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The purpose of this study is to examine therapeutic responsiveness across three different therapeutic models. The construct of responsiveness consists of two conceptual features: optimal responsiveness, which involves adapting therapist behavior to the unique therapeutic relationship, and appropriate responsiveness, a more refined concept. While aligned with interpersonal principles, the responsiveness construct challenges prevailing statistical methods by emphasizing the therapist's adaptive responses. A comparative analysis of Gestalt, psychodynamic, and systemic therapies revealed unique patterns of responsiveness within each model, ranging from an emphasis on empathy and intuition to the significance of countertransference. Methodologically, a literature review and textual analysis using Atlas.ti allowed for nuanced exploration. The results also revealed a core commonality—"experience"—across these models, positioning responsiveness as an "extra-specific" factor amidst shared conceptual ground. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the nuances of responsiveness, which is central to advancing psychotherapeutic practice in an evolving landscape. An in-depth examination of the construct of responsiveness helps identify therapist characteristics that can be enhanced, enriched, and supported during training and supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: From the viewpoint of health and education, traumatized children and adolescents who have fled from war and conflict zones to Switzerland represent a high-risk group, as they suffer from psychiatric symptoms to an above-average extent and on several levels: somatic, psychological, psychosomatic, and psychosocial. Objectives: The complexity and severity of these problems overwhelm the existing school structures in many cases: There is a clear need for psychotherapeutic interventions here that goes beyond purely verbal conversational therapy and provides an holistic concept. Methods: We propose the following novel approach: “Trauma group therapy with karate-do for war-traumatized children and adolescents” which integrates and applies the evidence-based methods of integrative Budo-Therapy, trauma- focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) and Integrative Gestalt Therapy according to Dr. Hilarion Petzold (EAG- FPI) and validated it in a group of approximately 12 children from war and conflict zones who attend the public schools of the city of Zürich. Results: Qualitative feedback received from the teachers is promising. They report that it is now better possible for the children who go to ouer “Trauma group therapy with karate-do for war-traumatized children and adolescents” to concentrate at school and also to better regulate their feelings. Conclusion: Ouer approach seems to be a promising intervention for traumatized children and adolecents. Though it needs further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews Stephen C. Levinson's comprehensive grammar of Yélî Dnye, a Papuan language spoken on Rossel Island. The grammar, based on over 20 years of research, surpasses previous works in its detailed syntactic analysis and highlights the language's morphological complexity. Yélî Dnye is considered a linguistic treasure with unique features like a large phonemic inventory and robust syntactic ergativity. The grammar contributes significantly to linguistic description and showcases the intricate linguistic engineering of the human brain. [Extracted from the article]

Gestalt therapy is a humanistic approach that emphasizes awareness of one's inner experiences and recognition of resistance processes. However, research exploring the relationship between interoceptive awareness—awareness of internal bodily sensations—and Gestalt resistance processes remains limited. Addressing this gap, our study used a cross‐sectional design to examine how interoceptive awareness correlates with resistance processes among 112 counseling students. Our analysis revealed that higher interoceptive awareness is associated with lower resistance processes such as confluence, introjection, projection, retroflection, deflection, and egotism, with no significant association found with desensitization. The results suggest that improved body awareness could potentially impact resistance levels. This highlights the need to include interoceptive training in counseling programs to enhance therapeutic presence and self‐regulation among trainees. This study offers evidence supporting the influence of interoceptive awareness on resistance processes and suggests that future research should explore ways to integrate these findings into training programs and broader Gestalt therapy practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestalt Play Therapy (GPT) is a practical form of play therapy to improve empathy in hard-of-hearing children. This study examined the effectiveness of GPT on empathy in hard-of-hearing children. Participants were recruited from the Ava rehabilitation center for mothers and hard-of-hearing children in Isfahan, Iran. The participants were 28 hard-of-hearing children who were randomly selected and divided into the control and intervention groups. The intervention group participated in 8 GPT sessions, once weekly for two months, while the control group did not participate in the program. Mothers completed the Empathy Questionnaire 2 times, at pre-test and post-test. The GPT significantly influenced empathy, prosocial actions, attention to others' feelings, and emotional contagion in hard-of-hearing children (p <.001). The Eta square suggested that 59% of the improvement in empathy is due to participating in the research. This research highlighted the importance of GPT for empathy in hard-of-hearing children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesian theological students often come to seminary with handful of problems from the onset of their life. The expectation from the traditional Christian family for their children to set the behavior right in the seminary is outdatedly common. This study explores a case of a 21-year-old theological male student who suffered verbal and physical abuse from his parents. During the initial four weeks of therapeutic alliance with the author, the student exhibited traumatic symptoms of severe hostility and somatic re-enactment of past adverse experiences. He had been known to possess talisman and some sacred relics for witchcraft in the past which contemporarily yield nightmare and terror at night. The qualitative case study explored the traumatic problem of the student through a 12-month observation and in-depth interview. Through experiential therapy of gestalt, CBT, and forgiveness therapy in the last seven months, the student showed reduced symptoms of hostility, somatic complaints, and impulse-behavior. The spiritual formation of prayer and meditation of the Scripture have been useful for the patient in dealing with his spiritual problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The developmental age is often characterized by problems of somatization of psychological problems and conflicts: Anorexia, enuresis, encopresis and persistent constipation. The Drawn-Story (DS) technique presented in this article was developed to enhance and support the narrative-dialogic relationship in the psychodiagnostic and psychotherapeutic context – initially primarily for work with children of developmental age, but later also for other patient groups. It is a projective drawing technique that was developed by Giancarlo Trombini in the 1970s based on his training in Gestalt psychology and psychoanalysis at the University of Bologna and has since been further developed by him, Elena Trombini and their colleagues and also used in other fields of application. This article uses an early case history of DS to explore central aspects of this technique in greater depth. It also explores the question of whether the Concluding Therapeutic Turn observed in therapies with adults can also be observed in developmental age therapy according to the criterion of reconciliation of time perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applied Gestalt theory in the tradition of Gestalt psychology on the one hand and Gestalt pedagogy in the tradition of Gestalt therapy on the other hand are two different ways of thinking about education. Gestalt pedagogy proves to be compatible in many ways with current positions in education studies, in particular those of phenomenological pedagogy, dialogical pedagogy and theories of meaningful learning. All three approaches could provide a common ground for the two Gestalt traditions – not only for bringing them into relation, but also for strengthening their theoretical frameworks and thus enriching education studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose that in pictures both the extended limbs of actors and the ground are involved in gestalts for movement. Limbs extend to suggest more motion literally when a dancer is in air and refer to a canonical pose when on the ground. A running pony's curled limbs off the ground depict fast action literally. A horse's flying-gallop off the ground suggests speedy motion metaphorically. Cast shadows indicate the actor's location with respect to the ground. We consider extended and curled limbs, on-ground and off, in literal and metaphoric pictures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive studies have explored biological motion (BM) crowds processing for their remarkable social significance, primarily focused on uniformly distributed ones. However, real-world BM crowds often exhibit hierarchical structures rather than uniform arrangements. How such structured BM crowds are processed remains a subject of inquiry. This study investigates the representation of structured BM crowds in working memory (WM), recognizing the pivotal role WM plays in our social interactions involving BM. We propose the group-based ensemble hypothesis and test it through a member identification task. Participants were required to discern whether a presented BM belonged to a prior memory display of eight BM, each with distinct walking directions. Drawing on prominent Gestalt principles as organizational cues, we constructed structured groups within BM crowds by applying proximity and similarity cues in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. In Experiment 3, we deliberately weakened the visibility of stimuli structures by increasing the similarity between subsets, probing the robustness of results. Consistently, our findings indicate that BM aligned with the mean direction of the subsets was more likely to be recognized as part of the memory stimuli. This suggests that WM inherently organizes structured BM crowds into separate ensembles based on organizational cues. In essence, our results illuminate the simultaneous operation of grouping and ensemble encoding mechanisms for BM crowds within WM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to examine therapeutic responsiveness across three different therapeutic models. The construct of responsiveness consists of two conceptual features: optimal responsiveness, which involves adapting therapist behavior to the unique therapeutic relationship, and appropriate responsiveness, a more refined concept. While aligned with interpersonal principles, the responsiveness construct challenges prevailing statistical methods by emphasizing the therapist’s adaptive responses. A comparative analysis of Gestalt, psychodynamic, and systemic therapies revealed unique patterns of responsiveness within each model, ranging from an emphasis on empathy and intuition to the significance of countertransference. Methodologically, a literature review and textual analysis using Atlas.ti allowed for nuanced exploration. The results also revealed a core commonality—"experience”—across these models, positioning responsiveness as an “extra-specific” factor amidst shared conceptual ground. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the nuances of responsiveness, which is central to advancing psychotherapeutic practice in an evolving landscape. An in-depth examination of the construct of responsiveness helps identify therapist characteristics that can be enhanced, enriched, and supported during training and supervision.

The article discusses the potential impact of large language models (LLMs) on higher education, particularly in the humanities. The author suggests that LLMs have the potential to revolutionize teaching and learning by providing personalized and adaptive instruction. However, they also raise concerns about the future of universities and the humanities, as LLMs may lead to a contraction of the higher education system and a reevaluation of the value of a college degree. The author speculates that universities may become more specialized and focused on producing high-quality intellectual work, while the role of professors as inspiring teachers will remain important. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: The aim of this research was to compare the efficacy of Gestalt therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy in enhancing emotional schemas and post-traumatic growth in adolescent girls diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Methods: Employing an experimental design, the study was carried out with a pretestposttest approach involving a control group, followed by a two-month follow-up period. Using purposive sampling, 60 girls were selected to participate, divided into two experimental groups (each consisting of 20 girls) and a control group (20 girls). The experimental groups received either Gestalt therapy (10 sessions of 90 minutes each) or ACT (10 sessions of 90 minutes each), while the control group did not undergo any intervention and remained on a waiting list. Data collection involved the application of the PTSD Symptom Scale-Interview (Foa et al., 1993), Leahy's Emotional Schemas Scale (2002), and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) by Tedeschi and Calhoun (1996). Data analysis was conducted using repeated measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni test. Results: The findings revealed that both therapeutic approaches exhibited a significant impact on emotional schemas and post-traumatic growth in adolescent females with posttraumatic stress disorder during the post-test and follow-up assessments (P<0.05). Moreover, Gestalt therapy demonstrated more pronounced enhancements in emotional schemas, whereas ACT showed greater improvements in post-traumatic growth (P<0.05). Conclusions: Consequently, it can be deduced from the outcomes of this investigation that Gestalt therapy and ACT present viable treatment options for enhancing emotional schemas and post-traumatic growth among adolescent females grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder within therapeutic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers an assessment of some of the central aspects of Edith Stein's conception of intentional acts proposed in Potency and Act. Studies Towards a Philosophy of Being. Her account hinges upon a combination of Thomistic and Husserlian concepts. She borrows from Aquinas two conceptual pairs that are central to his metaphysics and theory of knowledge: the actuality-potency dichotomy; and the distinction between sensible and intelligible species. The distinction and relevant articulation between sensible and intelligible species provide Stein with the basis to present her own conception of intentionality (with special focus on perception): the sensible species is regarded as the correlate of the object's Gestalt; by contrast, the intelligible species is mobilised to account for what Husserl labels noesis-noema correlation. But Stein's ambition is also to inscribe her account of the species sensibilis within an overall (critical) interpretation of Husserl's transcendental idealism. This work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation, financing the project "Intentionality and Person in Medieval Philosophy and Phenomenology" (GAČR 21-08256S). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The factorial validation study of a scale describing the therapist's intuitive knowing from a phenomenological, aesthetic, and field-oriented perspective, such as that of Gestalt therapy, is presented. The way in which the therapists use their senses to understand the patient's current experience, through embodied empathy and resonance, is termed Aesthetic Relational Knowing, and a special scale (ARK), described in its broader valence in a previous study, was constructed to assess it. The ARK-T version, validated in this study, is referred to the specific therapeutic situation, assessing the therapist's intuitive ability towards the patient, in the "here and now" of the session. Methods: A sample composed of 209 psychotherapists (51 men, 157 women, 1 stated "other") aged 25-80 years old, 199 psychology graduates, 10 medical doctors, working in different regions of Italy, all holding a specialization in psychotherapy of different theoretical approaches, filled in the 46 items hypothesized for the composition of the ARK-T scale. An Exploratory Factor Analysis was carried out preliminarily on the intercorrelation matrix of the items, then subsequently a Confirmatory Analysis was performed according to the Lisrel model. Item analysis was also performed and Cronbach's alpha was calculated for reliability analysis of the global score and of the factors included in the final version of the scale. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses allowed the selection of 21 items that make up the final version of the ARK-T Scale. The main factors validated in previous studies (Body awareness, Resonance, and Empathy), operationalized in the therapeutic situation, were redefined into: Body Awareness, Intuitive Resonance, and Affective Empathy. The reliability of the scale is good for both total score (alpha=0.841) and factorial subscales. Conclusions: By enabling the assessment of body process awareness and aesthetic-relational skills in therapy, the ARK-T scale has significant implications for the training and supervision of psychotherapists, as well as for research on the therapeutic change process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This reflection is devoted to a description of the place and role of silence in Gestalt therapy. According to the author, the phenomenon of staying in silence is the necessary way to give birth to a client's figure in therapeutic relations. The description of the therapist's position is proposed as inner silence, entering into the border of contact, acceptance of one's responses to what is happening, a calm attitude toward one's quietness. The possibilities of relying on silence in the process of therapists' work are shown as six propositions: perceiving and backgrounded positions of therapists; therapists' reaction to clients; therapists' ability to listen to the sound of their own soul; the conditions for clients to hear themselves; and the quietness of touching moments of the session. Silence also varies depending on the different styles of therapeutic relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an insight into the visual information (colours, symbols) of waste classification based on the three principles of closure, similarity and continuation of Gestalt theory. A field survey of Xiamen University Town in China and a survey of 1,000 local and international university students in the area were used to understand the level of awareness of visual information on waste recycling and segregation. The study found that the current level of awareness of visual classification information (colours, symbols) in the Xiamen University Town urban area and among students is low. Visual messages must convey accurate and standardised information such as colours and symbols. In addition, the purpose of this study was to illustrate the need for accuracy in visual information. This study concludes the need for uniform colour and symbol standards for waste recycling and segregation under the Gestalt theory to help achieve SDG goal 12, responsible consumption and production, as this study highlights the potential ripple effect on future stakeholders, especially considering the international mobility of university students, who epitomise global diversity. As users travelled across countries, ambiguous visual messages about waste classification became a key issue in responding to UN advocacy for a sustainable future. Addressing and correcting these visual discrepancies is critical to effective waste management strategies on a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do we perceptually and cognitively organize incoming stimulation? A century ago, Gestalt psychologists posited the law of Prägnanz: psychological organization will always be as 'good' as possible given the prevailing conditions. To make the Prägnanz law a useful statement, it needs to be specified further (a) what a 'good' psychological organization entails, (b) how the Prägnanz tendency can be realized, and (c) which conditions need to be taken into account. Although the Gestalt school did provide answers to these questions, modern-day mentions of Prägnanz or good Gestalt often lack these clarifications. The concept of Prägnanz has been (mis)understood in many different ways, and by looking back on the rich history of the concept, we will attempt to present a more fine-grained view and promote a renewed understanding of the central role of Prägnanz in visual perception and beyond. We review Gestalt psychology's answers to the questions listed above, and also discuss the four main uses of the Prägnanz concept in more detail: (a) a Prägnanz tendency in each organizational process, (b) Prägnanz as a property of a Gestalt, (c) Prägnanz steps as internal reference points, and (d) Prägnanz in relation to aesthetic appreciation. As a key takeaway, Prägnanz is a multifaceted Gestalt psychological concept indicating the "goodness" of an experienced organization. Both the removal of unnecessary details and the emphasis on characteristic features of the overall organization compared to a reference organization can contribute to the emergence of a 'better' Gestalt. The stimulus constellation is not the only factor in determining the goodness of an organization, also the stimulus' interaction with an individual in a specific spatial and temporal context plays a role. Taking the ideas on Prägnanz as a generative framework and keeping the original Gestalt psychological context in mind, future research on perceptual organization can improve our understanding of the principles underlying psychological organization by further specifying how different organizational principles interact in concrete situations. Public significance statement: This paper reviews what a 'good' psychological organization entails, and how the incoming stimulation is clarified in human perception to achieve the best possible psychological organization. The review debunks common misconceptions on the meaning of "goodness" and synthesizes the most important perspectives and developments on "goodness" from its conception until now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I introduce the practice of somaterapia (somatherapy), an eclectic synthesis of Gestalt therapy, capoeira Angola, anti-psychiatry, collective trust exercises, radical pedagogy, and anarchism developed as an anti-fascist practice aimed at healing the violence of oppressive forms of social organisation as they manifest in bodies. Somaterapia takes an immanent and materialist view on what constitutes a body, eschewing mind-body dualisms and transcendent forms of organisation in lieu of an affective somatic reality. The fascisms somaterapia thus seeks to eliminate are not just the macro-fascisms of the political milieu, but also the micro-fascisms that stem from and reciprocally enrich these, forming blockages of libidinal energy or tesaõ that affect everything from our thoughts and our posture to how we treat ourselves and how we treat each other. In this sense somaterapia has much in common with the enactivist view of cognition. Like somaterapia, enactivism sees brains, bodies and environments as complex, reciprocally presupposing imbrications of nested autonomous systems sustaining themselves through the maintenance and exploration of ongoing adaptive tensions between self-production and self-distinction. Viewing somaterapia through the lens of enactivism thus allows us to potentially enrich the anti-fascist potential of this revolutionary practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The factorial validation study of a scale describing the therapist's intuitive knowing from a phenomenological, aesthetic, and field-oriented perspective, such as that of Gestalt therapy, is presented. The way in which the therapists use their senses to understand the patient's current experience, through embodied empathy and resonance, is termed Aesthetic Relational Knowing, and a special scale (ARK), described in its broader valence in a previous study, was constructed to assess it. The ARK-T version, validated in this study, is referred to the specific therapeutic situation, assessing the therapist's intuitive ability towards the patient, in the “here and now” of the session. Methods: A sample composed of 209 psychotherapists (51 men, 157 women, 1 stated "other") aged 25-80 years old, 199 psychology graduates, 10 medical doctors, working in different regions of Italy, all holding a specialization in psychotherapy of different theoretical approaches, filled in the 46 items hypothesized for the composition of the ARK-T scale. An Exploratory Factor Analysis was carried out preliminarily on the intercorrelation matrix of the items, then subsequently a Confirmatory Analysis was performed according to the Lisrel model. Item analysis was also performed and Cronbach's alpha was calculated for reliability analysis of the global score and of the factors included in the final version of the scale. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses allowed the selection of 21 items that make up the final version of the ARK-T Scale. The main factors validated in previous studies (Body awareness, Resonance, and Empathy), operationalized in the therapeutic situation, were redefined into: Body Awareness, Intuitive Resonance, and Affective Empathy. The reliability of the scale is good for both total score (alpha=0.841) and factorial subscales. Conclusions: By enabling the assessment of body process awareness and aesthetic-relational skills in therapy, the ARK-T scale has significant implications for the training and supervision of psychotherapists, as well as for research on the therapeutic change process.

As eating disorders become more and more common, it is necessary to understand the influence of modern life factors on the formation of these diseases in order to develop more effective strategies for their prevention and treatment, so the purpose of this study was to systematically examine the sociocultural and psychological factors of eating disorders. Two key methodological approaches were used to study the social and underlying psychological factors of these disorders: sociocultural and psychoanalytic. The empirical basis of the study is based on the interview method. Social factors, in particular media influence, determine the formation of eating disorders, especially among women, through the creation of negative standards of beauty and bodily satisfaction. Based on interviews with people with eating disorders, it was found that the underlying psychological factors of these disorders are mainly focused on intrapersonal aspects, such as the perception of food and one's own body, emotional sphere, and self-esteem. At the same time, interpersonal factors related to interaction with the environment have a lesser impact. These factors can lead to the development and complicate the course of eating disorders, so it is important to work with psychological aspects for effective treatment. It is substantiated that psychodynamic and Gestalt therapy are effective treatment methods aimed at resolving mental conflicts. Both approaches use a variety of methods, including dream analysis and fissiotherapy, to help patients understand and resolve their emotional and behavioural interactions with food. The practical value of the study is that its results highlight the need to use psychodynamic and Gestalt approaches in therapy, which can address the underlying psychological and emotional factors of eating disorders. The study can be applied in the activities of institutions specializing in the treatment of eating disorders

George Steinmetz's article, "The Colonial Origins of Modern Social Thought," explores the marginalization of colonial sociology in the history of French sociology and the productive nature of going abroad for social scientific reflection. Steinmetz identifies five factors that explain the erasure of colonial sociology, including the underdevelopment of research on the history of sociology, efforts to impose a certain gestalt of the discipline, the repression of colonialism in European memory, the fear of stigma, and scientific metrocentrism. The article also discusses the concept of strangeness and its role in the production of knowledge, highlighting the intellectual tensions that arise when scholars are confronted with unfamiliar cultures. The author suggests that the lack of close strangers, individuals with sufficient proximity to the history of French sociology, may have contributed to the neglect of colonial sociology in the literature. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the potential impact of AI technology on psychotherapy and counseling. It discusses the use of AI chatbots as companions, including for romantic and sexual purposes, and raises questions about the changing nature of therapy in the digital age. The article explores the concept of "technical thinking" and its effects on human psychology and therapeutic practices. It also discusses the history of therapy using communication technologies and the emergence of AI bots in the field. The article concludes by considering the role of traditional therapy in the digital age and the potential benefits and drawbacks of online therapy. Additionally, it highlights a recent study that found face-to-face communication to be more important for mental health during lockdowns, but also acknowledges the positive impact of digital text-based communication. The author emphasizes the need for further research on the effects of the digital age on psychological therapies and invites submissions to their journal. The article provides summaries of several papers included in the journal, covering topics such as online therapy, the impact of technology on the therapeutic relationship, and the experiences of students in remote learning. The author concludes by emphasizing the importance of considering the effects of the digital age on both psychotherapy provision and individuals involved in therapy. [Extracted from the article]

The author examines working with groups on-line from a Gestalt therapy perspective, an integrated therapeutic approach. The growing occurrence of the therapeutic group online setting brings the need to reconsider clinical tools to use bodily processes in the therapeutic relationship. This article provides a detailed and nuanced consideration of embodied process on-line and offers a practical and useful framework for clinicians, from a phenomenological, aesthetic and field oriented epistemological ground. In the on-line therapeutic group consideration needs to be given to the way embodied vitality can be engendered as supports for contact between members. Vitality is supported through a renewing of attention to the lived body as a support for spontaneous interactions, yet care is required in the on-line domain as there is a tendency towards disinhibition. The author explores how the relational grail of on-line therapy is an inter-embodied experience. This can be supported by the therapist cultivating an embodied presence, accompanied by an intentional disposition to wander with wonder as a way of surrendering to the unknowing of the virtual between. Such an orientation includes the therapist adopting an embodied hermeneutic phenomenological approach in group work that supports the co-creating of meaning between members in this trans-subjective situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Empowerment is central to self-development and growth in Gestalt therapy. The self evolves through interactions with others, forming self- and object-relations, and ego-functions. Underlying structural functions build the ability to regulate, differentiate, and integrate experiences, leading to self-, and emotion-regulation. Our study examined the self-development of seven clients with prevalent mental health issues and structural challenges, all of whom underwent 30 sessions of Gestalt therapy in a real-world individual therapy context. Methods: Using amultiple case study approach, we contrasted two client groups: those with moderately integrated and those with low-integrated personality structures, as defined by the operationalised psychodynamic diagnostic manual. Our exploration centered on specific factors of empowerment, therapy processes, and interventions. The study's mixed-method design encompassed quantitative outcome measures (empowerment, wellbeing, psychosocial health, and severity of personality functioning), therapy diaries from both clients and therapists, and semi-structured client interviews about empowering factors in therapy. Results: Both groups showed positive therapy outcomes on wellbeing, psychosocial health, and empowerment. Specific empowerment-related factors included promoting experiences, relationships, and self-efficacy in the low-integrated group. Support of self-regulation was reported to be essential for successful outcomes in the moderately integrated group. While the therapy processes proceeded similarly in both groups, we observed a strong focus on body awareness-oriented interventions and promotion of verbalisation in the low-integrated group and a relationship-oriented emphasis in the moderately integrated group. Emotional experience linked to positive experience was limited in the low-integrated group, suggesting an impairment of emotional processing, including bodily felt feelings. No change was reported in the level of personality functioning after 30 sessions in both groups. Discussion: These results underscore the need for tailored therapeutic approaches based on the client's level of personality integration. Future research should probe the long-term effects of therapy and delve deeper into shifts in personality functioning, especially concerning emotional and bodily experiences. In practical terms, therapists should prioritize linking bodily sensations with emotions for clients with low-integrated personalities. For those with moderate integration, the emphasis should be on fostering exploration, awareness, and bolstering self-regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the philosophical roots of Gestalt Therapy are discussed, names like Kierkegaard, Husserl, Buber or Sartre are often mentioned. French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty, who was left standing in the background, but experienced in Gestalt Psychology, introduced the body into philosophical discourse and, underlining human perception, directed himself to the original epistemological and ontological philosophy of man in the world. Although he had not encountered Gestalt Therapy in person, his ideas correspond with it significantly, especially in terms of contemporary field theory. Concepts like perceptual faith, corporeality and motor intentionally are examples. We are able to find parallels between the work of Merleau-Ponty and gestalt modality not only in theory but in the lived experience of therapists, too. Moreover, these parallels can enrich the set of psychotherapy methods. The affinity between this French thinker and Gestalt therapy poses the question to us whether or not he deserves to be moved into its foreground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gianni Francesetti's book, "Fundamentals of Phenomenological Gestalt Psychopathology: A Light Introduction," provides a philosophical exploration of Phenomenological Gestalt Psychopathology (PGP). The book consists of 17 chapters that cover various topics related to psychopathology, including etymological definitions, the therapeutic relationship, spectrum of disorders, and societal implications. Francesetti emphasizes the importance of understanding human suffering from a phenomenological and field approach, and he argues that PGP practitioners should focus on perceiving the absences that contribute to psychopathology and guiding clients towards presence. The book appeals to a professional audience and references a wide range of clinical approaches. [Extracted from the article]

This article attempts to reestablish the importance of human aggression as a figural cornerstone in both the origin and practice of Gestalt therapy. Attention is paid to the early contributions of Frederick Perls in reformulating psychoanalytic theory with respect to what he considered to be the primacy of aggression over sexuality in terms of human growth and development. Distinctions are made between what would be considered "healthy" versus "unhealthy" applications of aggression within the maturation cycle of the organism, its social functioning, and the effective practice of Gestalt therapy. Problems related to the definition and application of aggressive expression are discussed through Gestalt-related literature and differences noted in more contemporary research. Practitioners of the Gestalt approach are encouraged to review the relevant literature as a way of revisiting and refreshening their understanding of the clinical importance of aggression in the practice of Gestalt therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Paths of Curiosity: Time, Uncertainty and Mortality" is a book by Michael Vincent Miller, a prominent figure in Gestalt therapy. The book is based on an interview conducted by Italian psychologist Giuliana Ratti in 2012 and explores Miller's personal journey and contributions to Gestalt therapy. Miller's experiences connect him to the founders of Gestalt therapy and other influential figures of the time. The book also delves into Miller's belief that Gestalt therapy is based on aesthetic principles and his thoughts on the therapeutic process. "Paths of Curiosity" is a concise and approachable book that covers a wide range of topics in just 68 pages. [Extracted from the article]

"The Bodily Roots of Experience in Psychotherapy" by Ruella Frank is a book that explores the connection between bodily experience and psychotherapy. The author combines themes from philosophy and phenomenology to argue that the two approaches to experience cannot be separated when it comes to understanding human beings and their interactions. The book also emphasizes the importance of the concept of contact in Gestalt therapy and how it relates to the relational paradigm. Overall, the book offers a valuable contribution to the understanding of the role of the body in psychotherapy. [Extracted from the article]

The author proposes a frame of reference for Gestalt therapists who want to do research from a field perspective. She outlines fundamental aspects of phenomenological research that includes aesthetics of contact and the relational therapeutic approach. Ethical aspects of Gestalt therapy research, from the need of outcome research to the responsibility to show what we do in our practice, are described, in support of the discovery of new territories to advance our humanity. Two examples are offered: research on the construct of aesthetic relational knowing (ARK) to explore therapeutic intuition and responsiveness from a Gestalt viewpoint, and research to describe the process of change in the dyad therapist/client, seen as a "dance" of reciprocal, intentional movements that draws on attachment learnings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article outlines the theoretical background for improv-therapeutical processes and interventions found in the contemporary theory of the Gestalt therapeutic approach. Although there is a growing number of studies reporting on the potential of improvisational theater in psychological well-being and psychotherapy, few of them explore theoretical parallels with existing psychotherapeutic approaches. This article proposes that the roots and paradigms of improv theater and Gestalt therapy are epistemologically close and explore how concepts specific for relational Gestalt therapy—understanding of self as a process in the phenomenological intersubjective field, an aesthetic approach to mental health, and the notion of creative adjustment—could contribute to the understanding and empowering of the therapeutic processes found in improv theater. The theory proposes that nurturing creative and spontaneous processes in improv possibly contributes to the healthy functioning of the self and, therefore, enhances healthy contact with the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the burgeoning interest in management studies concerning methodologies that generate societal or organizational impact. While much research has focused on tackling major societal and environmental challenges, less is known about how management research can benefit research participants. A promising approach involves developing novel methodologies that prioritize theoretical contributions through self‐reflections by both researchers and participants. Drawing, as a participatory methodology, holds considerable potential since it can express feelings and embodied experiences that may be hard to put into words. This study advocates for a participatory visual methodology using drawing, inspired by Gestalt art therapy, as a means to create a caring relationship with the participant and promote self‐reflection. The study offers three contributions that broaden the methodological scope of management studies: explaining the interplay between drawing, reflecting and theorizing; demonstrating how visual analysis can integrate the individual and their environment by drawing on Gestalt therapy's concept of contact boundary; and explaining how drawing can promote accountability in research with participants. To illustrate the contributions, the paper draws on two research projects that highlight the significance of self‐reflection in relation to embodied experiences and explain why it is important for both researchers and participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Organizational Change Management (OCM) is a crucial and really important process for companies that seek to adapt and succeed in a modern and dynamic world. However, despite the importance of Organizational Change Management and the numerous models and frameworks available, a significant proportion of change initiatives fail to achieve their desirable results. This problem instantly emphasizes the need for fresh ideas and innovative ways to address the complexities of organizational change in the modern world. First of all, this article explores the paradoxical theory of change as an alternative for better understanding and more efficient management of change that will be useful for various organizations. It reviews the theoretical foundations of this approach, rooted in Gestalt therapy and other relevant literature. Apart from that, the publication defines key concepts such as polarities and tensions, explaining how these seemingly contradictory forces are natural and necessary elements of dynamic systems. By embracing these tensions, organizations can foster adaptability, drive innovation, and enhance resilience. Secondly, the article also considers the concepts of the Real and Ideal Self in the context of organizational change, displaying how these two states' tensions can be a source of resistance or motivation. Understanding and managing these tensions is unarguably crucial for utilizing them as sources of energy and creativity, ultimately leading to more organizational transformations that would be more successful. What is more, this article provides practical insights on how to apply the paradoxical theory to some of the real-life situations. This shows the importance of balancing stability and change, autonomy and control, and exploration and exploitation in business corporations. Taking everything into consideration, by adopting these paradoxical components, organizations can create a holistic and more effective approach to change management, achieving lasting success and sustainability in the modern ever-evolving environment, which is vital for modern and successful business.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Gestalt Oriented Positive Parenting Support Program. The study sample consisted of 36 parents (33 mothers and 3 fathers) who were selected through purposeful sampling. There were 13 participants in the experimental group, 12 participants in the placebo group, and 11 participants in the control group. The research utilized various measurement tools, such as the Demographic Information Form (DIF), Multidimensional Parental Perfectionism Questionnaire (MPPQ), Parent-Child Relationship Scale (PCRS), Me as a Parent Scale (MPS), and Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ). The experimental group's pre-test and post-test scores showed significant differences for all dimensions, indicating that the program was an effective intervention. When comparing the experimental, placebo, and control group post-test scores, significant differences were found in three sub-dimensions of parental perfectionism, all dimensions of parent-child relationship, and positive parenting score. Further analysis revealed that all significant differences favored the experimental group. This finding shows that the program is an effective application for parents with children between the ages of 2-9. Finally, the post-test scores of the positive parenting dimension also differed significantly according to the experimental group pre-test scores and the control group post-test scores, confirming the hypothesis of the study and highlighting the effectiveness of the program in developing positive parenting practices.

Ilana Rubenfeld, a pioneer in body-oriented therapy, has passed away, leaving behind a significant legacy. Originally a conductor, Rubenfeld turned to alternative therapies to alleviate chronic pain and eventually developed her own method called the Rubenfeld Synergy Method (RSM). RSM combines elements of the Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, and Gestalt therapy, integrating bodywork and verbal psychotherapy. Rubenfeld believed in the interconnectedness of the body and mind and used a gentle touch to facilitate emotional release and healing. Her work was ahead of its time and has since been supported by research on the benefits of touch and interoception. [Extracted from the article]

The book "Psychotherapy of the situation in gestalt therapy: A field-oriented approach" edited by Margherita Spagnuolo Lobb and Pietro Andrea Cavaleri offers a fresh perspective on Gestalt theory and philosophy. Divided into two parts, the book analyzes key issues of our time and provides case studies on psychopathological situations in the clinical field of human relations. It emphasizes the need for a new community perspective in practice, particularly in our post-pandemic world. The book also explores the history of Gestalt therapy and its evolution, while providing specific tools and examples for translating theory into practice. [Extracted from the article]