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Investigates novice client performance using the Gestalt two-chair technique. Ten "softening" and eight "non-softening" counseling dyads were compared on performance task completion and sequentially to investigate Greenberg's Refined Client Performance model of intrapsychic conflict resolution. (Author/MKA)

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 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.

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]

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 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]

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

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]

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]

Copyright of Aula (0214-3402) is the property of Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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 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), ParentChild 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death and is associated with a decline in social performance. The current study aimed to examine the impact of positive psychology and Gestalt methods on the psychological well-being of patients with lung cancer. Methods: The current study was performed by quasi-experimental method with pre-test and post-test design. The statistical population included 187 patients with lung cancer referred to the oncology department of Al-Sadr Educational Hospital in Najaf, Iraq, in 2021 who were considered for this purpose. Simple random sampling was used to select 75 patients, divided into three groups: positive psychology, Gestalt, and control (each group included 25 patients). Positive psychology protocols and Gestalt therapy were implemented following psychotherapeutic principles, and their efficacy was assessed using the Ryff Psychological Well-being Scale. The data were analyzed using a multivariate covariance test via SPSS software. Results: After controlling for the effect of the pre-test with the Wilks’ Lambda index, there was a significant difference in psychological well-being between the groups (P < 0.01). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test showed that the intervention improved all aspects of psychological well-being (P < 0.01). Finally, the Bonferroni post-hoc test was used to compare the two methods and concluded that the variables of personal growth, self-acceptance, objective life, and mastery of the environment differed significantly between Gestalt and positive psychology groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Both positive psychology intervention and gestalt therapy have a positive effect on improving the well-being of patients with lung cancer. Additionally, Gestalt therapy has been more effective than positive psychology.

Background: Social anxiety is often associated with reduced social interaction and is considered a symptom of social anxiety disorder. This study aimed to compare the perception of social interaction among female para-medical students with social anxiety disorder using two therapies including gestalt therapy and psychodrama therapy.Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a pre- and post-test design with two experimental groups and a control group, along with a follow-up period. The study population consisted of female para-medical students from Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran during the second quarter of the academic year 2020-2021. A total of 61 female paramedic students were randomly assigned into two experimental groups (group 1: N=17; group 2: N=19) and one control group (N=25) using convenience sampling. The Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and Perceived Social Interaction Questionnaire (PSTQ) were administered. Gestalt therapy was administered to group 1 and psychodrama therapy to group 2, in eight sessions over 90 minutes per week, while the control group received no treatment. Data was analyzed using ANCOVA in SPSS version 24.Results: The mean and standard deviation of the perception of positive thoughts for gestalt therapy, psychodrama therapy, and the control group in the post-test were 51.18±8.69, 48.42±10.57, and 40.08±7.58, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of negative thoughts were 37.06±9.65, 37.21±10.02, and 42.92±10.27, respectively. The results showed a significant difference between the overall mean scores in the psychodrama therapy group (P=0.0234) and gestalt therapy group (P=0.0345); the effect of gestalt therapy was higher. The mean scores of the social interaction component in the three phases of the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up showed a significant difference between the mean scores.Conclusion: This study showed that psychodrama therapy and gestalt group therapy can decrease social anxiety in para-medical students. Moreover, the finding indicated the positive effects of gestalt group therapy intervention on the perception of positive thoughts. Therefore, further research is needed to gain more insight into the effective elements of both therapies and their mechanisms of change.

This document is an editorial published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. It discusses the challenges faced by scientists in understanding the complex mechanisms underlying organizations and societies. The editorial highlights the contributions of various authors who have provided insights into societal-level mechanisms using neuroscience. Topics covered include gender differences, coaching, speech understanding, fandom, message framing, and consumer behavior. The editorial concludes that while progress has been made, a unified cognitive neuroscience perspective that can explain the complexities of societies and organizations is still far from being achieved. [Extracted from the article]

IntroductionEmpowerment 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.MethodsUsing a multiple 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.ResultsBoth 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.DiscussionThese 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.

La experiencia de contacto implica la atención de lo que se vive a nivel emocional, corporal y de pensamiento. Este concepto de la psicoterapia Gestalt fundamenta hoy diversos modelos y técnicas psicoterapéuticas; y se requiere investigar si la experiencia de contacto supone la base del cambio y de la eficacia en psicoterapia. Se desarrolló un estudio de caso con diseño mixto y metodología de investigación de proceso-resultado, aplicando técnicas experienciales a una consultante de 19 años durante siete sesiones videograbadas. Para la categorización de los procesos de cambio se seleccionaron segmentos con altos niveles de experiencia, según EXP Scale. Los efectos observados se analizaron comparando los puntajes pre y post del Inventario de Depresión Estado/Rasgo, (IDER), el Cuestionario de Ansiedad Estado-Rasgo (STAI) y las Escalas de Bienestar Psicológico de Ryff, y los efectos percibidos mediante una Entrevista Final de Cambio. Los resultados mostraron que la psicoterapia fue efectiva y que los efectos terapéuticos se relacionaron con los procesos de cambio.

Copyright of Clínica Contemporánea: Revista de Diagnóstico Psicológico, Psicoterapia y Salud is the property of Colegio Oficial de Psicologos de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents and contextualizes the construct of Aesthetic Relational Knowing (ARK), as the intuitive experience of the therapist that emerges from the phenomenological field created in a meeting between therapist and client. The concept of isomorphism is considered as an epistemological turning point and a possible bridge connecting Gestalt therapy, Gestalt theory and Neurosciences. An example of the clinical consequences of this change of perspective is given. Moreover, a validation pilot study has shown that ARK is described by three factors: empathy, resonance and bodily awareness. The ARK can be defined as a three-dimensional construct that supports the positive use of the therapist's perception in terms of aesthetic knowing of the phenomenological field of the therapeutic situation. The construct of Aesthetic Relational Knowing can be considered a phenomenological, aesthetic and field-oriented contribution to psychotherapy training, supervision and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Considered as a major health concern worldwide, breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent cancer among women. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of gestalt group therapy and reality therapy on perceived self-efficacy in women with BC.Methods: This quasi-experimental research adopted a pretest and posttest with a control group and follow-up period. The statistical population included all the women with BC visiting the subspecialty clinic of cancer in Yasuj, Iran, in 2021. We selected 60 patients via convenience sampling method. Afterwards, using a random number table, we placed them in two experimental groups and a control group (n=20 women in each group). The first experimental group received gestalt therapy (10 sessions of 60 minutes; once a week) while the second experimental group received reality therapy (based on choice theory) (10 sessions of 60 minutes; once a week). The control group was placed on the waiting list. We used the general self-efficacy scale for data collection. The data were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS version 25.Results: Mean and standard deviation of the perceived self-efficacy for gestalt therapy, reality therapy, and control groups in the posttest were 52.06±8.83, 55.93±8.66, and 39.33±7.56, respectively. The results indicated that the gestalt group therapy and the reality therapy affected the perceived self-efficacy of women with BC (P

Self-compassion is the ability to direct kindness towards oneself. Gestalt therapy benefits from self-compassion so that clients reenact and confront their emotional problems more gently. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the Gestalt Integrated Self-Compassion Development Program among university students. This quasi-experimental study used a pre-test, post-test design with a control group. This study was conducted on 20 undergraduate students with different levels of self-compassion. The research population has been selected with a convenient sampling technique and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (n=10 in each group). The Gestalt Integrated Self-Compassion Development Program was applied to the experimental group in the context of 8-sessiongroup counseling, while the control group was not involved in any intervention. The obtained data were analyzed with the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks and Mann-Whitney U tests. The findings indicated that The Gestalt Integrated Self-Compassion Development Program is a helpful intervention to increase university students' self-compassion. However, more extensive studies are required to be carried out with different groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: The breast is a sensitive organ for women. In addition to pain, breast cancer can cause many psychological problems for the patient. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of gestalt therapy (GT) alone and combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) [GT-CBT] on the hope and pain intensity of women with breast cancer. Methods: This quasi-experimental study had a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. Out of 96 available patients with breast cancer who were referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital Cancer Clinic in Tehran, Iran, 60 cases were selected based on the inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to the control (n=20), GT (n=20), and GT-CBT (n=20) groups. Patients in the intervention groups received weekly online sessions (90 minutes) of GT or GT-CBT during eight weeks of training using the Zoom app. The data were collected through the miller hope scale (MHS) and hayes & peterson visual analog scale (VAS) and analyzed using descriptive (Mean±SD) and inferential (analysis of covariance) statistics by SPSS software version 20. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The results indicated that both GT and GT-CBT significantly increased hope and decreased pain intensity scores (eta=0.73, F(51, 2)=70.06, P