In this book the author has collected stories, which he has often told in his therapeutic work - during individual therapy sessions with clients as well as in group trainings. These stories have already often contributed to helping people open themselves again and be deeply touched by others.

This book is a collaboration of some of the best thinkers in the Gestalt therapy world and offers a high-level summary of recent and future developments in theory, practice and research.

Should a therapist ever shake hands with a client, or touch a client's hand or shoulder? There are taboos against erotic touch in psychotherapy, for excellent reasons, but what about nonerotic touch? These latter forms of physical contact are not explicitly taboo and they can be powerful forms of communication. Research and clinical experience indicate that they can contribute to positive therapeutic change when used appropriately. What, then, is appropriate use?

This volume makes a tremendous contribution to the field of expressive arts therapy through its presentation of clear and profound theoretical bases to a relatively new profession in the domain of psychotherapy. It applies comprehensive, in-depth psychological knowledge to practical cases which shed light on clinical interventions that reflect the use of art in psychotherapy. The book provides a fruitful and much needed theoretical kaleidoscope to the professional community of expressive arts therapy.

Gestalt therapy offers a present-focused, relational approach, central to which is the fundamental belief that the client knows the best way of adjusting to their situation. This new edition of Gestalt Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques provides a concise, accessible guide to this flexible and far-reaching approach. Substantially updated throughout, topics discussed include: The theoretical assumptions underpinning gestalt therapy. Gestalt assessment and process diagnosis. Field theory, phenomenology and dialogue. Ethics and values. Evaluation and research. As such this book will be essential reading for gestalt trainees, as well as all counsellors and psychotherapists wanting to learn more about the gestalt approach.

Sylvia Crocker's A Well-Lived Life is a work of a daring and creative thinker, offering a bold reconceptualization of Gestalt therapy that extends all the way from its philosophical foundation to the nuances of its clinical application. In prose that is clear as a bell, Crocker fully exposes the depth and power of Gestalt therapy's field theoretical model, deftly moving from individual to larger systems work and back again, and capturing the full range of human psychological phenomena as she goes. From the acquisition and maintenance of simple behavioral habits, to the construction of personal narrative and myth, Crocker's Gestalt therapy model is equally at home and applicable. Her vision of Gestalt therapy is at the same time startingly unique and comfortably familiar. She is firmly rooted in Gestalt Therapy's 'phenomenological behaviorism, " but at the same time offers us a model for assessing and working with self functions which is remarkably creative, and represents an important new contribution to the field. And throughout the text, interpolated between her provocative theoretical formulations, we encounter Crocker the clinician - moving straight ahead, getting right at the issue, making sense, and all the while, concretely instructive regarding the nature of the work. This is a book that will make a difference, challenging the way we think about the practice, the craft of psychotherapy.

Praise for Gestalt Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice "This is an incredibly important addition to the world of psychotherapy and Gestalt, in particular. This book will be very helpful for use with various courses of study, not just Gestalt institutes and special training programs, but also general graduate school classes in masters programs for mental health, social work, counseling, allied health professionals, psychiatry, and psychology. I highly recommend this book. I think it will make an excellent contribution." -Norman Shub, Gestalt Associates, Columbus, Ohio & Gestalt Institute of Central Ohio "Ansel L. Woldt and Sarah M. Toman have put together a monumental text that fills a gap in the genre of serious Gestalt literature that has remained relatively empty since Perls, Hefferline, and Goodman′s Gestalt Therapy was published in 1951. This is not to say that there haven′t been extraordinary works in this field published since then; however, this is one of the most expansive books of the recent collection. Each of the chapter authors has written impressive selections that, taken one-by-one, are valuable additions for serious students and practitioners. What earns this book an evaluation as extraordinary is both the content and the structure." -J. Edward Lynch, Southern Connecticut State University Gestalt Therapy: History, Theory, and Practice is an introductory text, written by major Gestalt theorists, that will engage those new to Gestalt therapy. Editors Ansel Woldt and Sarah M. Toman introduce the historical underpinnings and fundamental concepts of Gestalt therapy and illustrate applications of those concepts to therapeutic practice. The book is unique in that it is the first Gestalt text specifically designed for the academic and training institute settings. Gestalt Therapy takes both a conceptual and a practical approach to examining classic and cutting-edge constructs. In each chapter, understanding of concepts proceeds from content to case applications to experiential exercises. is an introductory text, written by major Gestalt theorists, that will engage those new to Gestalt therapy. Editors Ansel Woldt and Sarah M. Toman introduce the historical underpinnings and fundamental concepts of Gestalt therapy and illustrate applications of those concepts to therapeutic practice. The book is unique in that it is the first Gestalt text specifically designed for the academic and training institute settings. takes both a conceptual and a practical approach to examining classic and cutting-edge constructs. In each chapter, understanding of concepts proceeds from content to case applications to experiential exercises. Key Features Organized into two parts to provide the background, theory, and methodology first in Part I before examining the applications of Gestalt therapy in Part II Chapters are written by theorists and practitioners who are experts in various aspects of Gestalt therapy Chapters follow a consistent format-Introduction (with bios of chapter authors and dialogue respondents), Body/Content (with case study examples), Conclusion, Review Questions, and Experiential Applications and Activities "Dialogue Boxes" run alongside the content, thus mirroring a key Gestalt concept of valuing multiple perspectives and voices An Epilogue guides readers to training resources, Gestalt Internet resources, and Gestalt organizations Gestalt Therapy is designed for graduate students studying mental health, as well as for trainees at the many Gestalt training institutes around the world. is designed for graduate students studying mental health, as well as for trainees at the many Gestalt training institutes around the world.

Traditional psychotherapy approaches, focusing on working with and correcting mental events and conditions, have placed little importance on the fundamentally physical nature of the person. Yet many of the problems people bring to therapy are linked with or manifested in the body--such as obesity, psychosomatic distress, chronic tension, and sexual problems. This book provides a therapeutic approach that addresses both the physical and mental nature of clients. In this book, James Kepner shows that a client's posture, movements, and bodily experiences are indeed relevant to therapy, and he offers an insightful framework for incorporating these aspects into a therapeutic framework. This comprehensive treatment explains how body work can be integrated with the aims, methods, and philosophy of psychotherapy, offering a framework within which practitioners of different theoretical approaches can better appreciate body processes in the context of the whole person, rather than as isolated events. This book, including an updated introduction by the author, explores the range of body work in psychotherapy, from the development of body awareness to intensive work with physical structure and expression. And it demonstrates how this approach can be particularly effective with a range of clients, including survivors of sexual abuse, recovering drug addicts or alcoholics, or those suffering from chronic illness.

"We are here with you today." With those few words in August 1973, Sarah Chambers, her husband Richard, and their good friends Alice and Dick started a journey that took them far beyond anything they could possibly imagine. They explored the unseen realm of the spiritual world with their teacher "Michael." Along with good friend Eugene Trout, they created a new spiritual teaching - based in love - that helps people become more of who they truly are. The group kept transcripts of their meetings and those transcripts were copied and passed around to their friends and coworkers, then copied and passed to many others over the years. Volume 2 contains compilations, drawings, charts, information about the group members and a history of the Michael Teachings. . . . "Why am I here?" someone asked one night. Michael answered, "To hear the words you didn't hear 2,000 years ago. Maybe this time, you will listen."