Gestalt Therapy Training
Explore Deeper with your clients
You love what you do, and you enjoy helping your clients be the best version of themselves by holding their hands while they navigate difficult situations but sometimes it feels like you can do more…
Witnessing your clients engaging in the same toxic cycles makes you want to find ways to address the underlying issues and achieve permanent healing rather than staying on the surface by just teaching them coping skills or reframing their thoughts.
You want to learn how to fill those silence gaps during sessions at times because it feels like you’re pulling teeth with certain clients…
You’ve always been interested in learning skills to help you dig deeper with your clients for them to finally make sense of it all…
You probably heard about Gestalt Therapy during grad school, and you might remember the famous Gloria videos… well, let me tell you, Gestalt Therapy has evolved a lot from that…
Did you know this approach works wonders with clients that are ready to make contact with their inner world to find and address underlying issues?
Imagine that your “therapist toolbox” just got filled with amazing techniques that can allow your clients to achieve amazing breakthroughs; breakthroughs that not only increase awareness and acceptance but most importantly responsibility of choice…
Rather than helping your clients find temporary coping strategies, you’ll be helping your clients navigate their emotions and feelings by guiding them to make contact with their real inner needs in order to restore emotional balance.
Gestalt Therapy was created by Fritz Perls and is a humanistic approach. Gestalt proposes that behind every emotion there is a need that needs to be satisfied (or is being satisfied through the experience of the emotion). What we do in sessions is to help our clients move through their cycle of satisfaction of needs and identify any blockage in their cycle. This is why it is so important that we help our clients “navigate” or reflect on their emotions to identify the needs behind them to achieve healing.
In Gestalt Therapy, we distinguish what a person is aware of (“figure”) and what the person is not aware of (“background”). Our job as a therapist is to uncover the “background” to allow the client to “organize” his or her reality to align with the seemingly more important “figure” (which is normally what brings them to therapy seeking help).
One of the main differences with other more cognitive approaches is that they try to “replace negative thinking patterns” by “proving to the client that those are irrational beliefs.” In Gestalt, we help clients identify their own internal dialogues (and not to argue them or try to tell them that’s why they are suffering); but to develop empathy within themselves and guide them through the direction that will lead to healing in their own time. The client is always the expert; they make their own connections; we just “keep them company” in the process…
What will you be able to do when implementing Gestalt techniques?
Picture helping your clients finding the core source of their anxiety and depression and assisting them have closure to achieve permanent healing by closing their (until now) interrupted cycle.
You’ll be able to help your clients satisfy basic needs that were blocked during traumatic experiences in order to heal from trauma in the here and now.
You can help people become more acceptant of aspects they don’t like about themselves by identifying unsatisfied needs from those aspects and provide healing in the here and now.
You’ll assist your clients heal old wounds that continue to affect them in the present by satisfying emotional needs through encouraging responsibility, awareness and acceptance. Your clients will be able to break codependent tendencies, toxic cycles of manipulation, insecurity and constant fear as they will learn the core of these issues and with your guidance can choose their own healing or learn how to navigate emotional consequences from their choice.
But we didn’t learn how to do this in grad school…
Unfortunately, the training opportunities in Gestalt Therapy is somewhat limited in US compared to other more popular approaches… and I’m motivated to change that!
I decided to create this Introductory course to Gestalt Therapy with the hopes to make it more accessible for therapists. This course will cover important concepts about Gestalt Therapy and during the experiential section (if you choose to participate) you’ll see the theory being applied to action.
My certification took 2.5 years but this course will provide the very much needed foundational skills in just a few weeks and you can get the best out of it to learn how to properly implement techniques to feel confident when using this approach.
With this course, not only you’ll be able to learn how to properly use The Empty Chair Technique (as it is more than just a dialogue) and see how you can help your clients make connections with past emotional wounds that continue to affect them in the here and now; but you’ll be able to help your clients break their toxic cycles by increasing awareness and acceptance while you implement MANY other techniques, such as acting out, recovering projections, guided fantasies, dream analysis, etc…
About me….
Hi, I’m Carmen, a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Florida who is also a passionate Certified Gestalt Therapist. My goal is to help therapists like you learn how to implement Gestalt Therapy to help their clients who struggle with deeper issues and toxic cycles by addressing underlying causes and achieve permanent healing.
I have been lucky enough to witness amazing results with clients when implementing these techniques, starting from addressing the main cause of client’s anxiety and depression; healing from trauma, recovering from grief, navigating life transitions, increasing self-esteem, breaking codependency cycles, resolving relationship conflicts, etc
Also, this works wonders with people that want to work on self-growth as Gestalt Therapy is considered an ongoing self-discovery journey.
I’m also a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Master’s Level Addiction Professional (MCAP).
Now, how does this work?
This course has 2 parts: The theory section and the (optional) Experiential section.
The theory section is divided in 4 Modules. The information is presented in interactive videos, and I’ll be voice behind them! These videos can be watched at your own pace.
Here is the breakdown of the Curriculum:
MODULE I
- What Gestalt Therapy is about
- Basic Concepts
- Goals in Gestalt Therapy
- How to facilitate change through Gestalt Therapy
During this first module, we go through important concepts that need to be internalized in order to make sense of the techniques that we would go over during Modules 3 & 4. You’ll have the chance to learn how this approach is different by understanding the ongoing goals we work on when we implement Gestalt Therapy and how healing is achieved.
MODULE II
- Cycle of Satisfaction of Needs
- Interruptions in the cycle of satisfaction of needs
- To become aware and neurosis in Gestalt Therapy
- Therapist roles in the Gestaltic encounter
This module starts off with the cycle of satisfaction of needs or like I like to call it “The DSM of Gestalt Therapy” as it will help us conceptualize our client’s presenting problem in order to choose appropriate interventions in order to achieve therapeutic goals. We also learn about the interruptions in this cycle and ways to address these blockages.
MODULE III
- The Empty Chair Technique
- Recovering Projections
- Integrating Polarities
- Dream Analysis
- Art in Gestalt Therapy
This is where the fun starts! During this module, you’ll be able to learn about the most popular Gestalt technique out there: The Empty Chair AND MANY MORE! We would go over important considerations to implement these techniques (as the empty chair for example, is more than just a dialogue) and specific steps when using these interventions.
MODULE IV
- The Wounded Child
- Healing our Wounded Child
- Gestalt Therapy in Couples
- Gestalt Techniques for Couples
During this last module, you will learn about how to explore and address deeply wounded aspects of your clients. Aspects that cause constant toxic cycles that provoke emotional suffering and living in a constant state of imbalance. You’ll also have the chance to learn about Gestalt Therapy in couples and some Gestalt Techniques for couples.
Watch a little preview of the theory section here!
After you watch the videos, you can participate in the Experiential section which consist of 4 live classes where you’ll have the chance to witness and/or participate in exercises and techniques. Of course, I’ll be the one facilitating these classes.
This is an amazing opportunity to learn what is expected when we implement techniques as well as learning how to address our client’s responses to these interventions, so this is definitely the heart of the course as Gestalt Therapy Training is definitely more experiential than theoretical.
The dates for these classes will be offered every 6-8 weeks so you can plan to attend when you’re ready and it fits your schedule. However, you need to sign up for these classes within 9 months of enrolling in the course.
What type of client’s issues can be addressed with Gestalt Therapy?
- Anxiety Disorders/Stress/Burnout
- Depressive Disorders
- Trauma/PTSD
- Life Transitions
- Grief
- Relationship Conflicts
- Poor Self-Esteem
- Codependency
- Addiction
- Impulse Control
- Unresolved Emotions (guilt, shame, resentment, etc)
- Deep emotional wounds
- Personal Growth
BONUS!
You’ll also have access to 21 Technique Scripts with detailed instructions and specific prompts to follow when implementing these techniques which will definitely help you feel more confident when using this approach.
You can follow the specified prompts and instructions when using techniques such as a Body Scan, Guided Fantasies, Inner child work, dream analysis, etc.
If you upgrade to the Platinum package, you’ll get access to all of the above, PLUS 3 45 minutes coaching sessions with me where we would meet privately to go over information that you might want to clarify and/or talk about how to implement these techniques with your clients specifically (following HIPAA guidelines of course).
CEU’s available!
Doing this training was amazing! I always wanted to learn how to explore deeper issues with clients and these techniques are helping me achieve amazing breakthroughs! I highly recommend this to anyone in the counseling profession!
I have never found a place here in Florida that provides training for this approach and show all the different techniques Gestalt provides. During the training, one of my favorite techniques was the “Body Scan”. This training has taught me how to implement new techniques in my practice. This is something I’ll definitely bring into the work with my clients. Thank you, Carmen for making this possible, I loved the training and how well it was presented.”
I definitely had the chance to improve my clinical skills with this course. After this training, I was able to properly implement techniques as “the empty chair” and now my clients are having amazing breakthroughs. She is a very qualified and passionate profesional in gestalt Therapy. I highly recommend this!!!
Different Available Packages for this course
GOLD PACKAGE
- • Get all 4 Theory modules ($600 value)
- • Have access to technique scripts (with detailed instructions and prompts) so you can feel more confident when implementing techniques. ($250 value)
- • You can add the experiential section later if you choose to (up to 9 months after you enroll) for $250 more.
PLATINUM PACKAGE
- • Get all 4 Theory Modules ($600 value)
- • Have access to technique scripts (with detailed instructions and prompts) so you can feel more confident when implementing techniques. ($250 value)
- • Get access to the Experiential section (up to 9 months after you enroll) ($250 value)
- • Get 3 45 minutes Gestalt Coaching sessions where we would meet privately and discuss anything that needs further review and/or go over how you can implement the techniques you learned with your clients specifically (following HIPAA guidelines) ($450 value)
The Gestalt training was everything I thought it would be and then some!. The conceptual side of the training takes up a bit of the time frame, but when you have the chance to see it all come into action during the experiential part of it, you just can’t help but to be in shock and awe of how it is working, and how effective it is. Carmen was willing and able to answer any and all questions that we had during our time in the training and even outside (she still answers emails). I would 100% recommend this training to others, as it has broadened my theoretical horizon and here’s hoping that soon she will even have a part 2 of her training course!
FAQS
How does this work?
Once you enroll, you’ll have access to watch the videos which is the theory section. You can schedule the experiential dates if you choose to participate after you went through all the videos.
How do I access to the videos?
The enrollment process will prompt you to have access to the platform where you’ll have access to the videos. The platform is called Teachable.
Can I only enroll in the experiential section?
No, you MUST have completed the theory section in order to participate in the experiential. You need to participate in the Experiential up to 9 months after you enroll in the course.
How long do I have access to these videos?
Once you enroll and signed up, you’ll have access to these videos for the lifetime of the program.
Do I have to take a test?
There is 1 simple multiple choice after each module if you want to earn CEUs.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes, if you purchase the CEU’s you’ll receive a certificate of completion from the CEU’s agency and if you don’t purchase the CEUs, simply contact me at carmen@uniquecounseling.net and I’ll provide one.
Is this a certification?
No, this course is for professional development only; however, this will be useful if you decide to pursue the 2.5 years of studying if you want to become a Certified Gestalt Therapist as you will be more familiar with the theoretical concepts.
How confident will I be to implement the techniques after this course?
Very! I focused on being as specific as I could during the theory section and the experiential section will give you the opportunity to clarify questions and doubts you might have after watching the videos. People that take advantage of the coaching sessions become a lot more confident too! Finally, the technique scripts will increase your comfort level when implementing techniques.
I’m not in US, can I still take the course?
Of course! I’ve had people taken this course from New Zealand, Australia, London, etc…
What if I have more questions?
I’ll be happy to answer them! just email me at carmen@uniqueconseling.net
Information about CEU’s
- There are options to earn CEUs after paying an additional fee separately.
- For LMHCs, LCSWs and LMFTs in Florida ONLY: If you purchase the Gold package, the cost to earn the 8 CEU’s is $25. If you engage in the experiential section, you can earn 10 CEU’s and the cost is $35. You will be required to fill out an online course evaluation when you purchase the CEU’s. Please use the following link for the course evaluation and purchase of CEU’s https://meetyoursupervisor.com/course-evaluation. CEU’s for this course (in Florida) are available through MDM Counseling and Mediation Services. MDM Counseling and Mediation Services is an approved Florida CEU Provider for continuing education by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling (CE Provider #50-11089, Exp. 03/2023) Check with your state board for CE requirements. All who participate in the course will receive a certificate of completion.
- For all other states, you can still earn the same amount of CEUs (8) for the theory section (in gold and platinum) after paying $40 additionally (this was the only way to avoid restrictions by state and/or credentials). You’ll need to pay an additional $40 for the 10 CEU’s in the experiential classes. Please check with your board and state for any restrictions. Certificates are available following a course completion: For the Theory section, click here. For the Experiential Section, click here.
- If you do not purchase CEUs, you will receive your Certificate of Completion by emailing carmen@uniquecounseling.net.
Additional Information
- The theory section of this course is “on demand”.
- The agenda for the upcoming Experiential classes is specified in here. Different dates will be provided every 6-8 weeks.
- This training is for mental health therapists, mental health counselors, social workers, psychologists and any other professional providing counseling services.
Course Objectives
- Construct a basic understanding of fundamental concepts of Gestalt Therapy in order to comprehend change through Gestalt Therapy.
- Demonstrate knowledge regarding relevant information on how Gestalt Therapy views certain disorders and behaviors.
- Describe how unhealthy behavior is developed through the interruption of the cycle of satisfaction of needs.
- Identify and understand interruptions in the cycle of satisfaction of needs and recognize how to implement this concept in their clinical work.
- Identify and understand theoretical foundations of Gestalt Therapy techniques as well as specific considerations in order to implement these techniques.
- Identify steps before, during and after implementing techniques as well as appropriateness of implementation of techniques.
- Demonstrate understanding on how to identify how past emotional experiences affects current behavior and how to achieve healing.
- Demonstrate understanding on how Gestalt Therapy views couples work and implement techniques appropriate for their work with couples.
- The course content level is Introductory.
- For cancellation, questions, or concerns, please email carmen@uniquecounseling.net
- There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.