About the course

Lose your mind and come to your senses’ said Fritz Perls. However, Gestalt does use the mind - as metaphor, imagination and projection. Meaning making is one of the 3 Zones of Awareness; we explore how it can be part of an organic, present centred therapy.
Course includes: 71 minutes video presentation by Steve Vinay Gunther, 17 core readings, 6 additional readings, 5 related books, 94 item quiz, Completion certificate for 14 CPE points.

Course content

  • 71 minutes of video presentation by Steve Vinay Gunther
  • 16 core readings
  • 7 additional readings
  • 5 related books
  • 94 item quiz
  • Completion certificate for 14 CPE points
  • Subtitles in 30 languages

Course curriculum

    1. Alberts, H. J. E. M. (2016). The sailboat. Maastricht Positive Psychology Program. httpspositivepsychology.comwp-contentuploadsThe-Sailboat.pdf.

    2. Book Therapy. Bibliotherapy resources. httpswww.booktherapy.iopagesbibliotherapy-resources

    3. Burns, G. (2001). The octopus that helped cure a phobia Using healing stories in therapy. Psychotherapy in Australia, 8(1), 48-50.

    4. Cox, M., & Theilgaard, A. (1997). Chapter 1 - The story. In Mutative metaphors in psychotherapy - The Aeolian mode (pp. 1–21). Jessica Kingsley.

    5. Eberts, S., & Homeyer, L. (2015). Processing sand trays from two theoretical perspectives Gestalt and Adlerian. International Journal of Play Therapy, 24(3), 134-150.

    6. Helm Meade, E (1995). Tell it by HeartWomen and the Healing Power of Story. Open Court Publishing, NY.

    7. Levine, P. (1997). Waking the tiger Healing trauma. North Atlantic, Berkely, pp 236-245.

    8. Olney, D. Dick Olney on Eidetic Imagery. Northern California Society of Clinical Hypnosis Society.

    9. Roberts, S. (1987). Therapeutic Metaphors A Counselling Technique. J.A.R.A., 20, 61-72.

    10. Wickman, A., Daniels, M., White, L., and Fesmire, S. (1999). A Primer in Conceptual Metaphor for counsellors. Journal of counselling and development, 77, 389-394

    1. Edwards, D.J.A. (1988). Cognitive restructuring through guided imagery Lessons from Gestalt therapy. In Freeman, A. Simon, K.M., Butler, L.E. & Arkowitz, J. (eds). Comprehensive Handbook of Cognitive Therapies. Plenum Press, NY.

    2. Fantz, R. E. (1983). The use of metaphor and fantasy as an additional exploration of awareness. The Gestalt Journal, 6(2), 28-33.

    3. Lichaw, D. (2020). Using Story as Part of a Gestalt Coaching Practice. Gestalt Review, Vol. 24, No. 1,p.92-99

    4. Mortola, P. (1999). Narrative formation and Gestalt closure Helping clients make sense of disequilibrium through stories in the therapeutic setting. Gestalt Review, 3(4), 308-320.

    5. Skolnik, T. (1994). Paradigms, beliefs, and causality. The Gestalt Journal, 17(2), 63-91.

    6. Timm, N., & Garza, Y. (2017). Beyond the miniatures Using Gestalt theory in sandtray processing. Gestalt Review, 21(1), 44-55.

    1. Lyddon, W. J., Clay, A. L., & Sparks, C. L. (2001). Metaphor and change in counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 79, 269–273.

    2. McNeilly, R. (2020). An easy guide to easy hypnosis.

    3. OHanlon, B. Metaphors be with you Using stories for a change. How to tell a compelling story and help people change. httpswww.billohanlon.org_filesugdfa415b_557c60190f974b5b81f69211d1309778

    4. Tompkins, P., Sullivan, W., & Lawley, J. (2005). Tangled spaghetti in my head Making use of metaphor. The Clean Collection. httpscleanlanguage.co.ukarticlesarticles301Tangled-Spaghetti-in-My-Head-Making-use-of-metaphorPage1.html.

    1. Bar-Yoseph, T., Alon, N. (1991). Gestalt and hypnosis. The British Gestalt Journal, Vol12, pp82-86.

    2. Olney, D. (1990). The achiever holds back. Available httpsaliveandreal.comEidetic_ImageryOscillations.html Accessed 25.02.23

    3. Polster, E. (2020). Enchantment The Secret Ally of Psychotherapy. Gestalt Review, Vol. 24 No 1, p.1-13

    1. Video lecture on Middle Zone, Metaphor, Fantasy and Story - 1 hour 11 minute

    1. 13. Middle Zone, metaphor, fantasy and story • Assessment 48 • Concept Map

    2. 13. Middle Zone, metaphor, fantasy and story • Assessment 49 • Reflection Form

    3. 13. Middle Zone, metaphor, fantasy and story • Assessment 50 • Core Readings - Focus summaries / concept maps

About the presenter

Steve Vinay Gunther

Dr Steve Vinay Gunther

Steve Vinay Gunther has studied Gestalt therapy since 1985 and founded Gestalt institutes in Australia, South Korea, and China. Since 2000, he has been an international Gestalt trainer, teaching in Asia, Egypt, South Africa, Mexico, Colombia, and the USA.

In addition to Gestalt therapy, Steve is trained in family therapy, narrative therapy, somatic therapy, career coaching, and family constellations. He has practiced and studied meditation since 1973 and previously served as a professor of Spiritual Psychology at the Ryokan Institute in Los Angeles.

Steve pioneered relational psychology with his concept, The Unvirtues, and designed the Relational Parenting system. He is the father of five children and grandfather to four boys.

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