Gestalt therapy is well-grounded in its daily practice, but is a field which is still in the process of developing a research tradition to support this practice. Gestalt practitioner researchers devote themselves to the generation of interest in the field, the enlargement of capacities and expertise, and the sharing of research projects and their findings. The larger Gestalt community realises that such research has begun to take place, but it requires more information and to be brought into the conversation through a book that speaks of philosophy and method and actually shares some of the research that emerges. This volume fills this lacuna, collecting for the first time the theoretical grounds for research in Gestalt therapy, and introduces useful research methods and presents actual research projects to provide inspiration to Gestalt practitioner researchers. The book will be helpful not only to Gestalt therapists interested in research, but also to students of Gestalt therapy involved in training, as it will serve to bolster their own academic performance. It will also be of interest to the larger field of psychotherapy research, in demonstrating how a clinical school based on principles such as existential dialogue, phenomenology and field theory is responding to the need for evidence-based practice, and is keeping pace with the needs of a twenty-first century professional community.

Many books have been written about gestalt therapy. Not many have been written on the relationship between gestalt therapy and psychotherapy research. The Handbook for Theory, Research, and Practice in Gestalt Therapy is a needed bridge between these two concerns, and a timely addition to scholarly literature on gestalt therapy itself. In 2007 an international team of experienced gestalt therapists devoted themselves to create this book, and they have collaborated with one another to produce a challenging and enriching addition to the literature relevant to gestalt therapy. The book discusses the philosophy of science, the need for research specifically focused on gestalt therapy, and the critical realism and natural attitude found in both research and gestalt praxis. It provides discussions of qualitative and quantitative research, describes the methods of gestalt therapy as based in a unified theory, and illustrates the application of research in the contexts of emerging gestalt research communities. The discussion contained in this book is needed at a time when warrant for the practice of psychotherapy is increasingly sought in the empirical support available through psychotherapy research–the so called evidence-based movement–and at a time when public policy is increasingly driven by the call for "what works."

This essential new book gives the reader an introduction to the fundamental concepts of gestalt therapy in a stimulating and accessible style. It supports the study and practice of gestalt therapy for clinicians of all backgrounds, reflecting a practice-based pedagogy that emphasises experiential learning. The content in this book builds on the curriculum taught at the Norwegian Gestalt Institute University College (NGI). The material is divided into four main sections. In the first section, the theoretical basis for gestalt therapy is presented with references to gestalt psychology, field theory, phenomenology, and existential philosophy. In the later parts, central theoretical terms and practical models are discussed, such as the paradoxical theory of change, creative adjustment, self, contact, contact forms, awareness, polarities, and process models. Clinical examples illustrate the therapy form’s emphasis on the relational meeting between therapist and client. Detailed description of gestalt therapy theory from the time of the gestalt psychologists to today, with abundant examples from clinical practice, distinguishes this book from other texts. It will be of great value to therapists, coaches, and students of gestalt therapy.

This is a true second edition, so much so that it approaches being a different book. It includes among its new authors some of the most sought-after theorists in contemporary gestalt therapy. There is a section on the philosophy of science, research and research methodology, and one devoted to gestalt therapy and its teaching and research in diverse parts of the world. There is disagreement and critique, for this is not a simple book. It is so packed with information that it serves as both a challenge and a resource. This second edition of the Handbook will take its place as an aid in understanding the evolution of contemporary gestalt therapy and as a guide to the evolving research tradition in gestalt therapy. It rightfully belongs on the shelves of both beginning trainees in gestalt therapy and advanced and experienced practitioners, and certainly represents a resource for practitioner-researchers involved in practice-based research.

This compelling and comprehensive volume is an anthology of current thinking by many of gestalt therapy’s leading theoreticians, clinicians, and researchers. Including many well-known voices in the field and introducing several new ones to the current gestalt therapy literature, the book presents a broad-ranging compendium of essays, scientific articles, clinical applications, and integrative approaches that represent the richness and vibrancy of the field. Each contributor brings intellectual rigor, honest personal reflection, and humanism to their area of inquiry. This ethos—the spirit of relational gestalt therapy—infuses the whole book, bringing a sense of coherence to its seventeen chapters. Following an introduction written by Mark Winitsky, PhD, as an entry point into the field for students and psychotherapists from other schools of thought, the book is organized into three sections: Theory, Clinical Applications, and Integrative Approaches. Readers will encounter new ways of thinking about psychotherapy, new skills they can bring to their work, and new ways of integrating gestalt therapy with other approaches. The Relational Heart of Gestalt Therapy is essential reading for Gestalt therapists as well as other mental health professionals with an interest in Gestalt approaches.

Gestalt Psychotherapy and Coaching for Relationships provides psychotherapists and coaches with a thorough understanding of two-person dynamics and offers practical interventions for working with couples and with two-person teams within larger organizations. Part I of this text relates contemporary gestalt therapy theory and gestalt-based coaching to developments in phenomenology, hermeneutics, cognitive science, extended cognition, embodiment, and kinesthesiology. Through a variety of narratives, Part II builds upon these themes and examines issues that typically emerge during couples work, including infidelity, provocative language, asymmetric relationships, sex, the use of emotion, limits and boundaries, and spirituality. Also included are general strategies for assimilating coaching into psychotherapy and vice versa, as well as recommendations for further study.

John McLeod’s bestseller provides a comprehensive, research-informed overview of the theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy. This new edition has been expanded to cover emerging aspects of contemporary practice, such as debates around neuroscience and integration; third-wave cognitive–behavioural therapies such as ACT, mindfulness and FAP; the experience of being a client; motivational interviewing; interpersonal psychotherapy; social dimensions of therapy; leaving therapy; gender and sexuality; spirituality; and key counselling and therapeutic skills and techniques. This sixth edition has been fully updated and revised throughout and is separated into a four-part structure for easy navigation. Each chapter also enhances learning with the following resources: • Case studies • Landmark and contemporary research studies • Topics for reflection and discussion • Suggested further reading An Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy has been the book of choice for students and tutors on introductory courses for over 25 years. “Professor John McLeod’s Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy is a classic text. In providing a comprehensive perspective on the field, it goes well beyond being a mere ‘introduction’. Not only does it deliver an encyclopaedic amount of information, but it also presents this information in an incredibly captivating manner. There is simply no other book on the topic to match it. This new edition, truly faithful to its predecessors, maps new innovations in the context of previous generations’ viewpoints. This is ‘the’ book on counselling and psychotherapy.” Ladislav Timulak, PhD, Course Director, Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, Trinity College Dublin “John McLeod has a talent for bringing readers into intimate contact with the experience of another person's experience. Through his evocative descriptions, accessible language, and plentiful examples you will find yourself looking through the eyes of both clients and therapists and developing a depth of understanding about important processes in psychotherapy. His position at the vanguard of psychotherapy research allows him to bring to life the practice of psychotherapy while posing research questions and stimulating curiosity about findings. His valuing of varied approaches to psychotherapy invites the reader to connect with diverse perspectives and consider their own beliefs.” Heidi M. Levitt, PhD, University of Massachusetts Boston, USA