By Yaro Starak Brisbane Gestalt Institute P.O.Box 592 Ashgrove Queensland 4060 Australia

Background

This paper is not a proposal but a position paper of my own thinking and experience over the past few years, concerning the issues related to Gestalt Therapy Training.

This experience is based on over 20 years of training and teaching at various Universities in Canada and in Australia as well as being a guest trainer of Gestalt Institutes of Toronto, Canada; Valencia, Spain; Oro, Denmark; GENI, Germany and Tallin, Estonia. Since 1979 I have been involved in training and education of gestalt Therapy students in Brisbane - at the Brisbane Gestalt Institute.

The background of the Australian Gestalt Therapy training is a history of mixed blessings and the contribution of a series of courageous pioneers who introduced Gestalt Therapy after having visited the USA in the early seventies.

Much of Gestalt 'training' was conducted by people who, after returning home from overseas, embraced Gestalt (and other experiential approaches) with great passion and proceeded to establish training groups.

The early training groups were mostly weekend seminars and workshops by local therapists eager to demonstrate the power of their newly discovered methods. They also invited leaders from overseas that attracted large numbers of curious and interested professionals. Some of the invited leaders added psychodrama, encounter methods, body-oriented approaches and spiritual or transpersonal practices to Gestalt work.

Early beginnings of Gestalt Therapy training

In my view, the more formal training of Gestalt therapists began around 1974/5 when Dr. James Oldham arrived in Melbourne and established the Melbourne Institute and I arrived in Brisbane in 1978 and established the Brisbane Gestalt Center (changed this year to the Brisbane Gestalt Institute).

Both James and I completed our own formal three year training in Toronto, Canada with Jorge Rosner and Harvey Friedman. At a later date James established the Perth Institute in Western Australia and I helped establish the Sydney Gestalt Center. Very soon Gestalt training groups began forming in many other areas of Australia and New Zealand.

As the years passed, people received their certificates and diplomas after finishing their training, which basically followed the Toronto model. There were also other models of training developed in Wollongong and in New Zealand. Some graduates established themselves as Gestalt therapists in clinics, human service organisation and some became successful private practitioners.No one questioned the standards or qualifications of the graduates. The free market forces took care of those who were deemed incompetent by failing to attract a clientele. Others were rewarded with many clients and began to establish training groups.

Again, no one questioned the qualifications of a Gestalt Trainer. As long as the person had completed a training in a Gestalt Center or Institute. That was enough to make them teachers.

This paper is and attempt to take a good look at the way Gestalt training and education CAN proceed in the future to insure quality and competence and maintain a good reputation for Gestalt Therapy in the mainstream of psychotherapy training and practice. It is only through good graduates that we will be seen as contributing positively to the future of psychotherapy and the betterment of humankind.

The Fundamentals

At the BGI we have a fundamental belief that Gestalt Therapy work is a way of understanding human existence rather than a system of 'how to do it' techniques. The current culture of 'quick fix' cures is one of the main blocks to deep understanding of human beings and what it means to be human. Most systems of therapy or counselling seem to relegate people to objects that require the gathering of data. People are treated, measured, tested, managed, analysed or interpreted.

In Gestalt Therapy we teach how to seek direct understanding of the client's existential 'crisis' as a being in process and in contact with the world. All the techniques, methods, experiments and exercises are subordinate to this understanding.

It is therefore imperative that the training of Gestalt Therapist takes place in an environment where the trainee learns about being present and in relationship with the essence of the client and being aware of the immense potentiality and infinite capacity of the person to heal and grow. This process is not possible to achieve by short courses, week-end workshops or even month long seminars but in long term and properly defined curriculum of training that lasts a minimum of three years.

In training therapists, the ultimate training or education that is of any value, is the achievement of full awareness of the paradox of being and not being. The understanding of the meaning of 'who am I?' Therapists who offer explanations or promise outcomes to their clients or attempt to indicate that they have a solution to the paradox of life are not capable to become Gestalt Therapists.

Gestalt Therapy training aims at imparting a set of procedures or a 'form in which to practice therapy and at the same time live one's life. That is the reason why most of the training in Gestalt Therapy is very similar to the therapy itself- a skilled therapist works with others in front of a group of trainees. The trainer/therapist is prepared to demonstrate his or her form openly and honestly.

Competence as a therapist is acquired slowly and gradually. Trainers learn from first hand exposure to the work of highly experienced and professional leaders, supervision, case control work and reading and presenting relevant literature.

The main focus is to help the trainee to develop a capacity for self-awareness that will activate an authentic, open and honest communication in dialogue with others. In addition the training process is aimed at enabling the trainee to understand the blocks to awareness and to develop an ability to deal with these blocks in the self and others.

After a course of three years of training the students are able to develop an authentic presence as a therapist - a self grounding in skills and knowledge and a certainty of their own process as spontaneous, creative and competent practitioner.

A Path for Training Trainers in Gestalt Therapy

A look at current trainers and educators gives us a profile of individuals who have completed their tertiary education and achieved professional qualifications in the various therapeutic professions. Some have considerable experience in teaching at universities and many have completed a PhD.

With the expanding numbers of training centers we are experiencing a need to establish very clear criteria as to who can be acknowledged to become a Gestalt Therapy Trainer. The following suggestions are offered and a 'developmental path' is indicated.

• Every Trainer must have at least a degree from a reputable tertiary institution and/or have demonstrated, during the two years of assistant trainer, a sound vocation as as trainer.
• A preference for a post-graduate work in Psychotherapy, Social Work, Psychology is recommended.
• Completion of a three year Gestalt Therapy training programme.
• After the completion of a three year training course, an additional period of two years as assistant to a senior trainer conducting groups, co-leading public seminars and receiving regular supervision.
• Publication in Gestalt journals and attending personal and professional improvement events.

Appendix I shows a table describing a typical path of the development of a trainer.

1. First comes individual work with a Gestalt Therapist. The individual is involved in the exploration of inner issues and clearing of unfinished life business. This individual work will determine whether the person is open to the exploration of the authentic self.
2. The individual becomes a student of Gestalt Therapy by joining a Center or Institute. Here the student may focus first on the many 'techniques' and 'tools' available. During this stage care is taken to help the student develop sufficient AWARENESS to realise that the techniques actually hinder the natural organic and spontaneous work with others. This awareness is developed in the group environment probably in the first year of training.
3. Graduate Gestalt Therapist/Practitioner. The graduate may have completed all the requirements and passed all the ;'loops' in the training process. However the 'true' graduate is the one who is capable of a larger perspective and sees wider horizons of Gestalt as a way of life and not only a way of 'doing' therapy. Such a person shows considerable sense of compassion, respect and humility in the therapeutic work.
4. Assistant Trainer at a Gestalt Training Center. Some candidates are invited by the faculty to become assistants to trainers and teachers who conduct seminars and workshops. This sort of 'apprenticeship' must be no less than two years ( a weekend per month). The assistant learns to be confident and grounded in presenting Gestalt theory, leading a group with personal presence and teaching experientially. A minimum of two years working with clients is recommended, feed-back on this work and getting supervision or coaching from the senior trainer.
5. Gestalt Trainer/Educator. After two years of assisting and under the guidance of the senior trainer, the candidate may be invited to become an associate member of the Institute. While training others it is crucial to continue the process of self-improvement, supervision by peers and keeping informed of new developments in Gestalt theory and practice.
6. Senior Trainer/Gestaltist. Achieving this position on the path requires at least five years as a member of a training faculty of a recognised Gestalt Institute or Center. Publication in journals and writing is greatly encouraged in order to keep developing Gestalt Therapy as a fresh and reality grounded healing method.

APPENDIX I