The past few years has witnessed a growing interest amongst coaches and organisations in the use of humanistically based perspectives when looking at issues like team development, change management, coaching and leadership. As an approach to human psychological functioning, Gestalt theory and practice is underpinned by profound areas of thought and knowledge including psychoanalysis, Gestalt psychology and eastern philosophy and philosophy.

This Gestalt Coaching Diploma provides an opportunity for coaches to explore, learn and develop skills based on Gestalt Theory as a way of informing their coaching style and model, without becoming Gestalt therapists or counsellors. Through the use of theoretical input, experiential exercises,  group dialogue, demonstration and supervised coaching practice with rigorous feedback, participants can understand and develop their coaching style through use of self. There is a strong experiential component to the modules and modules will be semi-structured to allow space for emergent learning.  Emphasis is on the Gestalt  theoretical underpinnings of practice  enabling participants to act more quickly, clearly and with intention. 
 
Who should attend: 

• Coaches interested in further developing their professional coaching style or adding a new and deeper dimension based on Gestalt methodology 
• Professionals committed to increasing  self awareness and enriching  interactions with others and 
• Professionals  who want to engage in personal development as a way of increasing creativity and opening their minds to experience.

Participants who attend can expect to develop the following competencies:

• Enhanced self-awareness and confidence
• Stronger presence and ability to impact others
• Increased capacity to observe, decide and act with clarity and intention
• More skilful perception in the moment

Programme description:

A modular practitioner programme with flexibility to be taken as a 2 day, 6 day or 8 day full Diploma programme. For those who take Parts 1 and 2 only, a certificate of attendance will be given. Those wishing to take the Diploma Programme must meet the following requirements: 

1. Attend Parts 1 and 2 (6 days) 
2. Complete the Gestalt practitioner module (2 days) 
3. Have 2  x 1 hour tutorials  with client case review prior to and following the Practitioner module 
4. Submit  a Learning Essay(3000/3500 words) demonstrating  application of Gestalt learning  or an aspect of it, to  coaching practice 
5. Show competency in Gestalt coaching through demonstration of a coaching by live demo/submission of tape

Part 1: This consists of a 2 day module introducing the concepts of Gestalt theory and application to practice. Topics covered will include:

• Development of Gestalt Therapy
• Awareness and experience
• Figure/Ground
• The Contact Cycle
• The Paradoxical nature of Change

Part 2: This comprises 2 x 2day modules.  To attend this participants must have completed part 1. Topics covered include continued development of the above + the following:

• Resistance and Interruptions to Contact
• Polarities
• Presence and dialogue
• Creative Experiment and discovery
• Review of the Gestalt Competency Framework

Part 3 - Gestalt Practitioner Module:  In order to take this module participants must have attended Parts 1 and 2.  This module provides preparation for the Diploma with the emphasis on in the moment, real time integration and assimilation of the learning from the previous  6 days.  It comprises 1 x 2 day module + 2 hour tutorials before and after the module . It  covers: 

• Review of the Gestalt Competency Framework
• Opportunities for Integration of theory into practice
• Opportunities for further  practice and feedback using triads, the reflecting team, IPR etc
• Gestalt supervision using IPR (Interpersonal Process recall) to maximise  real time learning
• The 2 tutorials will focus on development of Gestalt competencies using audio tapes of client sessions

Assessment: There are 2 parts to the Assessment process. Participants need to pass both parts to complete the Diploma. 

• Assessment of Gestalt Competency through a demonstration of Gestalt Coaching (live or remote)
• Submission of a Learning essay  (3000 - 4000 words) showing application of Gestalt learning  to  coaching practice