This groundbreaking book points the way to an expansive and comprehensive psychotherapy approach in its integration of Buddhist psychology and Gestalt therapy. The authors establish the essential convergences of Buddhist psychology and mindfulness with Gestalt therapy theory and method, and creatively explore the clinical implications of these and their relevance in psychotherapeutic work. These convergences, as well as the recognition of the two systems' differences in focus and ultimate aims, then serve as the foundation for a Buddhist psychology informed Gestalt therapy (BPGT). This innovative integration offers a new perspective while also maintaining the holistic integrity of each system. Here, the book lays out how Buddhist psychology's universal view and Gestalt therapy's focus on the individual and relational can work synergistically in addressing the fundamental ground of human suffering. Clinical vignettes throughout the book bring the concepts and methods to life, offering clear examples of how these can be implemented. This book's heart, wisdom, and deeply relational holistic perspective on the therapeutic endeavor can offer psychotherapists of any stripe an enriched clinical understanding, and the "how to" for putting this understanding into practice.

This book draws on the author's half century of experience in teaching, consulting with, and supervising psychotherapists throughout the world. He begins with the premise that the field has become too preoccupied with information: collecting information from the client and then feeding that information back to the client in different forms. The author then explains how and why shifting away from information gathering to attending to what is actually happening in the therapy room increases the effectiveness of the therapeutic interaction.

Enchantment and Gestalt Therapy is a personal exploration of Erving Polster’s remarkable career, the value of the Gestalt approach, and the power of enchantment in psychotherapy. Polster points ahead to a vision of a psychotherapy that includes the population as a whole rather than focusing on individuals, highlights common aspects of living, and focuses on creating an ethos for a shared understanding. The book outlines the six Gestalt therapy concepts that have formed the basis of Polster’s work and describes Life Focus Groups, with an emphasis on the communal relationship between tellers and listeners. Polster also describes the phenomenon of enchantment in psychotherapy in detail, with reference to his own experiences. This unique work is essential reading for Gestalt therapists, other professionals interested in Gestalt approaches, and readers looking for a deeper insight into community and connection. In the below link, Erving Polster speaks to Margherita Spagnuolo Lobb, the series editor of The Gestalt Therpay Book Series, about Enchantment and Gestalt Therapy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PVG9JgpTQQ&feature=youtu.be

This unique text is the first to provide an introduction to the theory and practice of the major theories of psychotherapy and, at the same time, illustrate how these approaches are dealing with the ever-increasing diversity of today’s clients. Frew and Spiegler have assembled the leading contemporary authorities on each theory to offer an insider's perspective that includes exposure to the style and language used by adherents of the approach, which is not available in any other text. The history of each approach and the latest, cutting-edge theory and practice are integrated with an emphasis on an awareness of the needs of diverse non-majority clients, creating a comprehensive, practical, and invaluable text for any counseling theories course. The major psychotherapeutic approaches are presented in roughly the chronological order in which they were developed, and each chapter follows the same basic format to ensure consistency throughout the text. Along with traditional theories, there are chapters on reality therapy, feminist therapy, and narrative therapy, and the chapter on ethics includes multicultural and feminist perspectives. Each chapter includes: the origin and evolution of the theory theoretical foundations and how the theory is manifested in practice an evaluation of the evidence for the theory’s success, limitations, blind spots, and challenges "The Author’s Journey," in which authors describe what lead them to adopt their approach and how their own practice has evolved over time multicultural competencies and their importance in the context of the theory. Resources are available online for instructors to supplement the material in the text and include a test bank and PowerPoint lecture slides.

"The general reader, if he looks to psychology for something more than entertainment or practical advice, will discover in this book a storehouse of searching criticism and brilliant suggestions from the pen of a rare thinker, and one who occupies a leading position in theoretical psychology today." --Atlantic Monthly

Originally published: Lafayette, CA: Real People Press, 1969.

Aggression, Time, and Understanding is the first book of Staemmler’s writings to be published in English. In the early sections of this book, Staemmler (supported by his Buddhist wife, Barbara) comprehensively explores and questions the traditional Gestalt therapy theory of aggression and proposes a new approach to working with anger and hostility. Further sections include in-depth examinations of the topics of time (the "Here and Now" and "Regressive Processes") and understanding ("Dialogue and Interpretation" and "Cultivated Uncertainty"). From Staemmler’s "critical gaze," Dan Bloom observes, "concepts emerge as refreshed, re-formed, and revitalized constructs so we can continue to develop the theory and practice of contemporary Gestalt therapy."