Some thoughts

• Relation to the Larger Field by Philip Brownell, 6/24/98
  • In response by Dale R. Smith, 6/28/98
    
    

I believe there is more substance to Gestalt therapy than you seem to think. I am struck with how, following the decline of popular support for Gestalt in the early seventies, it went underground and flourished. Now, there are Gestalt communities all around the world, and these groups of therapists and trainers have established national organizations, begun putting on their various conferences, and the whole grass roots field is emerging once more above ground. This time it is driven by theory and a rich history of practice. This time one charismatic, and rather unpredictable man, is not the dominant voice representing Gestalt therapy. Gestalt is taught at major universities, and even where it doesn't hold a dominant focus in these various academic programs, there are key professors in those sites who are Gestalt therapists. Iris Fodor, Ph.D., heads up two APA approved doctoral programs for NYU. Leslie Greenberg, Ph.D. conducts world-class research and writes voluminously while a professor at York University in Toronto. Kent State University boasts the Gestalt archives and there is an extensive history of research in Gestalt therapy by doctoral candidates as a result of Ansel Woldt, Ed.D. Steve Zahm, Ph.D. has been teaching Gestalt therapy at Pacific University's Psy.D. program. There is an academic anxieties program that uses Gestalt and that runs through Pepperdine University. In France one of the most popular therapeutic alternatives is Gestalt; the practitioners there see hundreds of trainees per year. I would suggest you check out the web sites for the AAGT and the EAGT to get more of a feel for what's currently going on.

Phil

• Space kid makes good .... by Dale R. Smith, 7/9/98