Product Description
The author writes:
"I am presenting here by own map of Gestalt therapy, from its first principles in philosophy to its expression in specific methods of psychotherapy."
". . . While this is a book about Gestalt therapy, it is also a book about the emergence of life, and human life in particular, from the complexity of the universe. It is a tribute to the early Gestaltists, Fritz and Laura Perls, Paul Goodman, and Paul Weiss that these two themes can coexist and support each other so easily. My hope is that both therapists and philosophers will find much that will interest them, and feel free to ignore that which does not. In places in this book there are suggestions for experiments in awareness, which will hopefully illustrate the theory. There are also episodes from work with a client: the client is fictional, but the interactions are ones I encounter frequently in my therapy work. The client could thus be seen to be a composite of a large number of people. I also include a more speculative chapter on the early self-development of this client, which I hope will further give body to the theory. I also include as appendices (with permission) some writing from two clients giving some flavor of how such a therapy appears from their perspectives." – Peter Philippson
"I am presenting here by own map of Gestalt therapy, from its first principles in philosophy to its expression in specific methods of psychotherapy."
". . . While this is a book about Gestalt therapy, it is also a book about the emergence of life, and human life in particular, from the complexity of the universe. It is a tribute to the early Gestaltists, Fritz and Laura Perls, Paul Goodman, and Paul Weiss that these two themes can coexist and support each other so easily. My hope is that both therapists and philosophers will find much that will interest them, and feel free to ignore that which does not. In places in this book there are suggestions for experiments in awareness, which will hopefully illustrate the theory. There are also episodes from work with a client: the client is fictional, but the interactions are ones I encounter frequently in my therapy work. The client could thus be seen to be a composite of a large number of people. I also include a more speculative chapter on the early self-development of this client, which I hope will further give body to the theory. I also include as appendices (with permission) some writing from two clients giving some flavor of how such a therapy appears from their perspectives." – Peter Philippson
About the Author
Peter Philippson M.Sc. (Gestalt Psychotherapy), UKCP Reg. Gestalt Psychotherapist, is a Gestalt therapist and trainer, a Teaching and Supervising Member of the Gestalt Psychotherapy & Training Institute, UK, a founder member of Manchester Gestalt Centre and a guest trainer for Institutes in Britain and America. Peter is a Full Member of the New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy. He is editor of "The Nature of Pain," co-author (with John Bernard Harris) of "Gestalt: Working with Groups" and co-editor (also with John Bernard Harris) of "Topics in Gestalt Therapy," all published by Manchester Gestalt Centre. He has published many articles on Gestalt therapy in US, British, Australian, French, Canadian and Spanish Gestalt Journals. His writings include two books: "Self in Relation," published by the Gestalt Journal Press, and "The Emergent Self."
