On Thursday, April 27, 2017, in “IANOS” Culture Chain in Athens, another interesting lecture was held, this time by Mrs. Dora Loukidis, Psychologist (BSc) specialized in School Psychology (MSc Professional Training in Educational Psychology, University of London), trained in Gestalt Psychotherapy, on the topic "Parents & Children in Touch: the Quest for Forgotten Senses".

Nowadays, parents are more sensitized and more focused on their relationship with their children, thus every topic regarding parents-children relationship, such as the one presented by Mrs. Loukidis, as expected, had a great turnout.

She began her lecture, by stating that nothing can work or survive on its own. Everything is in touch, interacting with something else inside or outside of it. She explained what "I am in touch" can mean for each one of us, how we learn to be in touch and of course how we stay in touch and how we avoid or prevent contact, through our senses, speech and movement.

Finally, she analyzed the ways, in which we learn to experience ourselves and the environment, through our senses at the beginning of our lives; and where are we today as parents in contact with our own children (or even with our inner child)?

A lively and constructive discussion followed the lecture through which even more interesting issues emerged.

You can watch this lecture and many others, very easily, by going to our Gestalt Foundation YouTube channel

On April 7, 2017, in “IANOS” Culture Chain in Thessaloniki, a lecture held on "Pregnancy, childbirth and infancy in counseling psychology"

Pregnancy and the birth of a child are two of the biggest changes in a woman's life.

The emotional aspects and consequences of pregnancy, childbirth, postnatal period and infancy are rich and interesting, and information about them helps the woman experience them with confidence in her personal “wisdom”, with liveliness and creativity in her relationships with her baby and her environment.

The lecturers, Mrs. Alexandra Stefa and Ioanna Liarommati, Gestalt psychotherapists, and members of the Hellenic Association for Counseling and the American Psychological Association, respectively, presented and analyzed the feelings during pregnancy and childbirth, the mother-baby psychological bond, the role of the father, nutrition and sleeping issues of the baby.

Alongside, they presented the role of counseling and psychological support for women at these stages, highlighting when and how the future and the new mother should be supported.

At the end of the lecture there was a dialogue with interesting questions and concerns. The two coordinators responded in such a way as to help the audience to further understand the emotional changes that take place during pregnancy and postnatal period.

You can watch this lecture and many others, very easily, by going to our Gestalt Foundation YouTube channel

On March 17, 2017, in the "IANOS” Culture Chaine, in Thessaloniki, a lecture was held on "Companionship and Autonomy: Creating the Conditions for a Harmonious Coexistence in Relationships" by Mrs Alexandra Gibiriti, a Gestalt psychotherapist, EMDR traumatologist and EM Social Worker.

The dilemma “Companionship or Autonomy” is a dilemma that afflicts modern man. That was the main reason that this lecture attracted a wide range of audience. Alexandra helped the participants to understand how they can create in their lives the conditions with which they will establish in a relationship, a balance between these two, seemingly incompatible, concepts. She explained, in a creative way, when companionship undermines the individuality of a person and when autonomy blocks the deep connection and contact of "together" resulting in the paradoxical conclusion that only an autonomous person is ready for a real companionship.

At the end of the lecture, the speaker received a "bombardment" of questions, an indication of the intense interest of the public, to which he responded with great eagerness.

You can watch this lecture and many others, very easily, by going to our Gestalt Foundation YouTube channel

On Thursday, March 16, 2017, in the "IANOS" Culture Chaine in Athens, a lecture was held by Mr. Giorgos Diplas * on "The Role of Art in the Therapeutic Process".

Mr. Diplas began his lecture with the question: "Is Psychotherapy Science or Art?" ...For the Gestalt Therapeutic approach the answer is "Both".

He then, analyzed how they interact, who is the autonomous role of each and what is the result of the relationship between them. He also explained how this relationship can be a means of development outside of the therapeutic context, in everyday life of all.

The audience showed great interest in this particular subject, and in the end asked the lecturer many interesting questions that gave rise to even more stimulating thoughts.

You can watch this lecture and many others, very easily, by going to our Gestalt Foundation YouTube channel

*George Diplas, PgD in PCA Counseling, Gestalt therapist, trainer and supervisor, EAGT member (European Association for Gestalt Therapy), ECP holder and member of the Hellenic Association for Gestalt Therapy (H.A.G.T.).

On Friday, March 3, 2017, IANOS, in Thessaloniki, lecture held on "Self-rejection: When "I am" becomes "I should be".

Mrs. Gina Dimakopoulou, Psychologist (Panteion ) trained in Gestalt psychotherapy, HAGT member, and mrs. Eleni Mouslech, Psychologist (AUTH), Gestalt Psychotherapist, EAGT and HAGT member, holder of ECP (European Certificate of Psychotherapy), on the occasion of an excerpt from Jorge Bucay's book, "Déjame que te cuente..." (published in Greek under the title “Telling You a story”), presented in detail how we reject ourselves, how this process begins and what it involves. They focused on what impact this process can have on our everyday life and on our lives in general, so that we can change our view of Ourselves.

The theme of the lecture touched many and the participation was high. A fruitful after-the-lecture conversation led the participants to a better understanding of the content, to draw useful conclusions and to reconsider on their self-image.

You can watch this lecture and many others, very easily, by going to Gestalt Foundation channel on You Tube.

On Thursday, 19/01/2017, a lecture, entitled "Balancing in between Myself and Others, and the interrelation with the others”, was held in Cultural Center IANOS, in Athens.

The theme was developed by Despina Balliou, a founding member of Gestalt Foundation, who focused on the basic human and deeply existential need to relate and belong to the world, and the fact that by the time we are born we struggle between the two opposing forces: the union with another as opposed to maintaining our autonomy.

The interesting presentation of two possible "misled" - relationships that become dependency on one hand and the complete isolation on the other - created great questioning to the public and led to a constructive dialogue and valuable lessons for all participants.

Watch this lecture and other interesting lectures and presentations on Gestalt Foundation YouTube channel.

On Friday, January 20, 2017, in Culture Center IANOS in Thessaloniki, held a lecture entitled "Whichever door I open, I'm in my childhood" (Tassos Leivaditis, 1979). The lecture is based on a group presentation, of senior students of Gestalt Foundation, that took place at the 18th 4-day Gestalt Therapy workshop.

The presentation and lecture is based on what the therapist Jorge Bucay, writes in his book "El camino de la Auto-dependencia" (The Road of Self-Dependence) (published in greek in 2000 by Opera Editions): «We are still the teenagers, the young children and the babies who we once were. The young children we were once, still live inside us…».

The presenting group, developed this very interesting topic, which has been welcomed by the audience of Thessaloniki.

Presentation team:

Goutzioti I., BSc in Psychology - University of Lincolnshire & Humberside, MSc in Psychology of Child Development - University of Central Lancashire, PGCert in Management - University of Lincoln),

Kouli Ch.,BSc on Law of the Faculty of Economic and Political Sciences of Aristoteleio University of Thessaloniki - BSc (Hοns) Applied Psychology of Derby University England,

Kirtsou A., , Biopsychology (BSc), MSc in Psychology and Counseling,

Barboglou V., Counselor of Mental health, HND Counselling and Psychology,

Papantoniadou Z.,Higher National Diploma Counselling and Psychology Mediterranean College,

Parthenioti E., BSc in Counselling and Psychological Science, Gestalt Foundation graduate, trainer in Counseling,

Chondrou K., Plychologist Aristoteleio University of Thessaloniki, MSc in Clinical Phycology (Ε.Κ.Π.Α.)

You can watch this lecture and many others, very easily, by going to our Gestalt Foundation YouTube channel

On Wensday 8 February 2017, at 18:00, at Gestalt Foundation Thessaloniki Branch, an Educational-Experiential Workshop begins, entitled  «... Because if spared the child, there is hope».

"Will I ever become a parent?", "I was so young when I became a parent",  "Am I a good mom?" ,"Career or parenthood?", "Can I  take on such a responsibility?", "My child is the purpose of  my life "

... One of the few times that parents and non-parents will find themselves in the same cycle, attempting to meet.  And through this meeting, they will face up to their needs, their daily roles, the born and unborn children, the child within.

"... Because if spared the child, there is hope"

Coordinator: Elli Fregidou, MSc. Psychology, Gestalt psychotherapist, Coordinator of Parents' School of Kilkis Monastery

On Saturday 11February 2017, at 10:00, in Gestalt Foundation Athens Branch begins the the cycle of educational workshops, entitled «Intervention in crisis».

These workshops are designed for the Gestalt Foundations trainees as well as for mental health and Humanities professionals and university degree graduates that wish to familiarize with the theory, methodology and application of Gestalt psychotherapy on these issues

Dates:

Sat. 11 & Sun. 12 Φεβ/ρίου 2017 - Ώρες: 10:00-18:00

Sat. 4 & Sun. 5 Μαρτίου 2017 - Ώρες: 10:00-18:00

Coordinator: Yiamarelou Yianna, M.A. in Clinical Psychology. Gestalt Psychotherapist, Trainer & Supervisor, member of EAGT. ECP holder (European Certificate of Psychotherapy). Founding member of the Hellenic Association for Gestalt Therapy (HAGT).

Venue: Gestalt Foundation Athens Branch,

    G. Sisini 39, 115 28, Near Hilton,  4th floor

In December’s issue of the scientifique magazine «Epoché», Despoina Balliou wrote an article on "Intersubjectivity of Experience in Gestalt Therapy".

Mrs. Balliou analyzed the intersubjectivity as foundation and as a main principle of the philosophical method of phenomenology, as firstly used by Edmund Husserl first (1931), founder of phenomenological thinking, and how the intersubjectivity significantly affected the phenomenological thinking of a philosophers- phenomenologists generation.

Based on this analysis, Mrs. Balliou explained how the concept of intersubjectivity is at the core of the theory of Gestalt therapy mainly because Gestalt therapy is a relational and phenomenological approach.

The phenomenological approach, as first pillar of Gestalt therapy, trying to understand human existence and consciousness.

Moving to the second pillar of Gestalt therapy, field theory (Lewin, 1952), we will find the notion of intersubjectivity experience as well. According to the field theory, we are not isolated nor passive recipients of the external world. We are always "in the field", constantly interacting with our surroundings, affecting and affected by it.

Finally, the third pillar of Gestalt theory, the existential dialogue, supports intersubjectivity experience. As mentioned in the text, according to Buber (1970), there is no Self without the Other. There is the ego function relational "I-It" and the ego function relational "I-You". The "I" is not alone, people are in a relational dynamics that affects the sense of the Self ( "I").

The scientific magazine Epoché, is the result of a collaboration between the three companies, the Greek Company Phenomenological - Existential Analysis and Psychotherapy, the Greek Company Existential Psychology, and the Greek Center Focusing.