Gestalt Therapy Integrated: Contours of Theory & Practice

This book is a classic book sharing the workings of an important therapy. Perfect for students of psychotherapies.

I was fortunate to study with Erv and Miriam Polster in the late 1970's. This book I recently reread and it sure stands the test of time. Little did I know when I studied with the Posters how influential they would be in the development of Gestalt therapy. This book is extremely helpful and destroys the myths often perpetrated about Gestalt therapy! I had forgotten just how good this book is! Charlotte Mabry, Ed.D.

Everyone who plans to study psychology or are in any medical care profession should learn the information in this book so that they can understand and communicate with clients & patients in more understanding ways. Invaluable for lawyers, law-enforcement professionals, etc. 7/3/15; 3:03 AM in New Orleans

This book is very straightforward. Written so those of us learning this field can understand and appreciate the concept and application of Gestalt Therapy.

I am enjoying this book, it's a good and easy read, with many examples and explorations to help integrate Gestalt theory.

This is a good foundational book for any student of Humanistic Psychology. It allowed me to understand some of the base tenants of Humanistic Psychology, and more specifically Gestalt Therapy. If you just have a general interest in Gestalt, this is not the book for you - you're better of with a more updated version of what's available. This is a book for scholars and Gestalt Therapy nerds.

This book really has what it offers: this is an integrated view of gestalt therapy, but not only that it gives a clear and very well explanation about the main concepts of Gestalt theraphy, I really recomend it.

This book is a classic - old but still highly relevant. A major idea is that power and clarity of our lives depend on how we manage to be spontaneous instead of hanging on with rigid behavior. Either we like it or not, we go through a continuous development. We have the choice to grow with new insight and perspectives through awareness, or put on the brakes and resist what is going on. Most of us do some amount of both. Learning how to contact both ourselves and other people is essential for living a rich life. Contact appears on the border between people in a zone where individual differences are valued and encouraged. Then, I do not lose myself in meeting with you, and you are valued for who you are. When we take action based on our own believes and insight, we open up for new awareness and growth. New opportunities appear and may some new challenges as well. However, regardless of the development’s character, we are happy because we find meaning through what we do. Change go through stages. First, we start being aware of what we may want to change. Second, it becomes an obligation. In the third stage, we experiment and test how change feels before we finally are ready to act it out spontaneously. Then it has become a natural part of who we are. The most challenging stage is the third because we, and our surroundings, have to accept the somewhat inauthentic moments when we act outside our comfort zone. We depend on support in these moments, both from ourselves and from others. One of the best gifts we can give to other people are support in such moments.

thank you

Not very relvant, not for practioners

For anyone interested in gestalt therapy and the development of modern psychotherapeutic theory, principles, method and process, this is a wonderful read. Dense in information, ideas and exhilarating conceptual content, it is also easy to read, engaging and often very funny. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for both students and practitioners.

Leggere un libro sulla gestalt in lingua originale,e fantastico,Erving e Miriam polster sono un po' i Padri del nuovo sviluppo di questa terapia.Terapia che per molti era solo concentrata in techniche metodo Perls. Ma la teoria è ancora più fantastica cosi integra cosi Olistica... Saluto

Thanks very much. Enjoyed the book very much. Easy read, which is what I need. One again thank you. Regards