Intro to Gestalt Theory Syllabus

El Schoepf

Intro to Gestalt Theory Syllabus by El Schoepf is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Contents

- Part I. Gestalt Course Map

- 1. Dialogue and Phenomenological Inquiry

- 2. Paradoxical Theory of Change and Creative Adjustment

- 3. Intro to the contact cycle

- 4. Contact disturbance: Introjection

- 5. Contact disturbance: Projection

- 6. Contact disturbance: Confluence

- 7. Contact disturbance: Deflection

- 8. Contact disturbance: Retroflection

- 9. Putting it all together: Embodiment and Field Theory

- Collected Bibliography

I

Gestalt Course Map

Directions for Use

Use the templates in each chapter to build the course map for your course. In the course map, you will sequence your learning outcomes into modules/weeks and specify your course materials, learning experiences, and assignments/assessments. This map will help guide you as you develop and build the modules of your course.

Refer to the “Intro to the contact cycle” chapter for a complete module map. All other modules/chapters include outlines and reading lists only.

Student Learning Outcomes (Course Learning Outcomes)

1. Identify Gestalt values/philosophy

2. Describe the “contact cycle” process

3. Identify and differentiate “disturbances to contact”

4. Devise solutions to “disturbances to contact” through role playing and analyzing case examples

5. Reflect on the impact of applying Gestalt concepts by responding to weekly journal prompts

1

Dialogue and Phenomenological Inquiry

Satisfies SLO/CLO #1 ( Identify Gestalt values/philosophy)

Reading

- Hycner, R. & Jacobs, L. (1995). The healing relationship in Gestalt therapy: A dialogic/self psychology approach. Highland, NY: The Gestalt Journal Press.

- Chapter 1, The Dialogic Ground, pp. 3-2

- Chapter 3, Dialogue in Gestalt Theory and Therapy,  pp. 51-84

- Chapter 4, Simone: Existential Trust and Mistrust, pp. 85-89

- Polster, E., & Polster, M. (1974). Gestalt Therapy Integrated: Contours of Theory & Practice. New York: Vintage Books.

- Experiment, pp. 233-284

Learning Experience

- Lecture (powerpoint)

Assignment

- Journal prompt

2

Paradoxical Theory of Change and Creative Adjustment

Satisfies SLO/CLO #1 (Identify Gestalt values/philosophy)

Reading

- Yontef, G. (2005). Gestalt Theory of Change. In A. Woldt, A. & S. Toman (Eds.), Gestalt Therapy: History, Theory and Practice (pp. 217-236). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publishing.

- Flying without wings documentary (https://livestrup.com/flying-without-wings/) [see trailer below]

A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: https://ubalt.pressbooks.pub/gestalttheorysyllabus/?p=27

Learning Experience

- Lecture (powerpoint)

Assignment

- Journal prompt

3

Intro to the contact cycle

Satisfies SLO/CLO #2 (Describe the “contact cycle” process)

Reading

- Polster, E., & Polster, M. (1974). Gestalt Therapy Integrated: Contours of Theory & Practice. New York: Vintage Books.

- Chapter 1: The Now Ethos, up to pp. 23

- Chapter 8: Awareness, pp. 207-232

- “The Gestalt Cycle” video:

A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: https://ubalt.pressbooks.pub/gestalttheorysyllabus/?p=30

Learning Experience

- Lecture: Gestalt Guest Lecture 2020.10.08

A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: https://ubalt.pressbooks.pub/gestalttheorysyllabus/?p=30

Assignment

- Journal prompt: write about a time when you (or a client) were aware of experiencing a contact cycle.

4

Contact disturbance: Introjection

Satisfies SLO/CLO #3 (Identify and differentiate “disturbances to contact”)

Reading

- Polster, E., & Polster, M. (1974). Gestalt Therapy Integrated: Contours of Theory & Practice. New York: Vintage Books.

- Chapter 4: The Commerce of Resistance (Introjection section only), pp 72-78

Learning Experience

- Option to do hot seat work with the instructor

Assignment

- Journal prompt: What introjects are you aware of having? What is it like to become aware of them?

5

Contact disturbance: Projection

Satisfies SLO/CLO #3 (Identify and differentiate “disturbances to contact”)

Reading

- Polster, E., & Polster, M. (1974). Gestalt Therapy Integrated: Contours of Theory & Practice. New York: Vintage Books.

- Chapter 4, pp. 78-82

Learning Experience

- Projection flash cards exercise

- Option to do hot seat work with the instructor

Assignment

- Journal prompt: Think about a time when you projected your version of truth onto someone else’s experience. How did that happen? What support did you need in order to re-own the projection?

6

Contact disturbance: Confluence

Satisfies SLO/CLO #3 (Identify and differentiate “disturbances to contact”)

Reading

- Polster, E., & Polster, M. (1974). Gestalt Therapy Integrated: Contours of Theory & Practice. New York: Vintage Books.

- Chapter 4: The Commerce of Resistance (Introjection section only), pp 92-97

Learning Experience

- Option to do hot seat work with the instructor

Assignment

- Journal prompt: Think about your experience so far in the class/group. How do you experience confluence?

7

Contact disturbance: Deflection

Satisfies SLO/CLO #3 (Identify and differentiate “disturbances to contact”)

Reading

- N/A

Learning Experience

- Option to do hot seat work with the instructor

Assignment

- Journal prompt: N/A

8

Contact disturbance: Retroflection

Satisfies SLO/CLO #3 (Identify and differentiate “disturbances to contact”)

Reading

- Polster, E., & Polster, M. (1974). Gestalt Therapy Integrated: Contours of Theory & Practice. New York: Vintage Books.

- Chapter 4. The Commerce of Resistance. Retroflection, pp. 82-89

- Kepner, J. I. (1987). Body Process: A Gestalt Approach. New York: Gestalt Institute of Cleveland Press.

- Chapter 4. Action and Body Process, pp. 146-164

Learning Experience

- Balancing feather exercise

- Option to do hot seat work with the instructor

Assignment

- Journal prompt: Think about a time when you retroflected. Describe the process that you went through.

9

Putting it all together: Embodiment and Field Theory

Satisfies SLO/CLO #4 (Devise solutions to “disturbances to contact” through role playing and analyzing case examples)

Reading

- Francesetti, G. (2015). From individual symptoms to psychopathological fields. Towards a field perspective on clinical human suffering. British Gestalt Journal, 24(1), 5-19.

- O’Koon (Latuch), B. D. (2020). Thoughts on Microaggression, Socio-Cultural Trauma and the Phenomenological Field, A Discussion Paper. New Gestalt Voices, 1-10.

Learning Experience

- Case studies

Assignment

- N/A

1

Collected Bibliography

Estrup, L. (Director). (2015). Flying Without Wings: Life with Arnold Beisser [Motion picture].

Francesetti, G. (2015). From individual symptoms to psychopathological fields. Towards a field perspective on clinical human suffering. British Gestalt Journal, 24(1), 5-19.

Gehlert, T. (2020). System-Aufstellungen und ihre naturwissenschaftliche Begründung: Grundlage für eine innovative Methode zur Entscheidungsfindung in der Unternehmensführung. Wiesbaden, Germany: Springer Nature. Retrieved from https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/23154

“The Gestalt Cycle.” (2016, September 05). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZyF0JsyreM

Hycner, R. & Jacobs, L. (1995). The healing relationship in Gestalt therapy: A dialogic/self psychology approach. Highland, NY: The Gestalt Journal Press.

Kepner, J. I. (1987). Body Process: A Gestalt Approach. New York: Gestalt Institute of Cleveland Press.

Kochinka, A. (2004). Emotionstheorien. Bielefeld, Germany: Transcript Verlag. Retrieved from https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/22515

O’Koon (Latuch), B. D. (2020). Thoughts on Microaggression, Socio-Cultural Trauma and the Phenomenological Field, A Discussion Paper. New Gestalt Voices, 1-10.

Polster, E., & Polster, M. (1974). Gestalt Therapy Integrated: Contours of Theory & Practice. New York: Vintage Books.

Sternburg, R. J. and Funke, J. (Eds.). (2019). The Psychology of Human Thought: An Introduction. Heidelberg: Heidelberg University Publishing. Retrieved from https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/24812

Yontef, G. (2005). Gestalt Theory of Change. In A. Woldt, A. & S. Toman (Eds.), Gestalt Therapy: History, Theory and Practice (pp. 217-236). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publishing.