Gestalt Counselling in Action: (Counselling in Action series)

Simon Cavicchia has oriented Clarkson’s seminal work of Gestalt Counselling in Action within a more contemporary context, adding voices of significant and divergent thinkers as counter-point and extensions of the author’s work. Michael Clemmens, Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, USA This popular and well written book which is now in its 4th edition provides an accessible and thorough introduction to the Gestalt approach. Danny Porter, Manchester Gestalt Centre Now 24 years old with over 40,000 copies sold worldwide, Petruska Clarkson’s classic text is the definitive introduction to Gestalt therapy. This fourth edition, updated by Simon Cavicchia, covers the latest in Gestalt theory, research and practice. It includes: An extended case study running through the book to help you understand the process of therapy and the techniques used in each of the phases. Learning features and case examples translating theory into practice. New ‘reflection sections’ showing you the most recent developments in the field. New material on the relational turn and research. As a student of Gestalt therapy, this is the one book you need to buy; it offers a uniquely practical and accessible approach to an often complex topic. Petruska Clarkson was a professor and fellow of the British Association for Counselling and Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Petruska sadly passed away in 2006. Simon Cavicchia is a primary tutor on the MSc in Gestalt Psychotherapy and Joint Programme Leader of the MSc in Coaching Psychology/MA in Psychological Coaching, both at Metanoia Institute, London.

Table of Contents:
Introduction to Gestalt Fundamentals of the Gestalt Approach to Counselling The Cycle of Experience and its Application to the Counselling Process Interruptions in the Cycle Sensation and the Necessary Preconditions for Counselling Awareness and the Initial Phases of the Counselling Process Mobilisation and the post-preliminary phases of the counselling process Action and the middle phases of the counselling process Final contact and the later phases of the counselling process Satisfaction and the penultimate phases of the counselling process Withdrawal and the final phases of the counselling process Responsibility and freedom in counselling Concluding reflections on gestalt′s future frontiers and integrations

About the Author :
Petruska Clarkson was a professor and fellow of the British Association for Counselling and Fellow of the British Psychological Society. A Consultant Psychologist, Psychotherapist Supervisor and Management Consultant, she worked and taught at universities and private institutions internationally. Petruska sadly passed away in 2006. Simon Cavicchia divides his time between teaching, working as a psychotherapist and supervisor and as an executive coach and consultant to leadership teams in public and private sector organisations.  He has held teaching roles at Metanoia Institute where he was primary tutor on the Gestalt psychotherapy programme and Joint Programme Leader for the Masters in Coaching Psychology.  He is currently a member of faculty on the Masters in Executive coaching at Ashridge Hult Business School, UK.   He has published a number of papers on relational coaching, and co-authored The Theory and Practice of Relational Coaching - Complexity, Paradox and Integration (Routledge, 2018) with Maria Gilbert.  In all his work Simon is interested in exploring the centrality of human relationships in how individuals experience themselves, think and behave together.  He is particularly interested in the role shame plays in inhibiting human connection and collaboration and how to reduce shame in order to create conditions for creative and meaningful relationships.

Review :
This popular and well written book which is now in its 4th edition,  provides an accessible and thorough introduction to the Gestalt approach. At the time she wrote this book, Petruska Clarkson brought an extensive experience both as a practitioner and trainer/supervisor to outline the theoretical and philosophical basis of Gestalt therapy. She provides an interesting framework using the cycle of awareness to explore ‘healthy’ and ‘dysfunctional’ functioning of the individual in relation to our environment. The book also outlines the developmental stages of the therapy process and provides a nice balance of theory and practice. I would recommend this as essential reading to anyone with an interest in Gestalt therapy.