Norms of the training program from November 1, 2022

Conditions for participation in the Gestalt Therapist Training Program
  1. We issue a CERTIFICATE of the Interregional Institute of Gestalt Therapy and Art, which complies with European standards
  2. We are an associate member of EAGT*.

 * European Association for Gestalt Therapy is an association that brings together the largest Institutes of Gestalt Therapy and Gestalt Therapists in the European market.

MIGIS is a private enterprise (and not a public educational institution) and conducts a Gestalt Therapist Training Program based on:

  • the presence of a state-recognized diploma in the areas of "Psychology" or "Medicine" (this may be the first or second education, retraining in state institutions);
  • confirmed student education in the areas of "Psychology" or "Medicine" in a state or other educational institution that gives a state diploma upon completion, at the stage of obtaining a diploma by the time of completion of studies in the MIGIS Program or no later than 2 years after the completion of the MIGIS Program  (deferred certification).
  • any higher education of the participant, provided that before the end of this Program or no later than 2 years after the completion of the Program (deferred certification), the participant will receive a second higher education in the field of psychology, medicine, or receive a state document on retraining in the specialty "psychologist".

It is possible to complete the Program without certification for stage II - without the right to work as a Gestalt therapist.

Basic plan of study at the I stage (1 year)
  • Thematic seminars - once every two months: 5 seminars lasting 15 (online) - 18 (offline) astronomical hours.

At the same time, the fifth seminar should be extended by 3-4 astronomical hours or a separate day and time should be allocated - for summing up the intermediate results of the work and in-depth consideration of theoretical issues.

Topics and forms of work (students’ reports, students’ presentations of abstracts, trainer’s lecture, answers to students’ questions, etc.) are selected at the discretion of the Program Manager, depending on the specifics and needs of the group.

  • Theoretical classes, 2 lectures once every two months - 10 lectures.
  • One Intensive in client position.
Basic plan of study at the II stage (2.5 - 3 years)
  • Thematic and therapeutic seminars - once every two months: 17 seminars lasting 15 (online) - 18 (offline) astronomical hours.

At the same time, each last seminar of the academic year is extended by 3-4 astronomical hours or a separate day and time is allocated - for summing up the intermediate results of the work and in-depth consideration of theoretical issues.

Topics and forms of work (students’ reports, students’ presentations, trainer's lecture, answers to students’ questions, etc.) are chosen at the discretion of the program leader, depending on the specifics and needs of the group.

  • Group supervision, starting from the 3rd stage II seminar - attendance of at least 110 hours of supervision in the format of groups or supervision seminars with your Program Manager.
  • Theoretical classes, 2 lectures once a month - 50 lectures.
  • One Intensive in Therapist Position.
  • Work in small groups - "triples", once a week - at least 50 meetings.
  • 15 hours of individual supervision (in person or in absentia) of work with a client (within two years with the same individual supervisor).
  • 10 hours of supervision (in person or in absentia) of work in the "triples" (with the supervisor of the "triples") - once in five meetings.
  • Graduation papers: submission of a theoretical abstract and an informal (“Psychological”) autobiography by the middle of the Program, and by the end of the Program - three practical abstracts on the use of Gestalt therapy in one’s own practice and a diary of work in a small group (“triples”) as a client.
  • Successful completion of practical work during the graduation seminar.
  • The presence of a diploma of higher education in the field of psychology, medicine or a document on retraining in the specialty "psychologist".
During the course of study at the I and II stages, it is also necessary to pass
  • 2 conferences;
  • 1 festival;
  • 90 hours of individual therapy with one of the recommended MIGIS therapists (at the same time, there must be at least one long-term therapy - at least 40 hours of work with one therapist);
  • 30 hours in a small therapeutic group parallel to the Program (one academic year) or an additional 30 hours of individual therapy.
  • 50 hours - additional special course, specializations, additional lectures, conferences and other projects recommended by MIGIS.

Training in the Gestalt Therapist Training Program is conducted by the Program Manager and a staff of at least four MIGIS trainers.

Academic Norms

600 hours of theory and methodology

HOUR IS MEANT TO BE 60 MINUTES

  • 390 hours – thematic seminars,
  • 36 hours – training groups at two Intensives,
  • 60 hours – theoretical classes,
  • 18 hours – theoretical training at two Intensives,
  • 42 hours – participation in conferences,
  • 50 hours – additional special courses, specializations, lectures, conferences and other projects recommended by MIGIS

250 hours of individual therapy

AN HOUR IS MEANT TO BE 60 MINUTES OF PRACTICE IN A GROUP OR FROM 45 TO 50 INDIVIDUAL

  • 90 hours – individual therapy with a recommended therapist,
  • 9 hours – individual therapy at the Intensive in the client position,
  • 21 hours – in the therapeutic group at the Intensive,
  • 36 hours – two therapeutic seminars included in the Program,
  • 50 hours – individual therapy work in "triples"
  • 16 hours – participation in the Festival,
  • 30 hours – in small therapeutic groups parallel to the Program (one academic year) or an additional 30 hours of individual therapy.

150 hours of supervision

AN HOUR IS MEANT TO BE 60 MINUTES OF PRACTICE IN A GROUP OR FROM 45 TO 50 INDIVIDUAL

  • 110 hours – group supervision with your Program Manager,
  • 9 hours – individual supervision at the Intensive,
  • 12 hours – group supervision at the Intensive,
  • 10 hours – supervision of work in the "triples" (in person or in absentia)
  • 15 hours – individual supervision (in person or in absentia) of work with a client - within two years with the same supervisor.

400 hours of clinical practice

AN HOUR IS MEANT TO BE 60 MINUTES OF PRACTICE IN A GROUP OR FROM 45 TO 50 INDIVIDUAL

  • 150 hours – work in small groups - "triples" (50 meetings for 3 hours),
  • 12 hours – group therapeutic work at the Intensive,
  • 9 hours – therapeutic work with the client at the Intensive,
  • 230 hours – therapeutic and advisory work with clients, groups, as well as the application of the Gestalt approach in their professional activities.
Theoretical and methodological blocks

The Gestalt Therapist Training Program "Theory and Practice of Gestalt Therapy" (I and II stages) includes theoretical and methodological blocks:

  • on mastering the basic laws and concepts of psychology and the possibilities of their application in the work of a Gestalt therapist (theories of personality development and factors influencing development, research methods in Gestalt therapy, feelings and corporality, issues of gender and sexual orientation, existential categories and experiences and etc.);
  • about the possibilities and specifics of working with special issues (depression, psychotic experience, grief and loss, fears, psychosomatics, sexual disorders, traumas and crises, etc.);
  • about the peculiarities of the work of Gestalt therapists (taking into account psychological basic knowledge and the laws of development and modern research) with certain categories of clients (children, gerontological clients, families, couples, groups, organizations);
  • on acquaintance with the main directions of psychotherapy;
  • on studying the legal framework and ethical issues in the work of a Gestalt therapist (human rights and legal issues in the application of Gestalt therapy, the importance of ethics in personal and professional realms (social, cultural, political and environmental aspects) and the attitude to ethics in the global community of Gestalt therapists, MIGIS Code of Professional Ethics, etc.).

These topics are a necessary minimum standard for the training of Gestalt therapists and can be supplemented by other topics of the Gestalt Therapist Training Program at the discretion of the Program Manager.

The program of the course "Theory and practice of Gestalt therapy" (I and II stages)

Block 1. Philosophical, biological and psychological background of Gestalt therapy.  (at the discretion of the trainer)

  1. The general idea of psychological counseling and psychotherapy. Professional ethics.
  2. The principles of personal approaches in psychotherapy.
  3. The revolution of psychoanalysis, its theoretical, social and methodological consequences.
  4. The existential Philosophy and Existential Analysis
  5. The formation of professional views of F. Perls and the emergence of Gestalt therapy.
  6. The basic concepts of Gestalt therapy: integrity, figure and background, "here and now", experience, awareness, self-regulation.
  7. The basic concepts of Gestalt therapy: contact and contact boundary, modalities of contact, creative adaptation, field "organism - environment".

Block 2. The theory of contact in Gestalt therapy.

  1. The basic concepts of Gestalt therapy: contact and methods of contact, the field "organism - environment".
  2. The concept of the contact boundary.
  3. The phases of contact. Linear and cyclic models.
  4. The contact modalities: fusion, introjection, projection, retroflection, egotism.

Block 3. The integrative nature of Gestalt therapy.

  1. The concept of polarities in Gestalt therapy. Opposites and integrity.
  2. Working with Dreams in Gestalt Therapy
  3. Projection mechanisms in the interpersonal field "I" and "not-I".

Block 4. Therapy as creativity (at the discretion of the trainer).

  1. Creative adaptation. SELF as creator of a creative adaptation.
  2. Craft and creativity in Gestalt therapy. Therapy as a creative process.
  3. Creative methods in gestalt therapy (work with drawing, clay, makeup, movement, voice).
  4. Psychotherapy and art.

Block 5. Working with resistance in Gestalt therapy.

  1. The evolution of the concept of resistance in psychotherapy.
  2. Understanding the phenomenon of resistance in Gestalt therapy and its features.
  3. Signs by which we can assume the presence of resistance in the session.
  4. Strategy for dealing with resistance in Gestalt Therapy.

Block 6. Theory of SELF.

  1. Self as a contact function.
  2. The procedural nature of Self.
  3. Self functions and signs of their violation.
  4. The main approaches in therapeutic work within the framework of the theory of Self.

Block 7. Strategy and tactics of the therapeutic session.

  1. Basic principles of primary psychological counseling. Differences between psychological counseling and psychotherapy.
  2. Sensitive and facilitative skills of the consultant and therapist.
  3. First session. Technical, protocol aspects of the session (therapeutic contract, setting, code of ethics).
  4. The concept of a therapeutic alliance.

Block 8. Experiment in Gestalt therapy.

  1. Definition of experiment in gestalt therapy.
  2. Types of experiment in Gestalt therapy.
  3. Feature and specificity of understanding the experiment in Gestalt therapy.
  4. The structure of the experiment.

Block 9. The main strategies for the work of Gestalt therapists.  Work with internal phenomenology.  Work on the border-contact.

  1. The field theory.
  2. Individual, dialogic and field paradigm of the work of a gestalt therapist (general concepts).
  3. Work at the contact boundary.
  4. Working with internal phenomenology.

Block 10. Principles of clinical application of Gestalt therapy.  Working with neurotic disorders (part 1)

  1. Genesis of neurosis in various psychotherapeutic approaches.
  2. Neurosis as a victory over oneself.
  3. Five-level structure of neurosis according to F.Perls.
  4. Practical conclusions from the Gestalt theory of the genesis of neurosis.

Block 11. Principles of clinical application of Gestalt therapy.  Working with neurotic disorders.  (part 2)

  1. Application of the principles of psychoanalytic diagnostics in Gestalt therapy.
  2. Types of diagnostics in Gestalt therapy. The content of the diagnosis.
  3. Models of diagnostics that exist in Gestalt therapy: the dynamic concept of personality, background and process diagnostics, diagnostics of the phenomenal field of experience, aesthetic diagnostics and its other forms.

Block 12. Gestalt therapy of psychosomatic disorders.

  1. Symptom and contact: correlation models.
  2. Various theoretical models for the determination of psychosomatic disorders.
  3. The hypothesis of somatic (retroflexive) projection as an attempt to synthesize two theoretical lines of explanation of psychosomatic disorders.
  4. Specificity of psychological assistance in various psychosomatic diseases.

Block 13. The functioning of the body in life and psychotherapy.  Body phenomena in Gestalt therapy (at the discretion of the trainer).

  1. Models of approaches to bodily and mental phenomena in various types of psychotherapy.
  2. The concept of "adapted body structure" by J. Kepner.
  3. Body process and therapeutic strategies. The role of breath, voice, space and movement in a therapeutic session.
  4. Touch as an interpersonal event. Therapeutic use of touch.
  5. Corporeality as a biological, psychological and cultural phenomenon. Bodywork techniques.

Block 14. Psychology and psychotherapy of addictive behavior. 

  1. The concept of dependence in intercultural approaches.
  2. Psychological characteristics of an addicted client.
  3. The tactics of the Gestalt therapist with dependent phenomena.
  4. Dependent behavior as a regulator of interpersonal relationships.
  5. Modern forms of addiction (chemical, psychological, gaming, computer, food, etc.)

Block 15. Working with various forms of organization of experience.

  1. Features of the work of a Gestalt therapist with clients with a borderline organization of experience.
  2. Features of the work of a Gestalt therapist with clients with a psychotic organization.
  3. Building a systematic understanding of psychopathology and the role of a psychotherapist.

Block 16. In-depth consideration of the clinical aspects of working in Gestalt therapy (at the discretion of the trainer).

  1. Clinical and psychological aspects of depressive disorders.
  2. Types of depression and acute grief reactions.
  3. Patterns of work with the experience of grief.
  4. Opportunities for a Gestalt therapist to work with major psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, MDP, OCD, anxiety disorder).

Block 17. Creative aspects in the work of the therapist-client (at the discretion of the trainer).

  1. Features of the personality of the therapist.
  2. Formation of your individual style of work.
  3. The ability to work with their own characteristics.
  4. The meeting of the therapist and the client as a process of mutual creativity.

Block 18. Therapeutic relationship.  Psychoanalysis and Gestalt therapy. 

  1. History of the concept of the therapeutic relationship.
  2. Application of the concepts of psychotherapeutic relationships by Z. Freud, K. Rogers and H. Kogut in the work of a Gestalt therapist.
  3. The role of the personal characteristics of the therapist and the client in creating a therapeutic relationship.
  4. Support and frustration in the therapy session.
  5. Therapeutic alliance as a form of resistance prevention in a psychotherapeutic session..

Block 19. Symbolic aspects in the therapeutic relationship.

  1. The psychoanalytic concept of the therapeutic relationship.
  2. Transfer and types of transfer reactions.
  3. Countertransference as a phenomenon of the therapeutic relationship.
  4. Dynamics of transference in long-term therapy.
  5. The role of constraints in therapist-client interaction.

Block 20. Dialogue in Gestalt therapy.

  1. The existential aspect of the therapeutic relationship. Dialogical character of psychotherapy.  Dialogue and therapeutic relationship in existential approaches.
  2. The philosophy of dialogue and the peculiarities of understanding dialogue by various theorists of the dialogue concept (J.-P. Sartre, M. Buber, M. Heidegger, E. Levinasse, M. Bakhtin, F. Rosenzweig, V. Biblier, G. Marcel).
  3. Phenomena and opportunities for dialogue.
  4. Dialogue in the practice of Gestalt therapy.

Block 21. Technique of therapeutic intervention.  Supervision in Gestalt Therapy.

  1. The concept of supervision and its necessity for the work of a therapist.
  2. Forms of supervision.
  3. Questions that are addressed to the supervisor.
  4. Supervision of the work of students in a group with a professional analysis of the session.

Block 22. Workshop on injury (at the discretion of the coach)

Block 23. Group therapy (at the discretion of the trainer)

Block 24. Fundamentals of working with couples and families in the gestalt approach (at the discretion of the trainer)

Block 25. Gestalt therapy for children and adolescents (at the discretion of the trainer)

* the trainer may, at his discretion, replace this seminar with a seminar with a different topic.

 In total, the course must contain at least 20 thematic seminars, plus 2 therapeutic seminars during the I and II stages.

Theoretical lessons

The training program for Gestalt therapists "Theory and Practice of Gestalt Therapy" (I and II stages), along with other forms of training, includes 600 hours of theory and methodology, 60 hours of which are theoretical, i.e.  lectures, classes.  Thus, attending theoretical classes is a prerequisite for certification of a Program participant.

Theoretical classes are held in blocks of 2 lectures.  At the 1st stage, theoretical classes are held once every 2 months of the academic year, at the 2nd stage - once a month of the academic year.

For students of the 1st stage, lectures are offered on the history of the emergence and development of Gestalt therapy, some basic issues (including ethical ones), and the main areas of psychotherapy. Lectures that are offered for students of the II stage: on some basic psychological concepts necessary in psychotherapy, as well as on the possibilities and specifics of psychotherapeutic work in a separate area of ​​psychological knowledge (psychosomatics, sexual disorders, traumas and crises, etc.), in work with a special category of clients  (children, families, groups, organizations), in the use of special methods of work in application to gestalt therapy (dance-movement, body, art therapy, etc.).

Group therapy in small therapy groups

Passage of group therapy in small groups in parallel with the program (one academic year) - from 30 hours.

A small therapy group only counts towards certification hours if the leader(s) of that group were certified Gestalt and Group Therapists.

Please note that the leaders of these groups cannot be the leader, leaders and assistants of your training Program, as well as your individual therapist, except for large training groups that need additional therapeutic support, at the discretion of the program leader.

Individual Therapy

The task of individual therapy –

  • to work out your psychological problems and track changes in personality, develop stability in topics that are painful for you.
  • to determine the range of topics with which the specialist will not be able to work, because he is vulnerable.
  • individual therapy during training reinforces the theory.

Individual therapy is an essential part of the training and work of a Gestalt therapist.

Any person has the vital right to choose the therapist with whom he wants to undergo individual therapy according to his desire and taste.

But, since here we are talking about individual therapy as a prerequisite for the qualitative fulfillment by the participant of the Gestalt Therapy Training Program of the requirements of the training Program, then there are some recommendations and restrictions in choosing a therapist for individual therapy.

Only certified Gestalt therapists practicing from the institute can be recommended:

  • MIGIS accredited trainers,
  • assistants of the Programs in case they have a certificate for the II stage,
  • Certified Gestalt Therapists who have completed or are studying III stage.

The list of recommended therapists is reviewed once a year. https://migis.ua/en/rekomendovannye-terapevty

General provisions on individual therapy and the rules for its accounting:

  1. The requirement for certification is that the participant of the Program has completed at least 90 hours of individual therapy with a recommended therapist, of which at least 70 hours during the course of the training program (see also *Conditions for accounting hours of individual therapy)
  2. You can work all the necessary hours for certification with one therapist, or you can change the recommended therapists during the training - the hours will count. But at least one of the therapists with whom the therapy was, it is necessary to undergo continuous long-term therapy of 40 sessions.
  3. Pre-program individual therapy is considered to be therapy that began with the client (prospective student) at any time prior to the start of the program, but ended or continues in the year of commencement of study. Those. if the client underwent therapy from 2018 to 2021, and the program began in 2023, this therapy is not taken into account either in norms or in excess of them.
  4. Prior to the start of the program, the client was treated by a recommended therapist or a certified therapist (stage II), who is not recommended and the number of such hours is more than 20, then all hours above the data will also go to the Certificate - in excess of the norm, but 20 hours will be counted towards the mandatory 90 hours .
  5. Prior to the start of the program, the client was treated by a therapist who was not certified for stage II (trained or completed training at stage 2 without certification) and the number of such hours is more than 20, then only 20 hours passed before the start of training will be taken into account in the norms and in the Certificate, i.e. e. over hours are not counted.Only individual therapy in the gestalt direction counts towards the standards for certification and above them.

*Conditions for accounting hours of individual therapy:

  1. If the Program participant did not receive personal therapy prior to the start of training, then hours of work only with the recommended therapist will be counted towards certification.
  2. If the Program participant received personal therapy from a recommended therapist before the start of training, then 20 hours will be credited to him in the mandatory 90 hours.

Example 1: A client completed 50 hours of personal therapy with a recommended therapist prior to training. 20 hours will count towards the standard. And at the end of the training, it will indicate the passage of 90 hours of mandatory + 30 hours (50-20), which were before the start of training = 120 hours

2.1. If a client comes to the training program of another trainer/assistant on the recommendation of his therapist (began to undergo therapy with him before the start of training), then:

  • recommended therapist

can continue to work with his client, whom he invited to the training Program of another trainer (assistant) and beyond (hours of therapy during the program will be counted towards the total number of required hours).

  • certified for stage II therapist who is not recommended

may continue to work with his client whom he has called into another trainer/assistant training program and beyond (therapy hours will be counted towards the total number of required hours) if he regularly takes supervision from the supervisors of the Institute.

  • non-Certified Level 2 Therapist (trained or completed Level 2 without certification)

it is possible to credit no more than 30 hours of individual therapy for a client whom he invited to the training program of another trainer/assistant completed during the first year of training, if he regularly takes supervision from the supervisors of the Institute.

Example 1

accounting hours for a non-certified therapist:

Prior to the start of the training, the client went through 15 sessions and continued to work with the therapist further, in the learning process.

15 hours (before the start of training) + 30* (during the first year of study) = 45 hours credited to the client

* you can work more hours. but only 30 counts.

Example 2

accounting hours for a non-certified therapist:

 

Prior to the start of the training, the client went through 30 sessions and continued to work with the therapist further, in the learning process.

The client is credited with 20 hours (before the start of training) + 30* (during the first year of study) = 50 hours credited

* you can work more hours. but only 30 counts.

2.2. If the client comes to the training program of his therapist (regardless of the position of the therapist in the program: trainer/assistant), then:

- therapy with this client must be completed within 12 sessions, as a transitional period from the position of therapist to trainers / assistants.

These 12 hours of therapy, as well as 20 before the start of the program, will be included in the client's mandatory norms.

The trainer/assistant: is obliged to inform his client about these conditions before the start of training, and the client - to decide in what relationship he wants to stay with this specialist: i personal therapy or go into a training program.

It is possible for the therapist to continue to work with the client for more than 12 hours during the training, but without offsetting the norms if the Program Manager agrees to this. However, at any time during the training program, the program leader has the right to insist on termination of such therapeutic relationship between the client/student and the therapist/trainer/assistant. I draw your attention to the fact that such consent must be obtained before the start of the program, and the client must be informed about these conditions and must also agree.

In order for the hours passed before the start of training in the Program to be credited, it is necessary:

  • independently indicate the number of hours passed and the full name of the therapist in the participant's questionnaire, which he fills out at the first seminar of the training Program,
  • if the therapy was with a recommended or another (see * "Conditions for Accounting Individual Therapy Hours") therapist, then the student or therapist, at the request of the student, transmits data on the hours of individual therapy passed to the MIGIS office manager in the first month of the start of training, no later than six months from the start of training.

In order for therapy hours to be counted, the therapist must notify the office of the MIGIS manager and transmit monthly data on such therapy (client and number of sessions).

Exceptions: if the therapist is from another institution, then the data on the hours are transmitted upon completion of such therapy (or upon certification of the student) in the form of a certificate from the therapist, which states:

  • Name of the therapist who received personal therapy;
  • data about his gestalt education;
  • number of hours of therapy before the start of training in the program;
  • period of time.
Why is supervision needed? What are the types of supervision? How is it different from individual therapy?

Individual therapy explores the life of a specialist, does not allow you to merge with the client, to impose your vision on him. Supervision explores the relationship between personal life and work. It is important to track the course of your relationships with clients, to clearly understand what is happening in them.

The therapist may not notice how a small hook appears in the relationship, which can then develop into a serious problem. The specialist risks reducing the quality of therapy and destroying the connection with the client. Supervision helps to capture this moment. The therapist will immediately receive an opinion from the supervisor and will understand what issues he will need to sort out in individual therapy. Individual supervision solves the therapist's difficulties in working with a client one on one with a supervisor, group supervision - in a community of colleagues. Supervision of triples teaches you to sort things out, resolve conflicts, carefully observe and understand the feelings of another person in a circle of colleagues.

Group Supervisor, Individual Supervisor, and Supervisor of Triples cannot be the same Supervisor.

Recommended group Supervisor

The group supervisor of MIGIS can be accredited trainers of MIGIS (categories L and S), namely: program managers of the I and II stages.

If a student has more hours of supervision, such as group supervision, all of their hours during the study will be taken into account, while 110 of them must be taken from their program leader, the rest are allowed from other group supervisors.

Recommended individual supervisors

The number of hours of individual supervision (in person or in absentia) with a client required for certification by a trained therapist is 15 hours (over two years with the same supervisor).

An individual supervisor of in person or in absentia work with a real client can be an accredited MIGIS trainer of categories L (leading-trainer), S (senior-trainer), M (main-trainer) and A (advanced-trainer) (if there is certification for the III stage).

Supervision of the work of «triples»

Work in small groups – training "triples" – 150 hours (50 meetings for 3 hours)

Triple – a group of three students who simulate a therapy session. Everyone has a role to play - therapist, client, and observer. Students often find it difficult to go through this stage of learning. In the work in triples, conflicts arise, and everything seems to get out of control. But that's how it's meant to be.

The Triple was created in order to confront the specialist with the difficulties that may arise when working with a client. Students learn to argue, constructively resolve conflicts, sort things out, and be attentive to the manifestations of emotions of another person. This is an important stage of preparation for practice. The triple creates a unique situation in which internal problems come to light that might otherwise remain hidden in the standard therapist-client-supervisor format. Since the groups are stable, students gain experience of long-term relationships with the client and learn to solve difficulties in them.

Supervisor of the work of "triples"

The number of hours of supervision of work in the "triple" (in person or in absentia) required for the therapist who is studying for certification is 10 hours (every 5th meeting of the triple).

Individual full-time or part-time supervision in training “triples” can be carried out by an accredited trainer of MIGIS of the following categories:

  • L (leading-trainer),
  • S (senior-trainer),
  • M (main-trainer),
  • A (advanced- trainer)
  • В (beginning trainer),

as well as the MIGIS Program Assistant, only on the condition that he is already in the process of studying at the III stage.

The festival

The festival is a place where students and everyone can get acquainted not only with Gestalt therapy, but also with various areas of art. Many partners have been invited to the festival, who conduct master classes in such areas as business, cooking, dancing, creativity, and art. Also there are many master classes on Gestalt therapy, both from the MIGIS coaching team and from our students, who reveal the possibilities of therapy for clients, help clients find new facets of themselves, find answers to exciting questions of life. There are always separate programs for children and teenagers at the Festival, where they can also find many useful things for themselves.

Gestalt therapy is a science and an art at the same time. Therefore, it is important for us to show people the resource of Gestalt therapy (the power of its art without canceling its scientific nature), but it is also important to show that art is a resource that empowers people. We help people to see the versatility of art, its types: dances of various styles, calligraphy, beading, painting, architecture, music, etc. Find your own and more than one option for hobbies, resources, options for development and movement forward.

Moreover, the format of the festival is fun and relaxation. It usually takes place during the May holidays and was created so that everyone could not only “learn”, but also relax in nature.

During the training in the Gestalt Therapist Training Program (I and II stages), the student must take part in one Festival.

Scientific and Practical Conference

The conference is the main scientific and practical event of the year.

Experts share on it their best practices and new meanings that they managed to find in practice.  The conference determines the course of further research, as students discuss topics that are relevant to them, and more experienced specialists from this understand that they need to investigate in more detail in order to answer their questions.

During the training in the Gestalt Therapist Training Program (I and II stages), the student must take part in two scientific and practical conferences, while in one of them - with practical work (master class, round table, case analysis, report or other  practical form).

The intensive

Intensives are an important and mandatory part of the training of Gestalt therapists. Participation in two Intensives is a prerequisite for certification.

What is special about Intensives?

The psychotherapist cannot break away from the community; otherwise he will fall into a professional impasse. Without communication, exchange of experience, immersion in the context, the specialist loses its roots. This greatly narrows the range of its capabilities. Interaction with colleagues is a way to reach a new level, grow as a person and as a therapist. The main charm of Intensive is constant communication and teamwork. The intensive unites theory, group interactions, supervision.

In 12 days, a specialist can work out issues that are relevant to him, gain new knowledge, and discuss topics of interest.

Participants of the Intensive combine study and recreation because these events are held outside the city.

Another feature of this type of training events is a special group atmosphere, which helps to accelerate the assimilation of acquired skills and knowledge.

Forms of work during the Intensive

Useful lectures from Psychologists, Gestalt therapists

A selection of topical lectures and topics on how Gestalt therapy helps in everyday life, in relationships with a partner, in a family, in raising children, in a career, business and many other areas.

At them, participants can discuss not only a theoretical topic, but also get answers to questions that interest them in order to continue working in the group.

For students of psychotherapists - the latest practical and theoretical developments in Gestalt therapy from the best lecturers of MIGIS.

Psychological training group

A group of 15-25 people, the composition of the group is constant all days of the intensive. This is a place where participants support each other, experiment, make important discoveries and find their own answers by improving their personal soft skills.

Group:

  • takes place in a dynamic format in the form of group exercises;
  • has a theoretical part with the development of approaches, techniques, strategies and gaining experience immediately in a group in the format of training exercises.
  • in the thematic part, the participants will learn the features of the deep topics of psychology and psychotherapy proposed by each trainer.

In the dynamic part:

  • understand how others see them;
  • try new forms of presentation and interaction in contact with different people;
  • learn how to express feelings and state their position in an ecological way;
  • gain experience in hearing and understanding the hidden needs and meanings that other people come to you with.

For trained psychotherapists, separate groups are formed according to the level of their training and topics related to professional growth are selected, taking into account the latest trends in world gestalt therapy.

Individual work with a psychologist, Gestalt therapist

These are 8-9 personal confidential meetings with a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, where your personal problems, difficulties, limitations are considered and discussed.

Psychologist, Gestalt therapist works with your request and personally for you.

Clients learn to see how they build relationships with others (colleagues, men/women, children, parents and friends);  discover new ways of interacting, more productive and happy;  receive an emotional response and support, a new look at themselves and their capabilities

For student psychotherapists:

  • supervision of individual work in full-time format;
  • formation of personal therapeutic style;
  • strengthening the therapeutic position.

Therapeutic Group

This is the final group at the end of each working day.  It helps participants to summarize the day, their findings, share discoveries and impressions.

For psychotherapists in training - they gain experience in participating in group therapy or leading groups, support and support in psychotherapeutic practice.

Levels of training groups at the Intensive

  • B – the basics of Gestalt therapy
  • BA – initial skills of gestalt therapy
  • A – advancement in Gestalt therapy
  • CA – Clinical Progress in Gestalt Therapy
  • SR – clinical workshop on gestalt therapy
  • SP – supervisory workshop on gestalt therapy
Specialized Program

A Specialized Program is a program that is educational in nature, i.e.  provides specialized training, and is intended to improve the skills of Gestalt therapists, students undergoing the Gestalt Therapist Training Program (stage II), psychologists and specialists in related professions (pedagogy with a specialization in psychology, sociology, medicine).

A specialized program involves the expansion of knowledge and skills:

  1. in a separate area of psychological knowledge (psychosomatics, sexual disorders, traumas and crises, etc.);
  2. in working with a special category of clients (addicts, children, families, groups, organizations);
  3. in the use of special methods of work in relation to gestalt therapy (dance-movement, body, art therapy, etc.)

The volume of the Specialized Program is at least 120 academic hours.

Upon completion of the Specialized Program and subject to successful certification, the participant is issued:

  • students undergoing the Professional Training Program for Gestalt Therapists (stage II), as well as psychologists and specialists in related professions (pedagogy with a specialization in psychology, sociology, medicine) - the MIGIS Professional Certificate on mastering the methods and techniques corresponding to the profile of the Program, indicating hours and topics of the program;
  • all other participants of the Program - Certificate of Participation indicating the hours and topics of the program.

The priority of visiting the program (Specialization, Thematic and Educational in Gestalt Therapy) in case of coincidence of dates is given to the Gestalt Program in any case and without discussion.

 Exception: If the client participates in a thematic program and during its passage (at any stage, including immediately after the first seminar) decides to participate in the Gestalt Therapist Training Program, i.e.  becomes a student, then in this case, if the dates of the seminars coincide, priority is given to his thematic program, which he went to at the beginning, before the training program.

Graduation Requirements

Requirements for theoretical abstracts:

Abstract (from lat. «refero» –  report, inform) – a summary of a scientific problem, the results of scientific research, ideas contained in one or more works, etc. An abstract includes a review of relevant literary and other sources or a summary of a book, article, research,  as well as a report with such a statement. The topic of the abstract is proposed by the head of the program or chosen by the student independently, but agreed with the head.

Writing an abstract is practiced in order to acquire the necessary professional training for the student, to develop the skills and abilities of independent scientific research: studying the literature on the chosen topic (at least 6 sources), analyzing various sources and points of view, summarizing the material, highlighting the main thing, formulating conclusions, etc.

Abstract form:

  1. The volume of the abstract - from 5 to 20 printed pages.
  2. Font - Times New Roman, font size -14, interval one and a half.
  3. Margins - left, top and bottom not less than 20 mm, right not less than 10 mm.
  4. Section headings are written in the middle, symmetrically to the text in capital letters. Word hyphenation in headings is not allowed. Subheadings are written in small letters, starting with the first capital. There must be a blank line between the title and the following text. Each of these parts (each section) starts on a new page.
  5. Pages are numbered with Arabic numerals, adhering to continuous numbering through the entire text. The title page is included in the numbering, but the number is not put on it. On the following pages, the number is placed in the upper right corner without a dot at the end.
  6. Sections should be consecutively numbered throughout the work and designated by Arabic numerals without a dot at the end, for example "1" (first section).
  7. Contents, Introduction, Conclusion and References are not numbered.
  8. Subsections are numbered with Arabic numerals within each section.  The subsection number consists of the section number and the subsection serial number, separated by a dot. Do not put a dot after the subsection number, for example "3.2" (the second subsection of the third section)
  9. The text of the abstract is placed centered "according to the width of the page". Paragraphs are highlighted with a red line with an indent of at least 15 mm.
  10. There should be 6-10 sources in the list of references. The abstract should contain references - from 2 to 10 (references are placed after the text in square brackets, indicating the number of the source according to the list of references).

Abstract structure:

  1. title page, see Appendix 1.
  2. content (or table of contents);
  3. introduction;
  4. several chapters (sections, subsections) (from 2 to 5);
  5. conclusion;
  6. list of used literature (or bibliographic list).

Requirements for practical abstracts:

Practical abstracts (written papers on the clinical and theoretical application of Gestalt therapy in their professional practice) should demonstrate the author's ability, on the one hand, to apply the principles of Gestalt therapy in their practice and, on the other hand, to comprehend their work in terms of the Gestalt approach.

For successful certification, it is necessary to pass three practical abstracts: - one "big" and two "small" (the participant can optionally submit one more large abstract instead of two small ones). It is necessary to hand over practical abstracts no later than two weeks before the final seminar.

  1. A) Big abstract (10-12 pages)

It is an analysis of a case of relatively long-term (at least 10 sessions) therapeutic work with a real client. Includes a description of the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship and therapeutic change.

Should not present a number of separate protocols with short formal comments at the end of each session, but rather consider the ongoing developments in relation to each other.

It is supposed to describe not only events, but also experiences, reflections, assumptions of the therapist himself.

Suggestions for writing a paper:

- remember and describe the client’s request and how it changed during your sessions with him (for example, the initial request of a young man sounded like “I can’t build good relationships with girls, everything ends in a painful breakup”, and this request was transformed into a request during subsequent sessions  “How can I get rid of my mother's control”);

 - remember and describe the topics with which this client worked, what was the development of these topics:

for example, in the process of this work there were several topics.

1) One of them, going through all 10 sessions, concerned his relationship with the girls N. and O.. If at the beginning the client mainly expressed the grievances accumulated against N. and O., then gradually he began to recall the good moments of his relationship, spoke about the sadness of parting with them, about how he would like to continue this relationship, about the difficulty of choosing a partner.

2)    Another topic that came up around the 4th session was his relationship with male friends, father, uncle. At first, it sounded like a fear of self-presentation in a male environment, the impossibility of a close relationship with a father, resentment at the uncle's sarcasm, then this topic was transformed into a search for one's place next to significant men, strengthening one's masculine identity... etc.);

  • remember and describe your first meeting with a client: what feelings did you experience? What part of what he said about himself impressed you the most?;
  • how did your attitude towards the client change in the course of work? What moments of work were especially bright, exciting, or especially boring or annoying for you?;
  • what attitude of the client towards you did you observe, how did you feel his attitude, what did he say about it? ;
  • what moments of your work with him look dialogical for you and how did a possible dialogue interrupt in your work?;
  • What, in your opinion, may be missing in these relations? What do you possibly regret?;
  • describe the future development of your therapeutic relationship with this client.

This work may contain excerpts from dialogues from sessions that seem important to you, indicative of the development of the described therapeutic relationship. For example, dialogues about establishing trust, developing sympathy between you and the client, moments of confrontation, therapeutic support and frustration, etc.

The following excerpts from the sessions should be accompanied by your analysis of what happened in terms of Gestalt therapy.

  1. B) Small abstract (3-5 pages)

is either a session analysis or an abbreviated case analysis. Session analysis should not be a transcript, but it is important to show the therapist's ability to comprehend what is happening and his work in Gestalt terms (for example, note the moments and mechanisms of interruption of contact by the client, or consider violations of self function with a description of the client's phenomenology, etc.)

Instead of one of the two short abstracts, you can submit a “therapeutic (advisory) project”, which is a methodically sound project for applying the principles of the Gestalt approach in any area of ​​practice (a special group for working with a certain category of clients, etc.).

Suggestions for writing a paper:

  1. Preliminary stage.

When conducting sessions with a client/clients, write down after the session how you remember it, i.e.  it is necessary to acquire the skill of reproducing the meaning: what and in what sequence happened in the session, how one topic flowed into another, what questions caused certain memorable statements.

This skill helps to memorize the course of a therapeutic session, in the future - the course of therapeutic work with a group, long-term therapeutic work with a large number of clients.

  1. Working with text.

Your memory recalls phrases that are intuitively important to you. At this stage, you need to realize the importance of the phrases that you wrote down, their connection with the client's request, with the general context of the session. If you observe "breaks" in the text, then you remember and restore smoothness and consistency, because  everything that was voiced and said is directly related.

  1. Having the text in front of your eyes, you begin to see it as a "picture", i.e., how your client looked at one or another moment of the session. You add your text describing bodily reactions, postures, gestures, changes in intonation, voice, etc.
  2. Your vision of the session takes on volume. And now you have the opportunity to add your comments on what you were able to reproduce.

Comments can and should relate to certain manifestations of the client in the described session;  with what methods of contact (mechanisms for interrupting contact) they are associated;  what was the figure in it, what was the background;  what stages of the contact cycle were implemented in this session;  how the client's self and your own self functioned in this session.

That is, in this way you show an understanding of the terms of Gestalt therapy in relation to this work with a client.

  1. It is also important to indicate what processes formed your interventions, what ways of contact you are aware of in this particular interaction with this particular client in this particular session.
  2. At the end of the work, you can indicate the prospects for working with this client.

Requirements for the "Psychological" autobiography:

A "psychological" autobiography is a kind of reflection, an essay in which the author answers the question "What life circumstances influenced my choice to become a psychotherapist" or "How I became who I became."

The purpose of the work is to describe significant events in your life (from childhood to the present) in terms of their psychological significance for you.

Unlike the usual autobiography, which contains a chronological list of socially significant events (born, went to school, graduated from school, entered a university, got married, etc.), in this work, dates are not significant.

In an informal autobiography, it is not the facts and dates of your life that matter, but your experiences of these facts and events important to you (for example, an important event in a child’s life can be a trip with parents to the sea, memories of how dad told fairy tales, or how you went to the forest with grandfather).

Describing your life experience from the point of view of experience, i.e., the feelings that you experienced then, there is a more complete awareness of your experience, embedding it into a person.

The psychological meaning of the events of your life realized in this way helps to restore the integrity of the personality, which, from the point of view of Gestalt therapy, is of great importance for finding and effectively implementing one's own life resources, as well as building satisfactory relationships with other people.

The performance of this work will also help you determine further guidelines in your personal development.

The form of writing is free, the volume is at least 2 printed sheets.

There are different ways of describing life, for example:

  1. Direct chronology: In chronological order, starting with childhood memories of relationships with parents, siblings and even girls-boys in kindergarten and school, you gradually describe important events that advanced you in motivation to understand yourself or others, and get to the present time. The curriculum vitae concludes with a professional training program experience and includes your reactions to the training, the trainers and participants in the program, a description of the learning crises, and the resources that helped you get a Gestalt education. You can describe important sessions in individual therapy or supervision that have advanced you in development.
  2. Description by topic: “About mom”, “About dad”, “First love”, etc. highlighting important events, relationships and meetings in these topics.
  3. Reverse chronology: You start with your participation in professional trainings and describe important discoveries (from sessions, supervisions and training modules), making constant excursions into personal history (by describing events and relationships).

Requirements for the diary of work in a small therapeutic group:

It is necessary not later than two weeks before the graduation seminar to provide a brief report on your own client work in the "triples" indicating the date and topic of the session (focus of work) - at least 50 sessions.

Describes your CLIENT experience in triples I am a client in triple).

Table with graphs:

  • the session number;
  • the date;
  • the topic (with which my therapist worked with me from the triple) in 1-2 sentences in essence;
  • the full name of therapist,
  • the therapist's autograph.
Appendix 1 (title page for abstracts)

Interregional Institute of Gestalt Therapy and the Arts (MIGIS)

 

 

 


THEORETICAL REFERAT / SMALL PRACTICAL REFERAT / LARGE PRACTICAL REFERAT / PSYCHOLOGICAL AUTOBiOGRAPHY / SUMMARY OF WORK IN SMALL THERAPY GROUP - to be chosen according to your work
on the topic: «___________________________________________________»

 

 

 


Completed (a):
____________________________
(FULL NAME)
Program Supervisor:
____________________________
(SURNAME)

Verified by (a): ______________________________________ ________________
(Name) (Signature)

"_____"_______________ 20__        ________________

      (Signed)

 

 

city _______________

Graduation seminar

The Graduation seminar is the final phase of every Gestalt Therapist Training Program.

The purpose of the graduation seminar is the passing by the participant of the Program of the so-called exam which includes:

  • practical work with the client in a circle under supervision,
  • discussion and answers to examiners' questions to demonstrate theoretical knowledge and the ability to apply it in practice.

Particular attention is paid to ethical issues.

The Graduation Seminar can be attended by:

  • graduates of other Programs who, for one reason or another, did not pass the exam with their group, but wish and are admitted to certification now,
  • 2nd stage students and graduates - as observers and clients - in the so-called "aquarium".

The certification commission consists of the head of the Program, two or more MIGIS accredited L (leading-trainer) and S (senior-trainer) accredited trainers who have never conducted training events in this group before.

 The certification commission evaluates the final practical work of the student according to the criteria for offset.

Criteria for crediting graduation practical work
  • Maintaining the therapeutic position throughout the session
  • Awareness of the processes occurring in practical work
  • Collaboration with the supervisor when discussing final practical work
  • Proper use of theoretical concepts and professional terms in supervision
Certification assessment options
  • Practical work “accepted unconditionally”
  • Practical work was accepted with an additional condition (the conditions are announced by the examiner based on the results of practical work).*
  • Retake through the recommended term.
  • Practical work is not accepted (remains the right to submit not earlier than in a year).

* All additional conditions are met in addition to the mandatory conditions for certification of the Gestalt program.

Conditions for certification
  • Attendance at all cycles of the program (skipping any cycle is worked out by agreement with the Program Manager).
  • Passing the required number of hours of individual therapy, supervision, theoretical, practical and training sessions.
  • Presentation by the middle of the program of a theoretical abstract and an informal ("Psychological") autobiography, and by the end of the Program (until the last seminar) - three practical abstracts on the use of Gestalt therapy in one's own practice and a diary of work in a small group ("triple") as
  • Successful demonstration of practical work during the graduation seminar.
  • The presence of a diploma of higher education in the field of psychology, medicine or a document on retraining in the specialty "psychologist".

Upon completion of the 1st stage, a CERTIFICATE of participation of the Interregional Institute of Gestalt Therapy is issued, which allows you to continue your education at the 2nd stage of professional training of Gestalt therapists.

Upon successful completion of the program (stage II), a CERTIFICATE of "Gestalt Therapist" is issued by the Interregional Institute of Gestalt Therapy and Art.

Conditions for deferred certification

If by the end of the Program the participant has not fulfilled the certification requirements, certification may be delayed for a period of up to two years.

If more than two years have passed since the end of the Program, in order to obtain a certificate, you must:

  • fulfill those norms (number of hours of individual therapy, supervision, written work, etc.) that exist for program participants at the moment;
  • undergo an Intensive as a therapist before certification;
  • complete an additional 60 hours of supervision before certification;
  • retake the practical work at the graduation seminar with another group