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Gestalt Therapy
History, Theory, and Practice


January 2005 | 424 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

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.

 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 
PROLOGUE - FOREWORD
 
PRE-TEXT: GESTALT PEDAGOGY:
Ansel L. Woldt, Ed.D.
CREATING THE FIELD FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING
Dialogue Respondent

Sarah M. Toman, Ph.D.
 
PART I: FOUNDATIONS OF GESTALT THERAPY
Charles E. Bowman, M.S.
Chapter 1. The History and Development of Gestalt Therapy
Dialogue Respondent

Edwin C. Nevis, Ph.D.
Margherita Spagnuolo Lobb, Psy.D.
Chapter 2. Classical Gestalt Therapy Theory
Dialogue Respondent

Philip Lichtenberg, Ph.D.
Malcolm Parlett, Ph.D.
Chapter 3. Contemporary Gestalt Therapy: Field
Dialogue Respondent

Robert G. Lee, Ph.D.
Sylvia Fleming Crocker, Ph.D.
Chapter 4. Phenomenology, Existentialism and Eastern Thought in Gestalt Therapy
Dialogue Respondent

Peter Philippson, M.Sc.
Gary Yontef, Ph.D., M.S.W., A.B.P.P.
Chapter 5. Gestalt Therapy Theory of Change
Dialogue Respondent

Reinhard Fúhr, Ph.D.
Joseph Melnick, Ph.D. & Sonia March Nevis, Ph.D.
Chapter 6. Gestalt Therapy Methodology
Dialogue Respondent

Norman Shub, B.C.D.
Sabin Fernbacher, M.A.
Chapter 7. Cultural Influences and Considerations in Gestalt Therapy
Dialogue Respondent

Deborah Plummer, Ph.D.
R. Elliott Ingersoll, Ph.D.
Chapter 8. Spirituality in Gestalt Therapy
Dialogue Respondent

Brian O'Neill, M.A., Ps.S.
 
PART II: GESTALT APPLICATIONS WITH SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Cynthia Reynolds, Ph.D.
Chapter 9. Gestalt Therapy with Children
Dialogue Respondent:

Peter Mortola, Ph.D.
Sarah Toman, Ph.D., and Ann Bauer, Ph.D.
Chapter 10. Adolescents: Development and Practice from a Gestalt Orientation
Dialogue Respondents

Mark McConville, Ph.D., & Bruce Robertson, M.S.W.
J. Edward Lynch, Ph.D., and Barbara Lynch, Ph.D.
Chapter 11. Family and Couple Therapy from a Gestalt Perspective
Dialogue Respondent

Joseph C. Zinker, Ph.D.
Paul Schoenberg, Ph.D., and Bud Feder, Ph.D.
Chapter 12. Gestalt Therapy in Groups
Dialogue Respondents

Jon Frew, Ph.D., & Irwin Gadol, Ph.D.
Rick Maurer, Ph.D.
Chapter 13. Gestalt Approaches with Organizations and Large Systems
Dialogue Respondent

Seán Gaffney, Ph.D.
Philip Brownell, M.Div., Psy.D.
Chapter 14. Gestalt Therapy in Community Mental Health
Dialogue Respondent

Karen Fleming, Ph.D.
Michael Clemmens, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Chapter 15. Gestalt Approaches to Substance Use/Abuse/Dependency: Theory and Practice
Dialogue Respondent

Helga Matzko, M.A., M.A., C.A.G.S.
Cara Garcia, Ph.D., Susan Baker, M.A., & Robert deMayo, Ph.D.
Chapter 16. Gestalt Educational Therapy
Dialogue Respondent

George I. Brown, Ph.D.
 
EPILOGUE - AFTERWORD
 
COMPREHENSIVE REFERENCE AND GESTALT BOOK LIST
 
APPENDIX


"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


"The format is intriguing, lively, and the 'dialogue' sections will allow other voices to speak because, as with all good theory, there is not unanimity regarding the nature and/or importance of various concepts."

Lynne Jacobs
Pacific Gestalt Institute
Key features
  • The text is broadly divided into two parts, providing students with background, theory, and methodology in the first part before delving into applications of Gestalt therapy for selected client populations in the second part.
  •  Having chapters written by a variety of theorists and practitioners who are experts in various aspects of Gestalt therapy provides students with exposure to a diversity of perspectives from scholars worldwide.
  • Although each chapter is written by a different author, all follow a common format for the sake of consistency: Introduction (with bios of chapter authors and dialogue respondents), Body/Content (with case study examples), Conclusion, Review Questions, and Experiential Applications and Activities.
  • An Epilogue guides readers to training resources, Gestalt Internet resources, and Gestalt organizations.
  • The style of the text coincides with the Gestalt approach to learning in that dialogue between individuals holding various views is included; the co-editors, authors, and invited respondents all have opportunities to comment on chapter content in unique "Dialogue Boxes" alongside the main body of the text, thus mirroring a key Gestalt concept of valuing multiple perspectives and voices.
  • Brief biographies and photos of chapter authors and dialogue respondents are included to establish more contact between readers and the writers.

For instructors

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