&

GESTALT FOUNDATION &

Cr !"#$ A%&'(") *" I* T+ r!, '"#- . /!"#0*(+#,

being a dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the title of Gestalt Psychotherapist in Gestalt Foundation, Athens

by

10!**! 2!"0 M.Sc. of psychology Catholic Uni ersity of !ublin Speech "herapist of Uni ersity M. Curie#S$lodo%s$a of !ublin

A3ST.ACT

"he interest of this dissertation is the presentation of the concept of creati e ad'ustment in Gestalt therapy and its meaning in a therapeutic relationship e(emplified by cases of the therapist)s practice. *n the beginning a re ie% of the rele ant literature is presented regarding a. the philosophical influence on the concept of creati ity and of the creati e therapist, b. the concept of creati ity, c. the concept of the creati e therapist. Subsequently the literature re ie% includes a. the concept of ad'ustment in Gestalt therapy, b. the understanding of creati e ad'ustment. +n the follo%ing pages literature re ie% follo%s presenting a. the characteristics of the therapeutic relationship ,therapist)s tas$ and responsibilities to%ard the client, b. the role of the therapeutic relationship ,including the *#thou concept, the concept of contact, of a%areness and of change-. +pinions about the place of therapeutic relations in society are also mentioned. "he ne(t part of this dissertation sho%s the affiliation bet%een contact and relationship based on a. the e(perience of the self and the b. contact boundary. *n the final part e(amples of creati e ad'ustment in therapeutic relationships are presented as percei ed in the therapist)s practice. Fe% cases are described and analy.ed according to the factors mentioned in the presented literature.

AC2NO4LEDGE5ENTS * %ant to than$ my therapist Gianna Giamarelou for guiding me through the process of education in Gestalt approach and supporting me through all the years * ha e been in therapy %ith her. * also %ant to say than$ you to all the therapists %ho %ere in ol ed in my training process the last si( years, starting from Gianna Giamarellou, 0espoina 1aliou, Antonia 2onstantinidu and 2atia 3at.ila$ou. * %ant to than$ 3arm Siemens, 0ic$ !ompa, Margarita Spaniuolo#!obb, 4urit !e i, Peter Schulthess, Malcolm Parlett, 2en 5 ans, 6oseph Melnic$ for sharing $no%ledge, e(perience and quality of contact. * %ant to say than$ you to my super isor 2atia 3at.ila$ou for supporting me during the ery difficult period of the first years of %or$ing as a psychotherapist and for sho%ing me %hat fle(ibility means. * am saying than$ you to my colleagues and friends 1ianca 5llinger, 5lpida 2alait.i, Mariola 2ochano%ic. for being there for me and listening, for helping %ith ideas and ad ice. * %ant to say than$ you to all my clients %ho contributed to this dissertation for trusting me and sharing their li es %ith me. 7ithout them this dissertation %ould not e(ist. * am saying than$ you to my sister *.abela 2ato for her contribution in reading and chec$ing my te(t, pic$ing up the phone and reading my mails e ery time * as$ed her. * am saying than$ you and e(pressing gratitude to all the members of my family and to the nanny of my children for supporting my effort. * am than$ing my ery close friend for listening complains and still belie ing in me, and all my friends %ho supported me in se eral %ays during the time * %as %riting. 7ithout them this tas$ could ne er be accomplished.

INT.ODUCTION "his dissertation is a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the title of Gestalt psychotherapist. "he sub'ect concerns creati e ad'ustment in

therapeutic relationship. "herapeutic relationship is the ery base of therapeutic %or$ in Gestalt therapy approach. Gestalt therapy is a phenomenological and e(istential approach to therapy and concentrates on the phenomenology of the client and the therapist during their meeting. "he basic theoretical meanings of Gestalt therapy are9 the field theory, the phenomenological perspecti e, the e(istential perspecti e, dialogue, inclusion, presence, the interdependence9 organism: en ironment # the organismic self#regulation. "he therapeutic %or$ in Gestalt therapy is done in the ;here and no%< during the meeting bet%een the therapist and the client through the dialogue. *n order for this to happen, both, therapist and client need to adjust ,do the best they can- to each other and to the en ironment, including date, place, circumstances, personal history, age, culture, society, goals of therapy etc. M. Spagnuolo#!obb,=>>?- states that ;Creativity is one of the basic concepts of "he Gestalt approach, a quality of adaptation in interpersonal relationship. *t includes e erything that happens in the field in relation to contact<. *t is the process of gi ing it a meaning. "he tas$ of the therapist is to co#create the condition of contact. *n order to do this the therapist needs some abilities, $no%ledge, alues and attitudes %hich he:she acquires through the process of education, personal therapy and super ision. "he therapeutic relationship is a meeting, it has a role and se eral tas$s. *t is performed e ery time indi idually and requires ris$ ta$ing from both, the therapist and the client. *n order to co#create contact therapist and client need to meet at the contact boundary, ;in bet%een<. "his meeting might be analy.ed from the therapist side, the client side, by anali.ing %hat happens in the field and at the contact boundary. "he meaning of creative adjustment emerges se eral times during super ision. "he field is ery different e ery time and %ith e ery client, and e en if it appears ob ious, it ta$es time to understand and feel it, and also gain a%areness of the differences bet%een cases and clients. *t is difficult to apply

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the ;same< principles of Gestalt therapy to e ery ne% client and at the same time to maintain a fle(ibility regarding the field %ith all its components A culture, life story, language, therapeutic setting etc. 0uring the process of super ision the ery different needs of e ery ;case< emerge, de elopmentally, and in life history, as much as at personality le el. Seeing the differences in the dynamic of the therapeutic relations, the circumstances, the field, the different %ays of %or$ing, using the methodology and building ground for therapeutic relationship leads to creati e ad'ustment. *n this dissertation the sub'ect of creati e ad'ustment is restricted to the therapeutic relationship, the conte(t of the therapeutic %or$ %here it can be obser ed, considered the fact that therapeutic relation and its process are the beginning and the end in Gestalt approach. *n therapy client and therapist li e a relation and learn to gi e a meaning to it by ad'usting to %hate er emerges in the process. "his is e ery time a li e e ent and the analy.e of it caused interest in loo$ing closer to %hat happens to therapist and client during its duration. "heory and e(periences are described on the follo%ing pages. the process of

C6A7TE. I CREATIVITY AND ADJUSTMENT Creativity in Gestalt therapy is considered to be a quality of spontaneous adaptation in interpersonal processes, as well as important ingredient of healthy social living.(A. Sichera, !!" p#"$ "he purpose of this chapter is to present the meaning and understanding of the terms creativity and adjustment in Gestalt therapy and theory. "he abo e %ords ha e a range of meanings. "hey are connected %ith e(istential philosophy, Gestalt psychology, de elopmental psychology, they also refer to the concept of creati ity in philosophy and psychology. +n the follo%ing pages references on the sub'ect, those %hich influence the process of Gestalt psychotherapy and are connected %ith the ideas of creati ity and creating %ill be presented. G ("!/" "+ r!,8 9!(#- ,r#*-#,/ ( As G. Bontef states in his article ,=>@>- Gestalt therapy %as founded by Frederic$ and !aura Perls in the =>CDs. *t is a phenomelogical#e(istencial approach to therapy and concentrates on the phenomenology of the client and the therapist during their meeting. ;Patients and therapist in Gestalt therapy dialogue, that is communicate their phenomenological perspecti es.<,G. Bontef ,=>@>*n the Gestalt approach the focus is on process, that is on %hat is happening bet%een the therapist and the client. "he content, that is the discussed sub'ect, is considered to be of less importance. *t is a sample from the client)s life, on %hich therapeutic %or$ can be done. *t brings the client in touch %ith emotions %hich accompany an e ent. 5motions %hich se eral times are repressed, forgotten and reappear in inadequate situations. According to this dissertation the therapeutic relationship and the process of ad'ustment are a meeting

through a%areness. As Gestalt literature supports the goal of therapy is for the client to become a%are of his beha ior, feelings, belie es, attitudes and %hat they can do to others. "he therapeutic setting is a safe place %here ne% feelings might be e(perienced and e(pressed, ne% %ays of acting and e(pressing might be disco ered in e(periments performed during the therapeutic session. 7ith the therapist support the client might dare feel and act as he is not permitted in e eryday life and gain a%areness of it. "he therapeutic %or$ is done in the ;here and no%<. 5(planations and interpretation are not so important as %hat is felt, and percei ed. *n the process of therapy clients might disco er ho% and %hat they can change about themsel es and learn to accept %hat is not to be changed, or learn to loo$ at it from a ne% perspecti e. 5(periencing differences in perspecti es %ith the therapist, %ithout 'udging nor interpreting, is a sub'ect of continuous dialogue, of the process going on bet%een the client and the therapist. "o reali.e ho% all those concept came into light especially the concept of creati ity it is necessary to refer to the philosophical trends of the time Gestalt therapy %as founded. "%o philosophers contributed to the concept of creati ity9 Salomo Friedlander %ith the concept of creative indifference, and +tto Ean$ and the concept of creative will. Salomo Friedlaender:Mynona ,=@8=#=>C/a philosopher and a humorist, influenced by Schopenchauer. 3is basic concepts are presented in the boo$ ;Creative %ndifference< ,=>=@-. "hose concepts are9 indifference and polar differentiation. According to Friedlaender the indifferent center emerges from the balance of opposite polars. "he indifference is the creati e central dimension of reality, the ;immension of all dimensions<. 7hen the polar opposites are merged, the differentiation is lost. Creati e indifference is the point %here differences dissol e. ;*t is the basic creati e dimension of human e(istence<. "his is the start point for F. Persls ;fertile oid< or ;middle, centre,

.ero#point, naught,

oid, pre#difference, equilibrium, balance, centering

opposites, poles and polari.ation.< ,Frambach, ?DDF"he ability to percei e equally both polarities allo%s energy to emerge and create ;ne%< possibilities %hich ha e been unnoticed but al%ays e(isted. *n therapy this means that a person might be able to $no% %ho he is first through the process of polar differentiation and than by finding the ;melting of the opposite polars into polar indifferentiation and state of being<,3. Ste enson, ?DDC-. +tto Ean$ ,=@@C#=>F>- a psychologist and a philosopher. Ean$ %as interested in olitional psychology, %ill, artistic creati ity. 3is philosophical concept refers to polarities and processes. According to Ean$ all polarities are grouped around one central life impulse %hich he calls creative will. "his impulse ,%ill G ego Hpo%er- is responsible for forming the human indi iduality and his ability to be responsible. "he human ego is being shaped through life, mostly in the person)s relation to the mother, but is also self shaping by its o%n strong %ill. "he denial of this %ill is the base for neuroses. "he identification %ith it, especially as distinct from the en ironment allo%s a person to fully e(perience his e(istence. *n therapy the healer is supposed to pro ide help into the process of 'oining and separating different aspect of the ego, there %here both mother and child %ant and need it. ;"herapists do not heal through means and techniques9 nor through simple or mere e(pressions of their creati ity. "hey heal through their personality, %hich is professionally restrained and at the same time capable of spontaneous response<. ,1. Mueller, ?DDF p. =F>*n order to understand better the concepts of adjustment and creativity in Gestalt theory it is important to refer to the basic concepts of this approach. +ne of them is ;the field theory< %hich means ;loo$ing at the total situation< ,!e%in, =>&? p.?@@-. *n Gestalt therapy it means a holistic perspecti e to%ards a person including en ironment, the social %orld, organi.ation, culture. According to !. 5strup ,?DDD- the basic lenses of Gestalt the therapy are : &he

'ield &heory A e erything is constantly changing and in flu(. 5 erything is off the field and cannot be separated from it. "he field is our history. "he second is &he (henomenological (erspective A each person)s feeling and understanding of the field depends on the position he:she has on the field. "he third important lens is )ialogue A %here in a relation t%o people are impacted and responsi e to each other. "he abo e mentioned terms and concepts %ill be more analytically discussed in the follo%ing chapters, %here their connection to the terms creative adjustment and therapeutic relationship %ill also be presented.

A; C.EATI<IT= "he noun ;creati ity< has a range beautiful of synonyms such as ;originality, imagination, inspiration, resourcefulness, ision, in enti eness, ingenuity<,!ongman 0ictionary of Contemporary 5nglish =>@8- . All of them sound positi ely, might be used to define certain life e(periences, qualities of an artist, maybe a process of creation, the building of something ne%, un$no%n. M. Spagnuolo#!obb and 4. Amendt#!yon in the preface to Creative license the art of Gestalt therapy comment that in Gestalt therapy ;creati ity< as noun is not defined. *t is considered to be all that happens in the field in relation to contact. *n the e(perience of contact the organism and the en ironment create the meeting, gi e a meaning to it. "he meeting occurs bet%een the human organism %ho encounters the %orld by hearing, touching, smelling, tal$ing, loo$ing at A %ith senses and abilities the organism contacts

the en ironment. Creati ity is an attribute of contact. Contact is creati e ad'ustment. "he self helps to find and gi e meaning to our e(periences. "o adjust creatively, according to Gestalt literature means to do the best a person can %ithin the gi en situation, considering the circumstances, the age, the possibilities, the number of a ailable solutions. 7hen for some reasons the chosen %ay to ad'ust becomes a pattern and no longer benefits the person, the energy in ol ed in this process is trapped and might create arious, sometimes bothering or painful symptoms. "hose symptoms still are creative adjustment , a creati e solution to difficult situation. "he therapeutic %or$ is to gain a%areness about the %ay a person ad'usts and if the chosen %ay is no longer necessary, no longer the best, redirect the energy to the proper goal. *n other %ords creati e ad'ustment in ol es ;letting go of chronically dysfunctional beha ior patterns, using one)s perceptual functions and a ailable resources optimally in the interchange %ith the gi en circumstances< ,7ertheimer, =>/C-. *n order to get a larger perspecti e on the concept of creati ity some remaining concepts related to it %ill be described, as they are presented in literature. A creati e %ay to relate to the en ironment and a positi e ability to ad'ust is mentioned by F. and !. Perls in ;*go +unger and Aggression,. ;)ental aggression< ,%hich includes biting , che%ing, destroying %hat is gi en to $eep only the needed parts and let go of the rest-. is a process of responding to ones needs and ad'usting to the en ironment using the tools ones has and ta$ing ad antage of the possibilities the en ironment offers. *t also is a big step and achie ement in the childs) de elopment process. "he meaning of e-istential, e-periential and e-perimental inter entions in therapeutic %or$ refer to %or$ %ith the phenomenology of the client and the

therapist, to %or$ %ith %hat client and therapist e(perience in their bodies, %ay of thin$ing and feeling and finally to create e(periments in %hich a different, ne% phenomenology is percei ed and felt, sometimes ne% %ays of acting are performed. ,G. Bontef, =>@>"he style of the therapist is a ery personal matter. *t has not to do %ith the therapist)s professional s$ills, abilities and responsibilities to%ards the client but is part of his personality.,6. Iin$er, =>88Creati ity here is the %ay the therapist assimilates and in ol es his personal talents and interest in his therapeutic %or$. "his means that the style of one Gestalt therapist might be much different from another Gestalt therapist and also that the style of one therapist might differ from client to client. "he concept of dialogical relationship in Gestalt psychotherapy , is Martin 1uber)s % . &hou (M. 1uber, =>/8-. "his means that both client and therapist are of the same importance. "he relation bet%een them is equal in terms of respect e en if it might be not equal in terms of po%er. "ransference and countertransfrerence issues are sub'ect of dialogue in the present, during the client)s therapist meeting. ,M. Spagnulo !obb, ?DDF-. "he ne(t is the concept of polarities, deri ed from Salomo Friedlaender)s philosophical theory of creati e indifference. 5 erybody)s personality consists of many opposites. Some of them are %ell $no%n to the person, of some other he has no a%areness. "hat is %hy some polarities:opposites are e(perienced une enly. *n this case poles seem to ha e no relation to each other. Creati ity means such an e(ploration of the poles and the ;fertile oid< bet%een them that they can both be percei ed, noticed and then integrated in personality ,!. Frambach , ?DDF-.

"he last mentioned is the concept of the creative quality of the ego function. *n psychology and philosophy it is related %ith +tto)s Ean$ concept of creative will. *n life all of us ha e the tendency to identify %ith certain parts of the en ironment and at the same time to alienate from others. "he artist %ho identifies himself as different and distinct from the en ironment might e(perience the fullness of e(istence. "his creati e quality of ego allo%s him to create and fully li e his life e en if he is al%ays a%are of death. ,4. Amend !yon , M. spagnuolo !obb, ?DDF-. As described abo e the concept of creati ity emerges as ery important and essential in Gestalt therapy. +n the follo%ing pages the meaning of the %ord creati ity for a Gestalt therapists %ill be presented, %ith emphasis on its impact on the therapeutic relationships. A description of ! -r !"#$ "+ r!,#(" and his %or$ as mentioned in Gestalt literature %ill follo%. ;"herapy is the tas$ of the self, %hich disco ers and feels, in the dar$ painful areas, in danger and in difficulty, that space in %hich a creati e Jlan is possible<9 ,F. Pearls,E. F. 3efferline, P. Goodman, =>&= p.?/-. "hings that had been bloc$ed, forgotten, that a person %as not allo%ed to feel might be brought bac$ in therapy. "he come bac$ of certain feelings and e(periences might be ery painful. *t also may allo% to gain a ne% perspecti e, ne% feelings, disco er ne% themes. 7ith the support of the therapeutic relationship the e(perience might be integrated by the person. *t might become his o%n. "he therapist and the patient co#create the condition of contact, of the 'ourney they commit themsel es to do together. *n order for this to happen the therapist needs se eral capacities, abilities and techniques but also and mainly certain alues and attitudes. "o represent those attitudes and alues the therapist goes through a long process of disco ering and $no%ing himself, through his education, therapy and super ision. "he abo e attitudes and capacities are described ery specifically

by 6. Iin$er. *n ;Creati e process in Gestalt therapy<,=>88- he presents a creati e therapist, an artist in the already mentioned categories. According to 6. Iin$er for a Gestalt therapist to be creati e, he needs to focus on his:her alues and attitudes as much as concentrate on his:her capacities, abilities and techniques. Follo%ing Iin$er)s thoughts a creati e therapist has a rich personal bac$ground and e(perience in emotional and intellectual de elopment, he had e(posure to a range of e(perience. 3e celebrates life, another person)s beauty, goodness, capacities and future possibilities. 3e is an aesthetically sensiti e person, has a sense of grace, structure, order and rhythm of life. 3e lo es play and is aroused by un$no%n possibilities beneath the surface of human life ,6. Iin$er, =>>8 pp F@#C=As much as capacities and abilities are concerned a Gestalt ;creati e therapist< is e(perimental A his attitude is one of using himself, his client and ob'ects in the en ironment in the ser ice of in enting no el ision of the person. 3e has insights A he encourages articulation of a%areness ;ma$ing the familiar strange and the strange familiar< ,after 7. Gordon, =>/= p.C?-. "he personality of the therapist and the alues he considers important are strongly related %ith his s$ills and ho% he uses them in the therapeutic process. "herapist s$ills and beliefs become quality of the process of psychotherapy ,G. Giamarelou, ?DD/-. 3e also possesses some characteristics related to %or$, %hich according to 6. Iin$er are essential. 3e has a good sense of timing, the capacity to detect %here the person can be reached, energi.ed, mo ed emotionally, he has a $no%ledge of %here psychological ;buttons< are and %hen to push them, he has the ability to shift gears A to let go of some things and mo e on to other, more li ely areas, he has the %illingness to push, confront, persuade, energi.e the person to get the %or$ done and also he has the %isdom to $no% %hen to let the person stay confused so that he may learn to e ol e his o%n clarity. 3e has ability to integrate t%o modes of consciousness, t%o modes of being in the

%orld A grabbing hold on and being acti e and li ing in loose, passi e, recepti e %onderment. As stated in ; Creati e Process in Gestalt "herapy< the psychotherapy situation, %hich is e(perimental and safe, gi es to the client the possibility to loo$ at himself from different points of ie%, li$e obser ing himself in arious mirrors. "his might happen %hen the therapist is ;imaginati e<. 7hen he gains ;an independent perception of his field, %hen he is specifically in ol ed in the client)s life e(perience, %hen he is able to feel %onderment and surprise and is a ris$ ta$er< ,6. Iin$er, =>88-. A creati e therapist is part of the field in therapy, part of the contact ma$ing, creati e ad'ustment process. 1efore e(ploring further the creati e ad'ustment process in the relation bet%een the client and the therapist a reference to the understanding of the term ad'ustment %ill be presented. 3; AD1UST5ENT U*% r("!*%#*> 0? creative adjustment #* G ("!/" /#" r!"'r According to the !ongman dictionary of Contemporary 5nglish ,=>@8- to adjust means9 to change slightly, especially in order to ma$e right or ma$e suitable for a particular purpose or situation. "he %ord is being compared to the %ord adapt .that is 9 to ma$e or become suitable for ne% needs, different conditions. "he terms adjustment, self regulation, and creativity appear in Gestalt literature as synonymous or related to each other. Creative adjustment is a de elopmental capacity of doing ;the best * can< or an organismic self#regulation process. 7hen a creati e %ay of acting becomes fi(ed and is no longer suitable or becomes an obstacle in the de elopmental process of a person it is called ;a fi(ed Gestalt<. +ther term %hich are used in Gestalt literature connected %ith ;creati e ad'ustment< are ;resistance<, and also ;polarities< e.g. ad'ustment ersus creati ity. "o ad'ust creati ely is a part

of a gro%th and destruction process, the organi.ation of phenomenal field into figure and ground, or the process of figure and ground formation:destruction ,G. Bontef, =>@>-. People adapt to difficult situation and circumstances %hen gro%ing up and in society, follo%ing rules, doing the best they can at the ery moment. "his %ay of acting, at the time creati ely, allo%s them to sur i e and mo e on %ith their li es. Sometimes %hat %as creati e ad'ustment becomes a fi(ed %ay of acting. "hen people might no longer $no% %hat they feel. *n other cases they might not be able to name their feelings. Some other people a%are of %hat they feel and still do not $no% ho% to act. ;7hat is common to all of us is that %e ha e done the best %e could in an imperfect %orld9 %e made %hat Gestalt calls a creati e ad'ustment< ,A. Foo$es, ?DD?-. "he terms self A regulation and homeostasis %ere introduced to Gestalt therapy by F. Perls, %ho state that ;the homeostatic process is the process by %hich the organism maintains its equilibrium, therefore its health under arying conditions. 3omeostasis is the process by %hich the organism satisfies its needs< ,F. Perls, =>8F, p.C-. "his means that the organism tries to maintain a steady state %hen the en ironment changes. "o satisfy its need the organism has to also to approach and hold of ne% things and let go %hat is no more needed. "his is the< aggression and destruction< process described as part of contact ma$ing, part of the process of creati e ad'ustment. ;Creati ity and the organism:en ironment ad'ustment are polar9 one cannot e(ist %ithout the other. 4o ad'ustment %ould be possible by the self# regulation aloneK contact must be a creati e transformation<. ,F. Perls , E. F. 3efferline , P. Goodman P, =>8?, p. CD/-. "he term creati e ad'ustment replaces the term ;resistance< in the ocabulary of Gestalt therapy. Eesistance means an opposition to change, means that the client is not %illing to accept the therapist guidelines. Accepting guidelines from the therapist might suspend the therapeutic process and open the

resistance belo% it. *n the ;here and no%< the resistance is a healthy, protecti e process. *t allo%s to a oid pain, real or imaginary %hich cannot be ta$en. *n psychology, generally, therapists try to o ercome resistance, in order the client to change. "he client should stop being resistant. *n Gestalt therapy the therapist stays %ith the resistance ,3. Siemens, ?DDC-. "he resistance is creati e ad'ustment. *t is the %ay the client is in the %orld. 0uring the process of life gi es the possibility to sur i e, to sol e a present problem. "he %ay of ;resisting< stops sometimes to %or$ de elopmentally. "his is %hy Gestalt therapy e(plores resistances, brings them into a%areness, %or$s %ith conflicts bet%een them so they can be reintegrated as ne% meaning ma$ing %holes. ;*n Gestalt therapy e ery symptom or defense is ie%ed as an attempt to sol e a problem through creati e ad'ustment< ,6. Melnic$, ?DDC-. 7hen these ad'ustments, at first bringing profit in a person)s de elopment are no longer helpful and become rigid, the natural figure:ground process of formation:destruction is bloc$ed. "he distortion of this process called also resistances to contact, includes9 projection, retroflection, introjection, confluence, deflection and proflection ,Polsters 5, M,=>8F -. 3erb Ste enson ,?DDC- mentions the follo%ing understanding of resistances9 introjection A s%allo%ing the %hole e(perience %ithout che%ing, projection A attributing my o%n feelings or needs to another person, deflection A a oiding contact by paying suddenly attention to something else, not related %ith the sub'ect, using humor, confluence A lac$ the ability to distinguish myself from the other, agree al%ays %ith other)s opinion, desenti/ation A a oiding physical or emotional a%areness9 ,more details in Appendi( =-. S. Ginger ,=>>&- presents a picture of resistance %hich include organism, the contact boundary and the en ironment9 in confluence the organism and the en ironment cross the contact boundary bac$ and forth %ithout noticing %here each begins and ends. *n introjection all the energy goes bac$ to the organism, in projection energy is directed only outside the

organism to the en ironment. 0etroflection %or$s as a u turn bac$ inside the organism, deflection turns energy else%here in relation to contact, inside or out. (roflection is a mi(ture of pro'ection and retroflection %here * pro'ect my retroflected need to somebody else, as$ somebody else to fulfill my need, and finally egotism is the state %here * $no% and * am a%are but still * a oid contact. ,the graphic representation of the abo e in Appendi( ?-. *n common language the term resistance brings sometimes negati e associations. "he synonyms are opposition, battle, conflict , struggle, hostility ,!ongman 0ictionary of Contemporary 5nglish, =>@8-. *n psychology, G. 7heeler ,=>>=- introduced a positi e meaning to the understanding of resistances. 3e presents resistances as ;the dimension or function of the contact process< %hich means resistances might be percei ed as creati e, positi e, components to contact styles. Contact styles are placed on a continuum and are dysfunctional %hene er mo e to one of the e(tremes of it. "he pairs are the follo%ing 9 confluence s. differentiation, pro'ection s. retention, literalness, intro'ection s. che%ing, destruction, retroflection s. e(change and encounter, desenti.ation ,or egotismconcentration ,Appendi( F-. "hose mechanisms of a oiding contact might be placed in the subsequent phases of the ;contact %ithdra% cycle<,called also the a%areness cycle, the cycle of e(perience, the cycle of Gestalt formation and destruction, the need and satisfaction cycle-, ,P. Clarc$son , ?DDDK 0elisle G, =>>>-. *n Gestalt therapy there is no contact %ithout %ithdra%. "he therapeutic process includes both A the ;%hen< and ;ho%< of the contact A %ithdra% cycle is the creati e part. *n the contact %ithdra% cycle the base is a need of being autonomous and of belonging to. "he point is to find such a %ay to ad'ust not to loose oneself A this means ta$e %hat * need and re'ect %hat * don)t need. "he contact %ithdra% process is a healthy process. "he boundary bet%een the organism and the en ironment should be fle(ible. 5 ery single moment a figure ,the strongest s. merging, deflection s. focusing and

need- emerges and the rest becomes bac$ground. "his is the f orecontact phase, %here the e(perience is the sensation. *nterruption of contact in this phase is confluence. *t has to do %ith the *d function. After this phase orientation follo%s, ta$ing note of feelings, needs, ideas. "his is the a%areness phase, still in forecontact. "he ne(t step is a mobili.ation of energy, %hich might be put on hold or e(pressed. 3ere the interruptions of contact ha e to do %ith the loss of ego function ,pro'ection, intro'ection, deflection, retroflection-. Subsequently the contact phase arri es, %here %e ma$e a choice, follo%ed by action. "his is the final contact, %ith self, %ith the others. +ur choices and %ay of ma$ing contact ha e to do %ith the personality function, %ith %ho * am. "he last is the post .contact, %ithdra%al or rest phase, %here %e bac$ off in relation to self or to the en ironment ,6. Iin$er, =>88- see ,Appendi( C-. "he understanding of resistances including a creati e component is important for the process of therapy, for staying %ith the resistance and gaining a%areness of it. *n the therapeutic process methodology itself helps the therapist to be creati e. Ma$ing contact is ery important at the beginning of the therapeutic relation:process. Gaining a%areness of the resistance and staying %ith it, gi es to possibility to ma$e contact, to proceed into the therapeutic relation. Graphic representation of the contact %ithdra% cycle is attached in Appendi( C. 0e elopmentally, %e satisfy our needs in contact %ith the en ironment. 1y contacting %e organi.e the %ay %e e(ist in the field. For e eryone of us, in e ery situation the ad'ustment is a unique, indi idual, creati e process. *t is unique for e ery person in an indi idual situation, under specific circumstances. *t does not follo% general rules. "he process of ad'ustment is e ery time creati e and unique, it is the best solution in the gi en conditions. ;"he process of ad'ustment is mutual. *n creati e ad'ustment, our achie ements and solutions are made by us and gi en to us both in the gi e and ta$e of our creati e partnership %ith the rest of the field<

,4. Amend#!yon, =>>?-. A further and important analyses of the concept of the concept of creative adjustment is presented in ;Creati e Ad'ustment as field based psychotherapy<. M. Parlett presents fi e dimensions of creative adjustment1 the first is called 0esponding A it is described as a %ay of responding to situations and as an ability to respond and ta$e responsibility. "he second, called %nterrelating Ais defined as ability to relate to others. "he third, named Self20ecogni/ing is presented as being a%are of one)s position in the field, ha ing direction and e(periencing a sense of coherence and continuity. "he fourth called *mbodying Aincludes a full bodily participation in lifeA somatic, sensory, %ith thoughts and attitudes. Finally the fifth, described as *-perimenting# is the ability to appreciate the present situation and also in ent possibilities, ta$e creati e decisions, ris$ the unusual, and be able to let go# %hen necessary A of %hat %e ha e become dependent on or attached to ,M. Parlett, ?DDD pp.=>#?C-. "he role of the self and the field process are ery important here. 7e influence the field and the field influences us. 1ringing changes to the field means change in our sel es, changes done in order to sur i e, ad'ust and de elop. M. Parlett belie es that learning and practicing arious %ays of ad'usting creati ely and performing abilities to ad'ust is beneficiary to our %ellbeing, in today)s comple( %orld %ith its social requirements. A field oriented therapy, li$e Gestalt therapy is, might consider it a serious tas$ to be achie ed ,M. Parlett, ?DDD-.

C6A7TE. II THE THERAPEUTIC RELATI NSHIP 3%n the beginning is the relation 3 M. 1uber ,=>&@,p.=@"his chapter is a re ie% of literature concerning the definition and meaning of therapeutic relationship in Gestalt "herapy. "he characteristics and the role of a therapeutic relationship, including its philosophical and ethical aspects %ill be presented on the follo%ing pages. According to !ynne 6acobs ,=>>&- the nature of a therapeutic relationship can be described in t%o aspects9 one is the role of the relationship A ho% curati e and important is the relation itself in therapy, and the second refers to the characteristics of the relationship A the structure of the relation and the allo%ed therapists beha iors. *n this chapter both aspects %ill be presented starting %ith the characteristics. Eeflections regarding the role of the relationship %ill be presented after%ards since this sub'ect is strictly related %ith the material presented in chapter ***. T+ -+!r!-" r#("#-( 0? "+ "+ r!, '"#- r /!"#0*(+#, "he therapeutic relationship is both a technique and a transcendence of techniques ,!. 6acobs, =>>&-. +n the pages of ;"he 3ealing Eelationship in Gestalt therapy< ,=>>&the therapist)s tas$ are presented and analy.ed9 those tas$s are patterning, control, potency, humanness and commitment. )iagnose is a process, %hich starts during the first client#therapist meeting and goes on during therapy. *n Gestalt therapy, according to the authors the emphasis is on the process of interaction itself. *t includes clients s$ills and patterns of

beha ior, ris$ ta$ing in interaction, bloc$ing contact and change. "he therapy situation may become a model of se eral situations in the outside %orld. "he %ay %e interact in therapy %e also do outside. "he therapy process allo%s testing ne% s$ills in a safe environment. Control A by control Gestalt therapy understands that the conte(t of the therapy process has to be controlled by the therapist. *t is the therapist)s 'ob to in ol e the patient in the process of therapy. ;*n essence, it becomes the therapist responsibility to establish the conditions for dialogue< ,M. Friedman, =>8/-. "he ne(t characteristic is potency 2 the potency of the therapist means that it is the therapist that should be able to follo% the client)s needs at his pace. 3e has to be able to assist the client %here he is e(pected to and at the same time pro o$e changes %hich help the process of maturing and gro%ing. +umanness means that the therapist cares about his client, supports him in difficulties, recogni.es his effort and commitment to the process of therapy. 3e also sincerely shares his emotional responses and e(periences. 3e is be able to choose %hen and ho% much to share so it %ill be profitable for his client. 3e is himself committed to the process of his o%n gro%th so it can be a model for the client. Finally commitment. "he therapist commits himself to the process of therapy, to e ery indi idual client, to continue the self gro%th process %hich includes training, therapy, super ision, research etc. ;Commitment is the continuing in ol ement and acceptance of assumed responsibilities<. ,6. Fagan , =>8D-. Commitment means to be there for the client according to the made contract, to respect client)s phenomenology, to discuss therapist)s themes during super ision, to %or$ on self de elopment in psychotherapy and in psychotherapy training, to $no% therapist)s limitations A

including %or$ing %ith patients the therapist is able to %or$ %ith. Commitment also means staying in therapy process %ith all its difficulties and ;teach the client ho% to learn about himself< ,3. Siemens , ?DDF-. Apart from the abo e mentioned characteristics it is important to stress the Gestalt therapist responsibilities to%ard the clients. "hose ha e been carefully described by F. Perls ,=>&=-. According to Perls

the therapist is responsible for both, $no%ing himself and the client, for the quality of his presence in therapy, for being open to the client and being able to $eep this openness. "he therapist is also responsible for creating and sustaining a therapeutic atmosphere %hich %ill moti ate the client to %or$. *n Perls) understanding the e(periences, a%areness and perceptions of the therapist, are the bac$ground of the therapy process, %hile and the client)s reaction and aquatinted a%areness form the foreground. *t is therapist Ls responsibility to share his perceptions, reactions and thoughts regarding the client, %hile they emerge in the process of therapy. "he most important part of therapy is the dialogic relationship, techniques per se are not important. ;"echniques are not the issueK rather the therapist)s attitudes and beha ior and the relationship that is established are %hat really count<. ,F. Perls, =>&= p.?F/. Some techniques ,such as e(aggerating- intensify and clarify current e(perience, others focus on the e ol ing a%areness process. A technique should not become a %ay ;to ma$e something happen< but should be part of a dialogic attitude ,!. 6acobs, =>@>-. A technique might be used after establishing ground and as a part of e(perimenting, %hen an e(periment is appropriate in the therapy process. "echniques need to become a quality of contact. ;"he important thing is that Mtechniques emerge organically from the ongoing dialogue< ,-Polster and Polster, =>8F, p.?F>-.

Gestalt literature often mentions that the therapeutic setting is an e(perimental, model situation, a micro#%orld %here all the social rules might be applied as in the macro#%orld %e li e. Social relation are ery important to us, in social relation %e li e our li es. 5. 0oubra%a ,?DD=- presents ho% therapeutic relations are connected %ith society and ho% society influences the therapeutic relations. According to his article ;the client therapist relationship cannot sustain the *#"hou relationship to the last consequence<. *n therapy during the hori.ontal meeting ;souls touch<. "his process is encouraged by the therapist. At the same time, during this meeting one person is as$ing for help and the other is a helping profession representati e. +ne person pays for the meeting and the other is being paid for it. "his is the part of the relation %hich remains instrumental. "he therapist is paid, so in this aspect the client is the ;instrument< %hich permits him to earn a li ing. From the client)s point of ie%, the therapist is the ;instrument< %hich allo%s him to ;find a %ay out<. Follo%ing 0oubra%a)s reflection it is important to notice, that both, client and therapist, are to learn from both, the dialogic and the instrumental part of this relation. *n the same $ind of relations %e are in ol ed e eryday. Se eral times it is in our hands to contribute in building a healthy society, %here meeting %ould not be only instrumental. "a$ing results of therapy in the outside %orld is the most difficult part of the therapy process but also its most po%erful factor.

T+ r0/ 0? "+ "+ r!, '"#- r /!"#0*(+#, *n Gestalt therapy the role of the relationship is basic. 0e elopmentally the emphasis %as first on awareness ,Perls, 3effeline, Goodman- and on contact ,*. Fromm and the Polsters-. 4o%adays the relationship is the base of the therapeutic %or$, of contact ma$ing, of healing. *t is the bridge bet%een the t%o %ho meet. *t is a process, it is dialogue. *t includes e ery aspect of the client)s and the therapist)s field. Content itself is not so important. "he content might become a creati e aspect of therapy %hen is included in the process. Using the Gestalt methodology allo%s to put the content into the dialogue. "his is %hy dialogue becomes content and process. Methodologically this is done by using %ords. Putting in %ords ;%ho * am ; and ;%hat * say< and also ;ho% do * say it< allo%s to create a process %hich is a dialogue. "he therapist A client relationship is hori.ontal. Client and therapist ha e their history and phenomenology. "he relationship is supposed to be li ed ;here and no%<. "herapist respects the client as an e(pert of his o%n e(periences. 3e has to understand and accept the client)s history, not to change it. "he only 'udgment the therapist ma$es, is %hat to disclose and deep on in the meeting. "he therapist needs to support ;as much as necessary and as little as possible< quoting ;7hat)s behind the empty chair< ,!. 5strup,- ?DDD Gestalt therapy is also called ;dialogic method<. ;0ialogue is used to ma$e contact, to mo e to%ards the other, to establish a relation#ship. 0ialogue is also the therapist)s instrument to build a relation and help the client to restore his a%areness and his ability to ma$e contact< ,G. Bontef, =>>F-. %hich allo%s the client to gain a different perspecti e "he therapeutic dialogue has a goal. "he goal is the unique therapeutic relationship of %hat he has e(perienced in other %ords a different point of ie% or also to acquaint a ne% e(perience in addition to %hat he has e(perienced so far in his social life. "he theoretical concept of dialogue in therapeutic relationship comes from the e(istentialist M. 1uber,=@8@#=>/&-. ; All real li ing is a meeting< stated M.

1uber , =>/F-. Gestalt therapy theory includes many of 1uber)s ideas. +ne of the most important is# the *# "hou concept and the distinction bet%een the *# *t and *# "hou. "he * Ait relation is the one, %here %e are interested in the outcome. *ts meaning is close to manipulation. "he *#"hou relation is a meeting, %here %e don)t $no% the other. *n order to meet the other person %e need to enter the meeting ta$ing the ris$ of feeling lost. Eeferring to Gestalt terms, the closure or the completion of a gestalt in not possible during this meeting. "he only a ailable figure in the *#"hou meeting is openness. ;*n otherness this openness is the ground from %hich %e offer oursel es to the meeting.<,S. Schoch 0e 4euforn, ?DD=,p.=&&-. "he distinction bet%een the *#"hou process and the *# "hou moment. *s analy.ed by E. 3ycner ,=>>&- . "he *#"hou moment is a special moment. "he e(perience of it pro es to the person, that he can restore his relation to the %orld. *t is the e(perience of reintegration, of ma$ing a ne% meaningful entity. *t is %hat Polster and Polster ,=>8F- call ;a contact episode<. "he *#"hou process is established in dialogue. E. 3ycner calls it also ;dialogical< or ;dialogic<. "he form of dialogue is contact. Contact4dialogue is according to M. 1uber)s principals a transcendental process. ;Contacting is in p/D-. 0uring the de elopment of Gestalt therapy as an approach G. Bontef related 1uber)s principals to the process of Gestalt therapy and suggested a list of s$ills that a therapist needs in order to build a relationship, using dialogue. *n 3. Siemen)s article9 ;0ialogue and A%arenesM< the follo%ing reflections abo e those s$ills are presented9 At first %nclusion # this term means that the therapist should be able to see the %orld through the eyes of the client. 3e needs to accept the client %ithout 'udgment or criticism. 3e needs to do the form of dialogue, the contacting process

becomes itself an e ol ing, spiraling, de elopmental process<. ,!.6acobs, =>>8

something to come closer to the %orld of the client and then pull bac$. "he ne(t comments are on (resence . Sho%ing presence means pointing out chosen aspects of the phenomenology. "he therapist should $no% %hen to sho% presence, ho% to enter into the %orld of the client and at the same time, $eep enough distance not to be completely absorbed by it. "herapist should be a%are of both his o%n, and his client)s phenomenology. Sho%ing presence should ha e a function in dialogue %ith the client. "he ery base of the relationship is )ialogue 2 the *# "hou meeting. ;"he therapist needs to use dialogue professionally, as a therapeutic instrument< in the process of therapy. 0ialogue is not 'ust a technique. Although the abo e are considered to be s$ills %hich a therapist requires, they also are e(istential meeting qualities. "he ne(t mention therapist s$ill, but also a quality of the process of meeting is awareness . A%areness in both, a method and a tool in therapy. ;A%areness can be restored through ne% e(perience< ,3. Siemens, =>>/-. "his e(perience might be co#created by therapist and client in the process of therapy, through e(periments and dialogue. "he client might gain a different phenomenology than he %as familiar %ith. 7hat the therapist does is ;to lo ingly ser e the a%areness process of the client< ,Nernon an de Eiet, after E. 6arose%ith, =>>&-. A%areness is a continuum A the first step of it is the a%areness of the outside %orld ,noises, smells etc. %ith %hich %e are in contact through our senses. "he second step is the is a%areness inside the body, the reaction of our body to the impulse and the emotional connection %ith the e(perience inside the body. "he third step concerns the fantasies %e ma$e and includes consciously reflecting oursel es ,P. Schulthess ?DD/- . Another important component of the process bet%een the client and the therapist is change.# ;Change occurs %ith supported a%areness of it< ,E. 3ycner, !. 6acobs , =>>&-. Gestalt therapy no more ta$es a%areness as a goal, but rather dialogue and relationship. A person is able to be present in the relationship %hen he:she has a%areness of it. "he process of a%areness allo%s

to respond to a situation according to one)s needs and the gi en possibilities. ;7hen one is a%are, one does not alienate aspects of one)s e(istenceK one is a %hole< ,G. Bontef, =>8/,p./8Change arri es %hen one in ests in the present e(perience %ith no 'udgment nor demand to change. "he acceptance of the *#"hou relation is the acceptance of %hat is. "his means surrender to %hat emerges in the dialogue, bet%een the therapist and the patient. *t also means that the therapist is changed by the interaction as %ell as the patient. "he interdependence bet%een a person and the en ironment concerns also the process of meeting in Gestalt therapy ,!. 5strup, ?DDD-. "he ;ho%< t%o people meet and change during this continuous process of interdependence is the creati e part.

C6A7TE. III CREATIVE ADJUSTMENT IN THERAPEUTIC RELATI NSHIP 30elationship means to contact and help people to discover how they can help themselves. %n the place where they can meet and be aware of who they are,. (5. 6elnic7$ *n this chapter the lin$s bet%een creati e ad'ustment and the therapeutic relationship %ill be presented according to ho% as they are discussed in Gestalt literature. An important affiliation bet%een contact and relationship is mentioned in Gestalt psychotherapy theory. "he process of creati ity is an aspect of relationship, e(isting bet%een the self end the en ironment. "he self is the ability of the human organism to be in contact, and contact is one of the basic roles of the therapeutic relationship A in the therapeutic relationship the therapist helps the client to restore the ability to function spontaneously, to ad'ust to the ne% aspects of the present situation in order not to repeat stereotypes, %hich might be no longer helpful. ;1eing spontaneous means to de elop the process of contact#%ithdra%al< ,M. Spagnuolo !obb, ?DD=, p.&@- "his process concerns the %hole human being and might be analy.ed on thee different le els9 "hose le els consist of the e(perience of the self . Self is a function. "his is a no elty referred by M. Spagnuolo !obb, Gestalt therapy deals %ith the fullness that comes from staying %ith the e(perience. "he therapist co creates the ability to fully e(perience the ;here and no%<. At clinical le el ;self< means that the therapist helps to restore the ability to function spontaneously, ad'usting to the no elty of the current situation, instead of repeating a stereotyped schema. "herapist goes to the positi e resources in one)s self.

"he 5d, 5go and Personality are ;special structures< of e(perience %hich the self creates for special purposes. @A T+ B, r# *- 0? "+ ( /? +n the *d le el this is the ability to identify physiological needs and needs inside the s$in, and also e(periences %hich are related to our body. *t refers to sensory and motor learning, breathing, first learning in life. 7hen there is a distortion on this le el the person does not feel the difference bet%een id and not id, that is %hat is and %hat is not related to the body e(perience. 3e:she does not ha e a clear perception of boundaries. "his is the case of psychotic patients. A psychotic patient has an enormous need for en ironment, for confluence ,does not differentiate bet%een himself and boundaries. Psychotic patients do not percei e themsel es as different. "hey fear to be dangerous for others and carry a sense of huge responsibility in front of the %orld. "hey ha e no fear to damage themsel es. A Gestalt therapist in such cases %or$s on creating ground, through rules, therapeutic setting, dialogue and e(perience. Creating ne% healthy en ironment is the goal of Gestalt therapy on this le el. "he e(perience of the self on ego le el, it is the ability to use %ill, ta$e decisions, identify or alienate %ith parts of the en ironment. +n this le el one is able to ma$e decision and identify %ith choices or alienate from them. *f the en ironment is healthy, a person at this le el achie es the ability recogni.e his:her needs and to ta$e an action to fulfill them. *f choices are healthy a person acquires this ability. 7hen action in not related %ith the persons needs the therapist needs to deal %ith the loss of ego function. "he creati e %or$ of the Gestalt therapist is to allo% e(perience of action ma$ing and gi e attention to action that %or$s %ell for the client. +n the personality le el the e(perience of the self has to do %ith the ability to ans%er the question ;%ho am *<O and ;ho% * define myself<O in relation %ith the en ironment and my life e(perience. "he creati e %or$ of the Gestalt

therapist on this le el is organi.ing e(perience in meaningful %holes, to gi e meaning to the persons) e(perience in the e(istential process of life. Follo%ing again M. Spagnulo !obb reflections ;the self is ne er passi e and ne er acti e. *t is al%ays both. *n contact, it is in the space bet%een A not in you and not in me. *t is the middle mode< ,M. Spagnuolo !obb, ?DD?-. An interesting analy.e of three boundaries %hich in themsel es and in the relationship bet%een them ma$e up the e(perience of the self is presented by P. Philipson ,?DD=-. "he first is "+ 0r>!*#()C *$#r0*) *" 90'*%!r8 D"+ I"C*0" I" ( /?C0"+ r D"+ >0E "+ IC*0" IA 90'*%!r8 A 90'*%!r8A %hich separates and lin$s the processes inside and outside my s$in. "he second is "+ responsible for the sense of self and other, %hat is my e(perience and %hat is not my e(perience. +n this boundary, the interaction is contact. "he third is "+ , r(0*!/#"8 90'*%!r8 D) C*0" ) A Aresponsible for alienating or identifying %ith some aspects of functioning. "he personality functioning includes memory and stable en ironment. "he processes here are ma$ing choices, not ma$ing choices or neurotics. Ma$ing choices includes9 life choices, commitments, alues and ethics, culture. 4eurotics is connected %ith polarities A une en perception and e(perience of polarities, fi(ed gestalt and intro'ections. Creati ity ta$es place in the dynamic bet%een the indi idual and the en ironment ;%here the self meets the other< ,6. Melnic$, S. 4e is, ?DDF-. *n this understanding the creati e process occurs in a relationship, in this case in a therapeutic relationship, in the process of contact bet%een the self and the en ironment. 4. Amend#!yon states that the creati e processes ,eg creati e ad'ustment- ;are triggered in no man)s land, at the contact boundary< ,4. Amend#!yon, ?DDF-. FA T+ -0*"!-" 90'*%!r8

"he relation bet%een the patient and the therapist includes t%o modalities A the content and the conte-t of both the therapist and the patient. ;"herapist and patient both interact in the process and are in the process. "he focus, or the figure, change during the process of dialogue< ,M. 0enes, =>@D-. "he process of change and transformation of the self in contact %ith the en ironment is creati e ad'ustment ,6. Melnic$, S. 4e is, ?DDF-. "he process of psychotherapy is a contact %ithdra% process %here both therapist and client are in ol ed. Creati e ad'ustment occurs on the contact boundary, in ;no man)s land< bet%een them. the differences bet%een them. *n clinical practice, according to 6. M. Eobin ,?DD=- contact in Gestalt therapy is follo%ing the mo ements to%ards differentiation and to%ards integration in the field. "herapist either helps to open to clients) e(perience options to%ards the integration of the field or to%ards the differentiation of it. All the %or$ is concentrated on the balance bet%een them. According to P. Philippson ,?DD=- reflections about meeting for the first time a client on the mentioned three boundaries le els, a therapist should concentrate on the follo%ing9 At the %d boundary1 0oes the client allo% himself the moment of not $no%ing, of not ma$ing figureO 0oes he allo% himself to see %hat emerges or does he ha e a $ind of stereotyped figure ,fi(ed Gestalt- he usesO *f he allo%s *d then he has to become creati e in that moment A he has freedom %ith the an(iety of that freedom, he has also to be a%are of his freedom and the confusion it brings so he can ac$no%ledge his free %ill. Same questions and processes concern the therapist. "herapist has to be able to loo$ %ithout attaching anything, since the meaning of %hat happens in the process has to be created together "herapist and client might communicate from their common e(perience. "hey find the boundaries from

At the ego (self4other $ boundary the questions are9 7hat $ind of choices does the client ma$eO 7hat does he e(pect from meO 3o% does he e(press thatO 3o% is the self:other process bet%een usO And from the therapist part9 3o% do * e(perience myself %anting him to beO 7hat do * li$e and %hat * don)t li$eO 3o% open am * to different aspects of his lifeO At the personality boundary A is the client)s personality supporti e and open to changes through ne% e(periences or is it rather a range of fi(ed beha iours and intro'ectsO 0o those intro'ect permit the client to e(periment %ith ne% beha ioursO +r is he committed to the old attitudes %hich do not allo% him effecti e functioning todayO "he contact boundary is made up of contact functions. "he functioning of a client can be obser ed by the therapist upon the use of contact functions. ;*n therapy %e obser e the appearance, erbal, auditory, mo ement and touching contact functions< ,G. 0elisle , =>>>-. *n the contact cycle dysfunctions might be obser ed in the phases of sensation, a%areness, mobili.ation, action, final contact and %ithdra%al. "he dysfunctions are maintained through resistance and ad'ustment to contact and also by not ma$ing appropriate use of one)s support system ,cogniti e, emoti e and beha ioural see appendi( @-.

C6A7TE. I< E!EMPLI"ICATI N "R M CASE STUDIES &he therapist 3has to love the client on a very basic level, in a very simple manner. &he therapist should love the human being before him < ,6. Iin$er, =>>8-. Gestalt therapy from the beginning and in its history %as ery much based on a%areness. Social condition and changes contributed to changes in Gestalt therapy approach. 4o%adays it is much more concentrated on contact and process. Contact ma$ing is a primary concern. "he therapist should be a%are of contact ma$ing, obser e %hat the contact does to the other person, find the strength and ulnerabilities of the therapeutic situation. "his is part of the process of therapy. *n this chapter e(amples of creati e ad'ustment in therapeutic relationship as e(perienced in Gestalt therapy practice %ill be presented. "he first case %hich %ill be presented and discussed comes from therapy %ith a & year old girl, %ith mental and speech retardation and beha iour problems. She poorly communicates erbally, pronounces ery fe% %ords and communicates miming things and situations. Mother comes to therapy as$ing for speech impro ement. "he girl does not %ant to come, gi es parents difficult time t%ice a %ee$ %hen is time to go to therapy. 7hen she does not obtain %hat she %ants she screams and bites. She beha es li$e described also at home, at family friends during isiting, in super mar$et creating situation %here parents are at big discomfort and manipulating them. 3er perception of boundary is ague she does not feel other people personal space.

She does not ha e the ability to identify her needs, she has no sense of s$in boundaries. 3er touch is hea y and she does not respond %ell to guiding by touch. She often steps on other people coming to close, she %al$s unbendingly, her mo ements are stiff, her body is ery tense. She has no sense of her body strength. She actually is ery strong for her age and misuses the strength. Contact ma$ing %ith A. %as a challenge since she had negati e reaction to e ery trial to start an acti ity, no matter if it %as related to speech , beha iour or play. "he girl is in therapy for o er t%o years no% and she starts percei ing and respecting rules of the therapeutic setting. *n this case it means %or$ing:playing for about CD minutes %ith the therapist %ithout calling her mother, lea ing the office %ithout screaming and ta$ing some ob'ects %ith her, playing %ith one toy or one acti ity at the time and communicating her needs %ithout pulling the therapist hair nor hitting her. "he creati e ad'ustment in this relation from the therapist part %as establishing physical boundaries A sessions %here the main impact %as on the physical place client and therapist occupied during the session ;this is my pillo% and this is yours< ,<this is your boo$ for today and this is mine<. ;* %rite on my paper A this is my paper and this is yours<. ;today %e %ill play in this room only<. Parallel parts of the therapeutic inter ention %ere sessions %ith the mother of the child, during A.)s therapy hours. Mother %ould meet a therapist colleague e ery =& days and %or$ on issues related to the girls) beha iour and mothers feeling about it. Possible inter ention to be done outside therapy sessions %ere discussed there as much as the need of a full de elopmental diagnose. Another part of creati e ad'usting procedure in this case %as doing social %or$ and research in order to find an appropriate school place for the girl. "his included calling schools and ma$ing appointment %ith the girls mother. Contact ma$ing %ith this client is still an issue. *mpro ement in boundary perception is isible, the girls cuddles up to therapist instead of pulling hair or hand. She stars being a%are of her physical strength. She comes to session regularly and %or$s doing speech e(ercises for about =D, =& minutes

e ery time, reacting to %hat therapist as$s her. "%o isits on three the girl comes and lea es quietly %ithout anger outburst %hich therapist and parent agreed to ignore. "he de elopment of personality of this girl is stuc$ at the negation le el and this does not allo% her to e(periment %ith ne% beha iors. 3er ;no; attitude stops also the child)s de elopment procedure. Ad'usting to this pattern creati ely included commitment to %or$ again and again on the same issues introducing rules in and out of therapy, li$e ;session duration is C& minutes and then you lea e< or ;%e %ill play %ith dough for =& minutes and then %e %ill do speech e(ercises for & minutes in front of the mirror<. *n case she still did not %ant to %or$, therapist %ould do e(ercises as a demo and as$ the girl e ery time to repeat, e en if she %ouldn)t listen. "he girl %as also allo%ed to ta$e home %ith her one chosen ob'ect, usually a toy, of her choice %hich she %ould bring bac$ on the ne(t session. "his system required the parents cooperation and in ol ement. 5 ery session %hich %ent %ell %as re%arded by therapist and parents by ery good %ords, sometimes stic$ers the girls collects or small toys. "he most difficult part of ad'usting to contact ma$ing for the therapist here %as dealing %ith the feeling of anger to the client and disappointment %hen therapeutic inter ention brought no result. Creati e in this case meant introducing one by one rules of beha iour, and repeating them again and again until they %ere percei ed and accepted by the client. "he second case %hich %ill be presented here is the case of a CD year old man %ho came to therapy because of feeling depressed. 0uring the first %ee$s of therapy he continued feeling %orse so he %as referred to a colleague psychiatrist ,%as diagnosed bipolar maniac depressi e disorder- and started ta$ing medications. Psychotherapy during this period %as concentrated on support. "he creati e part here %as in ol ing in therapy the clients %ife ,she started psychotherapy %ith a colleague psychologist-. +ther creati e

inter entions %ere couple session %ith t%o therapist so a holistic approach to the case %as possible. *mportant part of this therapeutic setting %as also consulting the case %ith the psychiatrist on regular bases. 0uring therapy after a phase %hen things %ere going %ell and client seemed to be ready to %or$ on personal themes in therapy he suddenly got ery depressed again, stopped %or$ing, stopped going out of the house. 3e called therapist to tell he is not going out of the house and %ill not attend therapy sessions for a %hile. A creati e inter ention at that time %as going out of the regular therapeutic setting and rules and calling the client at home. A transcript of the phone con ersation follo%s9 "herapist 9 ;3i M., this is 6oanna. * called to as$ ho% are you doingO< Client9 ; things are really bad. * donPt go out almost at all. * stay in the house mo ing from the bed to the couch. * cannot thin$ clearly. *t is ery hea y and stressful. * don)t ans%er my cell phone because *)m afraid it is a client. And * cannot %or$ right no%. * don)t ans%er the phone also. * pic$ed it up because my %ife told me she %ill call at =@.FD so * thought it %as her.< "herapist9 ;* can hear also in your oice you are not %ell. * %ant to as$ you if you %ould li$e to mo e our session to your place until you feel better. * could isit you in your house for a session. 3o% do you feel about thatO< Client9< no, * don)t thin$ this is a good idea< "herapist9< %ould you li$e to thin$ about itM.O< Client9 ;4o, * don)t %ant to. * %ill come to see you %hen * am ready. * %ill call you<. "herapist9< +$ M. *f you change your mind or need anything you can call me. * %ill be %aiting to hear from you. ; *n this case %here the client does not e(ploit ery much his support system ,he has $no%ledge about his medical condition, $no%s the prognoses for it, has discussed %ith psychiatrist the consequences of stopping medical treatment or continuing for pre enting depressi e episodes. 3e could not use this

$no%ledge at that time, he could not accept his condition. 3is en ironment %as ery supporti e. 3e could see it but could not feel for them. Client %ould not e(periment %ith ne% solution nor ne% beha iours e en %hen therapist %as ery directi e and his attitudes %ould not allo% him to function in e eryday life ,could not %or$, help in the house nor going out-. "he client)s choice %as to come to therapy and then %ait for changes to happen ;* %ill tell you about it %hen * feel a little better< or ;%e %ill discuss this another time no% * don)t ha e the strength<. At the ego boundary the process of therapy %as stuc$ at a ague support le el and both therapist and client %ere %aiting for some result of medical treatment to start therapy. Client %hen depressed %as closing up to any contact %ith outside %orld and after the antidepressant started %or$ing %as so high that %as in ol ed only %ith his %or$ at a ery fast pace. "herapist e(perienced herself %anting the client to fight a little bit more for his impro ement %hich %as accompanied %ith a feeling of disappointment. At the id le el client had a fi(ed Gestalt on reacting to situation of ta$ing responsibility for his feelings. 3e often referred feeling strong fears %hich did not allo% him to go out of bed into the %orld. 3e could not specify %hat he fears. Follo%ing the mo ement to%ard integration and to%ard differentiation in the field %as e(tremely difficult in this case. "he ne(t case to be analy.ed is the ?D years old 5. coming from a different country. 3er mother language is different from the language of the therapist but they share common culture bac$ground and e(perience. "his factor %as ery helpful in building a relationship bet%een client and therapist. Creati e ad'ustment in this relation included finding the best possible erbal %ay to communicate. "herapist and client agreed on e(perimenting spea$ing in different languages and finding the %ay %hich clients feels at ease and therapist is able to understand %ell.

Client9< * though %e could spea$ Gree$ from no% on because *)m ta$ing lessons and it %ill also help me socially9 "herapist9< +$, *)m fine %ith both languages. 7e could e(periment for today)s session and see ho% %e both feel %ith that. 3o% does that sound to youO< Client9 ;*)m o$, let)s try it for today< After a fe% sessions 5. as$s9 Client9< * thought * could spea$ my o%n language so * can e(press myself better and you could spea$ yours. ,+ur mother languages are indeed similar enough and %ith some practice this could be done"herapist9 ;*)m a little bit hesitant about thatM.. 1ut still %e can try it. !et)s start our session as you say and see ho% it goesM< And after sometime during the same session9 "herapist9 ;*)m sorry * cannot do it this %ay. *)m to much concentrated on trying to understand the %ords and * cannot see nor feel anything else. Could %e s%itch bac$ to 5nglish or Gree$O< Client9< *t)s a pity. !et)s try bac$ in Gree$ then<. After a fe% more session %e found a satisfactory model to communicate. 7e spea$ basically Gree$. *f one of us misses something %e get help from other languages including body language. *n this case the client ma$es a ery good use of the cogniti e support system. 2no%ledge helps to maintain contact and ad'ust to ne% situation. "he usage of the system is no rigid, changes according to clients and therapist)s needs. Client)s personality is open to changes and e(perimenting. She e(pects from me help in issues concerning her ad'ustment to ne% en ironment and a ne% life style. She also e(pects support, understanding and ad ice from a person %ho is not connected %ith her e eryday social cycle. She e(presses that erbally as$ing ;* %ant to as$ you about that dinner * arranged. 7hen you tell me ho% you feel about %hat * describe it helps me to understand better. * feel more respect for my actions<M ;* need from you to as$ me more question because

sometimes you as$ about thin$s * could not find searching by myselfMso question help me to loo$ in other areas that * had in mind so far<. *n this therapeutic relation therapist feels the process ery intensely. Eelation %as build fast during crises. "herapist e(periences herself %anting the client ;to ma$e it< in a ne% en ironment, ne% life style, ne% and difficult lo e relationship, ne% 'ob and in therapy %ith a ne% therapist. At the id le el A client allo%s herself the moment of not $no%ing e en though some stereotypes, especially concerning self esteem and respect often emerge during the process of therapy. *n therapy she allo%s the uncertainty to emerge and is open to e(perimenting ne% beha iours. "he case %hich follo%s comes from a ery different therapeutic setting %hich is detention unit for illegal aliens. "here the purpose of the psychologist presence is crisis inter ention and support. Eelations are build quic$ly and are quite intense. *nter ention is fast and might be the only time therapist and client see each other. Contact ma$ing is a challenge since sometimes a translator is needed, other times contact has to be done %ithout spea$ing. From the therapist part creati e is ad'usting to all the setting included open doors and a guard outside sometimes listening, interruption of e ery $ind during a meeting %ith a client, tal$ing about %anting to die %ith a translator, forgetting about the right of confidentiality because of circumstances. Creati ity here means mainly finding a %ay to ma$e contact and communicate immediately. *n the case of 3. it %as trying to pronounce some %ords in Arabic, %hich %as his nati e language. 3. has been in prison for se eral years before he has been transferred to the detention unit. "he time he %ould stay in the unit could not be defined since his deportation %as impossible ,his country is at %ar-.3e started suffering from bad insomnia e(cept his health problem. 3. is a caring person he %ould persuade inmates to come to see the doctor if they %ere not feeling %ell and

translate for them %hen there %as need. 3e %ould understand %hat people %ho %ere arrested go through and %as a fatherly figure. 3e is &? years old. Creati e inter ention from the therapist part in this case %as calling Ahmed in the doctor)s office e ery time a translation from Arabic %as needed. Another part of it %as as$ing 3. to $eep an eye at other patient during afternoon and sometimes night hours. *n ol ing Ahmed in ta$ing care of others helped him to feel better. 3is presence %as ery helpful for therapist during session %ith other patients since a relation of trust has partially already been built bet%een 3., %ho %as the translator, and the other patient. "he issue of insomnia reappeared and 3. disclosed that he %as doing drugs in the past. 3e %as abused by them. 3ere is the con ersation %hich follo%ed9 "herapist 9 ;soMho% long ha e you been doing drugsO< Client 9 ;for many yearsM.after that * %ent to prison Mbut *) m clean no%< "herapist9 ;Bou understand that starting medicine for impro ing your sleep might bring you bac$ to abuse, don)t youO< Client9 ;* $no% that. *)m ery tired. * need to get some sleep. * promise you * %ill not ta$e more than one pill at night, the one %hich the doctor %ill prescribe< "herapist9 ;*t is your decision. * trust you. * also appreciate ery much %hat you are doing here. *)m 'ust %orried you might go bac$ to a condition %hich %ill not be good for you<. Client9 ;"han$ you for caring about meM.< *n this case the goal of therapy is ma$ing a contact %hich by itself %ill be supporti e in a difficult life situation, %hen circumstances cannot be changed. 3er therapist percei es herself %anting the client to ta$e care and protect himself. 0uring the session she passes using humor. Client responds to this $ind of contact ma$ing. At the same time therapist finds difficult to be open to aspect of client)s life %hich ha e to do %ith his being prisoner and doing drugs, especially since the reason of being arrested %as ne er mentioned. "herapist has a difficult time

dealing %ith her o%n stereotypes of ;a prisoner< and respecting the fact 3. %ould not tal$ about his past e(perience related to that. Client is a%are of his needs and of rules of contact ma$ing in the detention unit)s doctor)s office. 3is ability to organi.e past e(perience allo%s him to ad'ust to e eryday reality and also help other people.

CONCLUSION "he concept of creati e ad'ustment is ery significant in Gestalt therapy theory and practice. *t also is described as an essential factor in de elopment and in the %ay a person can function, communicate and meet or a oid contact in his:her en ironment. 5 ery $ind of reaction is creati e ad'ustment, at least at its beginning, %hen it ser es a specific purpose. *t stops being efficient %hen becomes a ;fi(ed gestalt< no longer ser ing the best interest of the person. "he process of creati e ad'ustment concerns both, the therapist and the client and is a crucial part of the therapeutic relationship. Creati e ad'ustment occurs in the space< in bet%een<, %here the therapist and the client meet, and requires from both parts9 commitment, openness, ability to respond, trust. "he therapist is responsible for acting according to his $no%ledge, code of ethics in the best interest of the client. "he therapist and the client are both responsible for the process of therapy, for the meeting at the contact boundary %here they both change in the process of creati e ad'ustment. *n the first and second chapter the literature re ie% concerning the concept of creati e ad'ustment and therapeutic relationship %as presented. *n chapter three the connection bet%een creati e ad'ustment and therapeutic relationship is described, specifically e(posing the e(perience of the self and on the contact boundary. *n the last chapter cases from therapist)s practice illustrating the process of creating ad'ustment in therapeutic relationship are presented. *n all the described cases the need of ad'ustment concerned both A the therapist and the client, on beha ioral, cogniti e and emotional le el. "his includes $no%ledge, e(perience in %ays of ma$ing inter entions, a%areness of the self and the process. *n therapist)s understanding the most helpful in contact ma$ing is commitment, trust in the process and sharing of the ;here and no%< e(perience. 5mpathy and common e(perience %ith the client is also helpful, %hen therapist is a%are of it. "he most difficult and at the same time, the most efficient is

sharing the ob ious and the simple in a %ay, that can meet and benefit both persons in ol ed in the relationship.

SU55A.= 10!**! 2!"0 GCr !"#$ A%&'(") *" #* T+ r!, '"#- . /!"#0*(+#,H 1eing partial fulfilment of the requirements for the title of Gestalt Psychotherapist in Gestalt Foundation, Athens "he purpose of this dissertation %as to present the concept of creati e ad'ustment and therapeutic relationship %ith emphasis on affiliation bet%een those t%o concepts as published in Gestalt literature as %ell as sho% samples of creati e ad'ustment in a relation bet%een patient and therapist as e(perienced in Gestalt psychotherapy practice. *n the first chapter %hat Gestalt therapy is including its basic meanings and $ey %ords is briefly described. "he description is follo%ed by a literature re ie% on the meaning of creati ity, a portrayal of a creati e therapist, a re ie% of the understanding of the terms ;ad'ustment< and ;creati e ad'ustment< in Gestalt therapy. "he philosophical trends %hich had impact on the mentioned abo e terms ha e also been presented. Chapter t%o contains information about the role and the characteristics of the therapeutic relationship including the *# "hou concept, the description of contact and a%areness as it is understood in Gestalt therapy. *n this chapter the therapist)s tas$ and responsibilities to%ards the client and the influences the society might ha e on a therapeutic relationship ha e been described. *n chapter three the affiliation bet%een contact and relationship ha e been presented and are follo%ed by the description and the e(perience of the self formation. *ts relation to the contact boundary as referred in Gestalt literature is also mentioned. Finally in chapter four an illustration of creati e ad'ustment in therapeutic relationship is presented. "he described e(amples come from therapist)s e(perience. "he descriptions are based on notes from therapeutic sessions.

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A,, *%#B @ UNDE.STANDING OF .ESISTANCES I 6 r9 S" $ *(0* DFJJKA . (#("!*- ( *ntro'ection "a$ing in or s%allo%ing an e(perience Q%hole.Q 4ot filtering e(periences for %hat resonates %ith personal truth. 1eing naR e or gullibleK e.g. parental guidance of ho% to safely %al$ across the street is a positi e intro'ection. Attributing oneSs o%n feelings or actions to another. 1laming. For e(ample, unable to ac$no%ledge that %hite is a form of race and loo$ing to define race ia people of colour, instead of in deathly loo$ing to understand %hat it means to be %hite by loo$ing at the larger population as %ell as one)s life. A oiding direct contact %ith another person. For e(ample, using 'o$es to bloc$ the seriousness of a situation or to ignore a compliment. "he inability to differentiate oneself. For e(ample, merging %ith othersS opinions to a oid ha ing to ta$e a position, often percei ed as a ;yes< person %ith no personal opinion. 4umbing sensations. For e(ample, a oiding a%areness physically, emotionally or mentally. 0issociating.

Pro'ection

0eflection

Confluence

0esensiti.ation

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A,, *%#B F .ESISTANCES IN GESTALT I S; G#*> r D@LLMA

C0 *?/' *-

I*"r 0& "#0*

7r0 & -" #0*

. " r0?/ -"# 0*

D ?/ -"#0 *

7r0 ?/ "#0*

E>0 "#( )

+thers ,en ironment-0*"!-" 90'*%!r8 me ,organism-

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A,, *%#B N CONTACT ST=LES I G; 4+ / r D@LL@A Confluence Pro'ection *ntro'ection Eetroflection 0esensiti.ation 5goism0eflection 8s. 8s. vs. vs. ,or vs. vs. 0ifferentiation Eetention, literalness Che%ing, destructuring 5(change, encounter Merging, yielding Focusing, concentration

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A,, *%#B K

T6E CONTACT 4IT6D.A4AL C=CLE D7; C/!rO(0*A

"35 CBC!5 +F G5S"A!" F+EMA"*+4 A40 05S"EUCC"*+4 "he a%areness cycle "he contact and %ithdra%al cycle "he need and satisfaction cycle choice and implementation of appropriate AC"*+4 phase of contact full and ibrant F*4A! C+4"AC"

M+1*!*IA"*+4 and e(citement phase of contact

SELF

SA"*SFAC"*+4 or post#contact and gestalt completion

A7AE545SS of emerging social o biological need fore#contact phase

7*"30EA7A! or organism at rest S54SA"*+4 fore#contac

EN<I.ON5ENT

A,, *%#B M T6E O.GANIS5CEN<I.ON5ENT 3OUNDA.=

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DT6E ITCNOT IT 3OUNDA.=A P Philippson P, ,?DD=- "hree 1oundaries of Self#Formation. Contact and Eelationship in a Field Perspecti e. G"in, l)e(primerie, 1ordeau(
r#anism$envir%nment &%undar'( it$n%t it

Field

boundary process G interaction B, r# *4ot my e(perience

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A,, *%#B Q T6E SELFCOT6E. 3OUNDA.= DT6E EGOE T6E ICNOT I 3OUNDA.=A Philippson P, ,?DD=- "hree 1oundaries of Self#Formation. Contact and Eelationship in a Field Perspecti e. G"in, l)e(primerie, 1ordeau(

Se)*$%t+er &%undar'

%r

E#% &%undar'( I$n%t I

+ther,figure-

+ther ,ground-

Self

boundary process G contact

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A,, *%#B R T6E 7E.SONALIT= 3OUNDA.= D5ECNOT 5EA Philippson P, ,?DD=- "hree 1oundaries of Self#Formation. Contact and Eelationship in a Field Perspecti e. G"in, l)e(primerie, 1ordeau( Pers%na)it' &%undar'( me$ n%t me Memory Stable en ironment 7ill Autonomy 4ot me

Me

1oundary processes C+0#- ?'/ Safe choices N 'r0"#Polarities

Commitments Splittings Nalues:ethics Fi(ed gestalts Culture C*G Press, +tta%a T+e ,i%)%#ica) Su--%rt S'stem( O *ntro'ects A,, *%#B S GS',,0r" (8(" )(H: 0elisle G, ,=>>>- Personality 0isorders.

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30* ("r'-"'r ( P bones might be used as le ers and %ay toput strain on them can result in in'ury. T+ )'(-'/!r (8(" )E I can be used to establish contact %ith the en ironment or to retroflect. T+ r (,#r!"0r8 (8(" ) P the dispenser of energy. 3olding breath interferes %ith the circulation of energy, pre ents e(citement and transforms into an(iety. T+e C%#nitive Su--%rt S'stem "his mode is the locus for assigning a meaning to something. "hin$, reflect, plan, anali.e or remember. "herapy concentrates on ho% thought can influence the mobili.ation and channeling of energy. "herapist uses thoughts for cogniti e reframing and restructuring. T+e Em%tive Su--%rt S'stem "his mode consist of the range of feelings %e are capable of e(periencing9 fear, 'oy, sadness, anger. +ur capacity to reason lucidly may be diminished or restricted depending on %hether the feelings %ith %hich %e approach a gi en situation are more or less recent or significant. T+e ,e+avi%ra) Su--%rt S'stem "his is a set of contact functions. "he beha ioral pole is another representation of the contact boundary. T+e Inter-ers%na) Su--%rt S'stem "his is a net%or$ of friends or acquaintances. "he quality of this net%or$ is frequently an indicator of the indi idual self esteem and opinion about himself.

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.EFE.ENCES Amendt#!yon 4, ,=>>?- "he "heory of Gestalt "herapy. *n 4e is 5, C 5d9 Gestalt "herapy Perspecti es and Applications. Gestalt *nstitute of Cle eland Arthur Mc ", ,=>@8- !ongman dictionary of Contemporary 5nglish. !ongman Group U2 !imited Clar$son P, ,?DDD- Gestalt Psychotherapy. Sage Publication !td 1eisser A, ,=>8D- "he Parado(ical "heory of Change. *n Fagan , Sheperd Gestalt "herapy 4o%, 3arper Colophon 1oo$ 1uber M, ,=>/8- "he $no%ledge of Man, George Allan T Un%in !td 1uber M, ,=>/8- 1et%een Man and Man. "he Macmillian Comp., 4.B. 0ass E, ,=>8C- "he +nly 0ance "here *s. 4e% Bor$9 Achor 1oo$s 0elisle G, ,=>>>- Personality 0isorders. C*G Press, +tta%a 0enes M, ,=>@D- "he Gestalt 6ournal Nol.F 4o = 0iagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental 0isorders 0SM#*N#"E, ,?DDD- American Psychiatric Association 0oubra%a 5, ,?DD=- "he Gestalt 6ournal ,Spring5strup !, ,=>>&- !i 5strupUaol.com 5strup !, ,?DDD- 7hat s 1ehind "he 5mpty Chair, SA Fagan 6, ,=>8D- Gestalt "herapy 4o%. 3arper Colophon 1oo$s Friedman M, ,=>8/- 3ealing trough meeting9 a dialogical approach to psychotherapy and family therapy. *n 5. Smith ,5d.Psychiatry and the humanities , ol. =-. 4e% 3a en. Bale Uni ersity Press Giamarelou Gianna, ,?DD/- open discussion Gilbert M. C, 5 ans 2, ,?DDC- super%i.'a % psychoterapii. Gdans$ie 7yda%nic%to Psychologic.ne

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Ginger S, ,?DDC- Gestalt S.tu$a $onta$tu. Polish edition 6ace$ Santors$i TCo Gordon 7 6 6, ,=>/=- Synecticts. 4e% Bor$. Macmillan 3ycner 3, 6acobs !, ,=>>&- the 3ealing Eelationship in Gestalt "herapy. Gestalt 6ournal Press, USA ,3ighbud- 4B 6arose%ith E, ,=>>&- Gestalt 0ialogue 4o ?, May Melnic$ 6, ,?DDC-About Gestalt. Gestalt Ee ie%, Nol.@ 4o. = +a$lander N, 7indo%s to +ur Children, =>8@ Eeal People Press Parlett M, ,?DDD- Creati e Ad'ustment and the Global Field. 1ritish Gestalt 6ournal Nol. > 4o. = Perls F, 3efferline E F, Goodman P, ,=>&=- Gestalt "herapy. !ondon. Sou enir Press Perls F, 3efferline E, Goodman P, ,=>8?- Gestalt "herapy 5(citement and Gro%th in the 3uman Personality. Great 1ritain Sou enir Press !td. Philippson P, ,?DD=- "hree 1oundaries of Self#Formation. Contact and Eelationship in a Field Perspecti e. G"in, l)e(primerie, 1ordeau( Philippson P, ,?DD=- Self in Eelation, "he Gestalt South Press Polster 5, Polster M, ,=>8F- Gestalt therapy integrated9 Contours of theory and practice. 4e% Bor$9 1runner:Ma.el Schoch 0e 4euforn S, ,?DD=- Gestalt Ee ie% &,?-, "he Analityc Press Schulthess P, ,?DD/- !ecture ;!i ing Gestalt9 3o% Gestalt principles can guide our e eryday life< Pilio, Greece Siemens 3, ,=>>/- 0ialogue and A%areness "%o essential elements of contact in Gestalt therapy. 4ederlandse Stichting Gestalt 5ducational 0epartment, Amsterdam

Siemens 3, ,?DDF- !ecture. "hessaloni$i VWX Siemens 3, ,?DDC- "raining T Super ision Program for Ad anced Gestalt "herapists. "hessaloni$i Spagnuolo !obb M, Amendt#!yon 4,eds.- ,?DDF- Creati e !icence "he Art of Gestalt "herapy. Spinger#Nerlag 7ien 4e% Bor$ Spagnuolo !obb M, ,?DD=- Contact and Eelationship in a Field Perspecti e. G"in, l)e(primerie, 1ordeau( 7ertheimer M, ,=>/C- Produ$ti es 0en$en. 2ramer, Fran$furt a. M 7heeler G, ,=>>@- A Gestalt de elopmental model. 1ritish Gestalt 6ournal 8 ,?-9 Balom *. 0, ,?DDF- 0ar terapii. *nstytut Pychologii Idro%ia. P"P 7ars.a%a Bontef, G, Sim$ins 6.S, ,=>@>-Current Psychotherpies. Corsini T 7edding Bontef G, ,=>>F- A%arness, 0ialogue and Process. 5ssays in Gestalt "herapy. 3eighland9 Gestalt 6ournal Press Iin$er 6, ,=>88- Creati e process in Gestalt "herapy. Eandom 3ouse, *nc. 4e% Bor$