Gestalt Therapy Around the World

Since its emergence more than sixty years ago, the influence of gestalt therapy as an integrative approach with existential–humanistic underpinnings has spread to almost all corners of the globe. Gestalt Therapy Around the World represents the first comprehensive exploration of the diversity in history, theory, training, professional associations and research in the international gestalt therapy community. Initial chapters offer an overview of the field, including gestalt therapy’s history and influences, concepts and process, contact and dialogue, techniques, experiments, and dreams. Subsequent chapters discuss the current state of gestalt therapy in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Britain, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, and the USA – with insights from local experts into the history, training, theoretical contributions and research initiatives in each country. Final chapters trace the historical development of gestalt therapy and point to future directions and challenges. By providing an international perspective, Gestalt Therapy Around the World offers trainees and established practitioners invaluable insights into a thriving and widespread form of psychotherapy.

Contributors xi Preface xvii Acknowledgments xxi Part One: Gestalt Therapy: Its Beginning, Theory, and Techniques 1 1 Fritz Perls and Gestalt Therapy: The Beginnings 3 Eleanor O’Leary 2 Key Concepts of Gestalt Therapy and Processing 15 Eleanor O’Leary 3 Dialogue and Contact 37 Eleanor O’Leary 4 Techniques, Experiments, and Dreams 61 Eleanor O’Leary Part Two: Gestalt Therapy Around the World 93 Europe 94 5 Gestalt Therapy in Austria 95 Nancy Amendt–Lyon 6 Gestalt Therapy in Britain 113 Peter Philippson 7 History of Gestalt Therapy in Denmark 127 Jan Tønnesvang, Mikael Sonne, and James Hammink 8 Gestalt Therapy in Finland 135 Walter Arnold 9 Dawn of Gestalt Therapy in France 141 Serge Ginger 10 Gestalt Therapy in Germany 151 Almut Ladisich–Raine 11 Gestalt Therapy in Greece 165 Despina Balliou, Katia Hatzilakou, Antonia Konstantinidou, and YiannaYiamarelou 12 Gestalt Therapy in the Republic of Ireland 177 Eleanor O’Leary 13 Gestalt Therapy in Italy 195 Margherita Spagnuolo Lobb The Middle East 211 14 Gestalt Therapy in Israel 213 Nurith Levi and Shraga Serok Asia 220 15 Gestalt Therapy in Japan 221 Yoshiya Kurato Australasia 233 16 Gestalt Therapy in Australia 235 Brian O’Neill 17 Gestalt Development in New Zealand: An Antipodean Approach 251 Anne Maclean The Americas 265 18 Gestalt Therapy in the Province of Quebec, Canada: From its Flourishing Days to its Phase of Questioning and its Perspective of Challenges for the Future 267 Janine Corbeil 19 Gestalt Therapy in the United States of America 289 Joseph Melnick 20 Gestalt Therapy in Argentina 305 Myriam Sas Guiter 21 Gestalt Therapy in Chile 317 Francisco Huneeus Part Three: Reviewing the Past and Moving Onwards 325 22 The Present and Future of International Gestalt Therapy 327 Eleanor O’Leary Conclusion 333 Eleanor O’Leary Appendix 1. Worldwide Gestalt Associations, Institutes, and Professional Societies 335 Denis O’Sullivan Index 365

During her career, Professor Eleanor O’Leary has authored a number of innovative books including New Approaches to Integration in Psychotherapy in 2006.The outcome ofher research has also been published in a number of leading academic journals. She was Professor and Head of the Department of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Ireland and Visiting Professor at Stanford University, USA. She is currently a Visiting Professor at the University of Malaga, Spain. She is also accreditations officer of the European Institute of Integrative Psychotherapy, and Honorary Life Chairperson of the Irish Gestalt Society. A practicing psychotherapist and supervisor, Professor O’Leary is also a Fellow of the Psychological Society of Ireland and in 2000 received its Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Psychology. Her varied career has given her a unique insight into the development and application of gestalt therapy.