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Last updated:
21st February 2012

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“Some Essentials of Gestalt Therapy”

An experiential workshop led by Tony Morris

Saturday 24th March 2012
Registration & coffee from 9:30am
Workshop starts at 10am, and ends at 5pm

“Gestalt” can be defined as completeness, wholeness, the full configuration; that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Gestalt therapy is Phenomenological as it concerns itself with our perceptions and experience of our reality; it’s Existential in that we are always in a process of changing and rediscovering ourselves; and is Humanistic in being directed to becoming what we truly are. It is therefore highly experiential, in that clients come to grips with what and how they are thinking, feeling and doing in the therapeutic encounter and in their lives. Examining how we behave is far more informative than what we believe. We seek self-realisation and individuation, but also avoid responsibility for our own lives. To move from environmental support (over reliance on others and things) to self-support requires reintegration of disowned parts of the self.

The main purpose of Gestalt Therapy is to assist the client to develop their self awareness, of who they are and what they do and what they truly feel and think. It is therefore rooted in the client’s experience of the now, the present moment, rather than excavating the past. Their past is only important in the extent that it is still influencing the present.

Hence this brief workshop will be very experiential, with theory largely illustrated through exercises and experiments, individually and in groups, supported by discussion. As most therapies have much in common, we will draw parallels with participants own practice. Tony will be demonstrating his creative style of Gestalt therapy, rather than teaching the therapy.

Depending on the interests and experience of the group, likely topics include:

Developing the clients own metaphors to illustrate their own inner world, using art and other materials, body language, posture sound and voice.
Using the safe experiment or exercise to release unexpressed feelings, to complete Gestalts and unfinished business, and to bring into awareness disowned parts of the self.
Using Role Play & Rehearsal and Mini-Psychodrama
Exploring different modes of behaviour.
Reduction of anxiety and increasing tolerance of anxiety.
Polarity Exploration, so that polarised or restricted conduct becomes a full continuum of behaviours available to the client.
The Gestalt Cycle of Awareness and interruptions to contact.
Acceptance of responsibility one’s own actions, feelings and thoughts.
Gestalt dream work where the client, not the therapist, interprets the dream.
Gestalt’s Theory of the Dynamic Self

About the facilitator:

Tony Morris is a UKAHPP and BACP accredited counsellor, and registered with UKCP. He has a small private practice in SW London, working with individuals, couples and for EAP’s. Tony previously had a career in commerce and in adult education in the practical use of computers and the implementation of fruitful change. He has a strong interest in Arts and Theatre. He combines his Gestalt orientation with solution focused techniques and also draws upon several different models from the humanistic paradigm and elsewhere, including existential and philosophical concerns.
He can be contacted on 020 8788 3929 or at email: tony.morris01@virgin.net

Venue:
Manor Barn House, Water Stratford, Bucks MK18 5DS

Fees:
£15.00 to Bucks Adlerian Training students, and £35 to non-BAT students.

CPD - certificate of attendance available.

Please bring a contribution towards a shared lunch.
If you have any special needs please let us know.

If you would like any more information, or would like to book a place on this workshop, please contact Jill Reynolds on 01280 847853 or email her at email: jill@adlerian.org.uk

These courses are subject to amendment if this seems unavoidable.