growth and development.
Education requires individual therapy of at least 100 hours of personal gestalt therapy and 50 hours of personal supervision, as well as personal therapeutic and counseling work with clients from the third year onward.
A contract is signed between Gestalt Centre Homa and each trainee defining duties and obligations each party is responsible for. Each trainee is given a personal Student record book and they oblige financially to participate in the first year of education, while organizers are obliged to accomplish the described program. The contract can be renewed or terminated by the end of each educational year. The education ends with final thesis. By completion of the education, trainees get a diploma, and since the curriculum is made according to the criteria of European Association for Gestalt Therapy (EAGT), they verify it as a valid education for obtaining the European psychotherapy license.
The price of the program for a group of 15 members is 44€ (in Croatian kuna currency) + taxes (VAT) per day of education, that is, on average, 132€ per workshop + taxes/VAT (intensive workshop lasts for 7 days and costs twice that price). That includes travel expenses of foreign therapists, EAGT fee, personal student book record, material expenses, workspace expenses, trainers accommodation, trainers and leaders fee. The organizers hold a right to correct the prices in case of a significant change of travel expenses or the exchange rate of Euro.