Refining

• What did Perls mean, when... by James W. Patterson, Ph.D., 5/3/98
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    • Gestalt - Spirituality by Claire Salisbury, 5/4/98
      
      

Claire Salisbury: I enjoyed your thoughtful "reaction". I noted at the end of the second paragraph: "that perhaps exists beyond the self". I know that many "practice" Gestalt without knowledge of what "exists beyond the self". Even Perls, was gifted in his practice without knowing what lies beyond the self. However, I believe it's crucial to emphasize that his belief in such existence was coincident with, and I believe indispensible as the source of his "gift" of practice. My point? That the training of Gestalt therapists should include the study of both MIND and Consciousness, or the mental and Spiritual Realities within Man. And, that those too intellectual for the Spiritual be denied authorization as a Gestalt therapist. My basis? That the Gestalt process is, itself, too effective to not provide the client a knowledgeable support for repressed material raised to conscious awareness. The therapist ignorant of either the MIND or the Spiritual cannot help but misdirect the client. I believe this is malpractice, and should be seen as such.

• Spiritual Ego? by Ed Riemann LCSW, 5/5/98