Chapter for
Gestalt Therapy in France
by Serge Ginger1
Summary
1. Dawn of Gestalt therapy in France
2. Training - past and present
3. Gestalt associations, Institutes and Schools in France
4. Theoretical Contributions (Books and articles)
5. Research
6. Projects and Future
7. References for this Chapter (Bibliography)
1. Dawn of Gestalt therapy in France
In the Beginning: the sociocultural context
Gestalt therapy arrived discreetly in France during the 1970’s.
At the time, the psychological field was dominated by traditional Freudian psychoanalysis.
Jacob Moreno’s psychodrama was introduced by Anne Ancelin-Schutzenberger; then it was reworked and adapted by several psychoanalysts.
Carl Rogers’ client-centered therapy was beginning to emerge, especially in the fields of education and continuing professional adult education in the social services sector, and also group dynamics work (Kurt Lewin’s T-Groups).
The Pioneers
Within this context, and within the context of the « cultural revolution » in France of May 68, Serge and Anne Ginger, having been trained in Gestalt therapy in the USA, introduced, little by little, Gestalt therapy in their training groups at IFEPP (Institut de Formation et d’Études Psychosociologiques et Pédagogiques), notably in a program called « Développement personnel et Sexualité », a cycle they began in 1970. In 1973, returning from one of their frequent trips to the USA, S. Ginger translated into French and circulated Levitsky and Perls’ article: The Rules and Games of Gestalt Therapy (Les règles et les jeux de la Gestalt-thérapie), in Gestalt Therapy Now, Fagan J. and Shepherd I., New York, Harper&Row, 1970.
In 1972, Jean-Michel Fourcade started the CDPH (Centre de Développement du Potentiel Humain) where he presented the « new therapies ». Beginning in 1974, Max Furlaud, an American living in Paris, was teaching there seminars in Gestalt.
That same year, 1974, Claude and Christine Allais returned to France from California and Jean Ambrosi returned from Boston; all three having been trained in Gestalt therapy.
By mid 1970’s the background was put in place… but it wasn’t until 1980-81 that Gestalt therapy emerged from the shadows to blossom officially.
In 1980, Marie Petit published the first book on this psychotherapy: La Gestalt, thérapie de l’ici et maintenant (Gestalt: a therapy of here and now), Paris, Retz.
In September 1981, Serge and Anne Ginger organized a first-time get together for about 30 Gestalt practitioners. The participants were, at the time, unaware of the existence of each other in France. Serge and Anne Ginger founded, that same day, the SFG (Société Française de Gestalt). Serge became the first president for 7 years, followed later by Jean-Marie Robine, president for 5 years.
During this year (1981), the first French Gestalt training institutes were created, almost simultaneously: the EPG (École Parisienne de Gestalt, Serge and Anne Ginger), the IGB (Institut de Gestalt de Bordeaux, Jean-Marie Robine), and the IGG (Institut de Gestalt de Grenoble, Jean-Marie and Agnès Delacroix); followed by INGT (Institut Nantais de Gestalt-thérapie, J. Blaize).
The creation of these Gestalt institutes came after several brief training programs run in France par Canadian therapists: Ernest Godin, Noël Salathé, Janine Corbeil. Unfortunately, these schools did not last a long time in France.
Gestalt therapy settles into France
For the past 25 years, Gestalt has continued to progress:
Several new training schools have been created in different cities;
Courses have been set up in certain universities;
Professional associations have taken root (SFG, CEGT);
Each year, national or international symposia and conferences are organized in the major cities of France;
Publications (books, chapters within books and articles) have “exploded” (from 25 publications in French in 1981, to… 1,300 in 2007);
… and so, Gestalt therapy has progressively taken second place (after psychoanalysis) amongst the psychotherapeutic methods (modalities) most practiced in France…
2. Training - past and present
History
The first Gestalt therapy trainings organized in France were carried out by the international antenna of the Centre Québécois de Gestalt, created by Ernest Godin in Montreal (Canada), in 1979. During this time, in the French speaking area of Belgium, Michel Katzeff had begun a 500 hour training program for Gestalt therapists from 1976 to 1979, in partnership with the team from Cleveland (USA). Jean-Marie Robine, a French psychologist, had trained there from 1977 to 1980, before opening his own institute, at Bordeaux in southwest France.
Since 1980-81, there have been about 10 training schools created and directed by French Gestalt therapists.
Today’s training program
These training institutes propose in general three cycles, representing from 1,000 to 1,400 hours (depending upon the school or institute), conducted over a period from 4 to 5 years, consisting of theory, methodology and practice.
1st cycle offers an introduction, including « self experience » in a group situation;
2nd cycle is mostly centred upon learning the basic theoretical notions (Theory of the Self; Contact cycle; Resistances; awareness ; Field theory; Dream work; Psychopathology, etc.). This 2nd cycle requires practical therapeutic sessions in individual and in group situations, all interventions under direct supervision;
3rd cycle of mastery and/or specialty work (analysis of transference and counter-transference, case studies and supervision; child and/or adolescent therapy; couple and family therapy; addictions, etc.);
Certain institutes, for example the EPG, also offer a speciality in Gestalt applied to organizations and to companies (coaching).
Most of these training centres also invite foreign guest speakers or trainers, American or European (for example : G. Delisle, K. Evans, R. Frank, E. Giusti, J. Kepner, M. Parlett, P. Philippson, E. Polster, M. Spanuolo-Lobb, G. Wheeler, G. Yontef, J. Zinker,etc.).
Certification
Some of these institutes are recognized by EAP (European Association for Psychotherapy) and are accredited as EAPTI (European Accredited Psychotherapy Training Institute), after rigorous control conducted by a panel of international experts, representing EAGT (European Association for Gestalt Therapy) as well as other methods. This recognition allows students to apply for the ECP (European Certificate of Psychotherapy). Untill now, the EPG (École Parisienne de Gestalt), is the only Gestalt EAPTI.
Today in France there are about 10 training institutes or schools for Gestalt therapy in Bordeaux, Grenoble, Nantes, Rennes, Lille, Limoges, Brest, Villelongue…The total of trained practitioners is near 1,500 (of which 2/3 have graduated from EPG).
Each of these institutes issues a private certificate. As of today, there is no complete training program offered by the public university system in either Gestalt therapy or any other psychotherapy or psychoanalysis. Occasionally, there are introductory seminars and continuing education courses. The SFU (Sigmund Freud University of Vienna, Austria) is, at the moment, creating a Parisian extension with a training program offering a Master’s degree and Doctor’s degree (Ph. D) in psychotherapy.
Supervision
The French code of ethics obliges each practitioner of psychotherapy to maintain an ongoing supervision during the entire exercise of this profession.
Several institutes have put into place a specific training to become a supervisor. These trainings, conducted over a year or two, are available only to certified professionals who have already been in supervision for several years. They receive additional theoretic training and have to prove themselves competent through several demonstrations of « hypervision » (supervision of supervisors).
3. Gestalt Associations, Institutes and Schools in France
Professional Associations
SFG (Société Française de Gestalt)
5 rue du Renard. 95490 Vauréal
E-mail : sfg@sfgestalt.org Site : www.sfgestalt.org
Founded in 1981. Professional Gestalt association.
250 members of which 60 are full members.
Affiliated with AFFOP, the FF2P, and EAGT.
The first national Gestalt association created in the world. Organizes symposia and
working conferences, publishes a scientific review and a newsletter, maintains a national accreditation committee.
CEGT (Collège Europeen de Gestalt-Thérapie)
Quartier du Haut Pansard 83250 La Londe Les Maures
Courriel : cegt@cegt.org Site : www.cegt.org/contact.htm
Founded in 1996 (split with SFG).
Professional association of Gestalt therapists. Organizes symposia and working conferences, publishes a scientific review and a newsletter, maintains a national committee of accreditation. Some 40 full members.
The following union and federations regroup psychotherapists of diverse orientations, however, Gestalt therapists outnumber the other orientations:
SNPPsy (Syndicat National des Praticiens en Psychothérapie)
77 rue des Archives - 75003 Paris
Fax : 01 44 54 32 01
E-mail : info@snppsy.org Site : www.snppsy.org/
Founded in 1981. Diversified union. 500 members approximately, 150 full members. Publishes a journal and a directory of accredited members. Maintains an accreditation committee and has a code of deontology.
FF2P (Fédération Française de Psychothérapie et Psychanalyse)
2bis rue Scheffer. 75116 Paris. Fax : 01 47 04 36 86
E-mail : contact@ff2p.fr Site : www.ff2p.fr
Founded in 1995. Composed of 64 diverse psychotherapy organizations representing
3 000 psychotherapists. Gestalt therapists are the heaviest population.
FF2P is the representative of EAP in France. Handles the ECP.
Organizes two symposia per year. Maintains an online NewsLetter.
AFFOP (Association Fédérative Française des Organismes de Psychothérapie)
6 rue Beauregard. 75002 Paris Fax 01 42 36 91 44
E-mail : nfl@wanadoo.fr Site : www.affop.org/
Founded in 1998 (split with the FF2P).
Composed of 18 diverse psychotherapy organizations.
Heavily populated by Gestalt-therapists.
Publishes a directory of various training schools in psychotherapy that are accredited by AFFOP.
Training schools and institutes
• Champ-G (Institut de Gestalt du Nord)
7 rue Jules Dérégnaucourt - 59100 Roubaix
E-mail : champ.g@wanadoo.fr Site : http://perso.orange.fr/champg/
Affiliated with SFG and AFFOP.
Direction: Pierre Van Damme and Yves Mairesse.
• EPG (École Parisienne de Gestalt).
27 rue Froidevaux. 75014 Paris Fax : 01 43 22 50 53
E-mail : epg@bestalt.asso.fr Site : www.gestalt.asso.fr
Founded in 1981 by S. and A. Ginger
Affiliated with SFG and FF2P.
Accredited as EAPTI preparing the ECP
Several agencies in different towns in France and in 8 foreign countries.
Trains psychotherapists and Gestalt coaches.
Direction: Gonzague Masquelier, Brigitte Martel, Isabelle Temperville.
• Savoir-Psy (École de Formation de Psychothérapeutes en Gestalt-thérapie analytique)
233 rue Saint-Martin. 75003 Paris
E-mail : savoirpsy@wanadoo.fr Site : savoirpsy. com
Founded in 1991. Affiliated with SNPPsy.
Trains in (Jungian) analytic Gestalt.
Direction: Pierre Coret, Elizabeth Blanc and Michèle Combeau.
• IGB (Institut de Gestalt de Bordeaux, siège de l’Institut Français ou IFGT)
87 cours d'Albret 33000 BORDEAUX tél. 05 56 90 04 05
gestalt-ifgt@gestalt-ifgt.com
Founded in 1981. IGB has been associated during many years with IGG constituting IFGT, with sessions alternatively in Bordeaux, Grenoble and Paris.
Affiliated with CEGT and AFFOP.
Direction: Jean-Marie Robine and Brigitte Lapeyronnie.
• GREFOR (ex-Institut de Gestalt de Grenoble ou IGG)
16 rue de Paris 38000 Grenoble Fax: 04.76.08.06.11
E-mail: grefor@gestalt-grefor.com Site : www.gestalt-grefor.com.
Transformation of IGG — which left IFGT in 2002
Affiliated with SFG and AFFOP.
Direction: Jean-Marie and Agnès Delacroix, Frédéric Brissaud
• IGPL (Institut de Gestalt-Thérapie des Pyrénées et du Languedoc)
Le Petit Saboulard. 11300 Villelongue d’Aude.
E-mail : info@gestalt-igpl.org Site : www.gestalt-igpl.org
Affiliated with SFG and AFFOP.
Direction: Patrick Colin and Edith Blanquet.
• INGT (Institut Nantais de Gestalt)
53 av. de la Libération. 44400 Rézé Fax : 02 51 11 17
E-mail : gestalt.nantes@wanadoo.fr Site : www.ingt.org
Founded in 1981, Affiliated with SFG and AFFOP.
Direction: Jacques Blaize and Nadine Gardahaut.
• PERLG (Programme de l’École Rennaise et du Limousin de Gestalt)
La Commune. 35137. Pleumeleuc ou 4 bd. de Fleurus. 87000 Limoges
E-mail : ergestalt@wanadoo.fr ou atgeli@wanadoo.fr Site : www.perlg.net
Founded in 1992, Affiliated with SFG and AFFOP.
Direction: Yves Plu and Jean-Luc Vallejo.
• Coaching gestaltiste
Site : www.coach-gestalt.org
Organises continuing education and publishes a directory of Gestalt coaches.
4. Theoretical Contributions (books and articles)
Bibliography of 71 books and chapters of books
in French, about Gestalt therapy
(excluding brochures and about… 1 500 articles of journals)
Basic books by French authors are underlined
Amblard F. (2003): Panser l’impensable. éditions Jouvence, Genève, 112 p.
Ambrosi J. (1984): La Gestalt-thérapie revisitée. Privat, Toulouse, 170 p. ; 2e édit. 1993.
Badier A. (1992): L’introjection, évolution de la théorie chez F. S. Perls. L’Exprimerie, Bdx, 2e éd.,
2001, 164 p.
Blaize J. (2002): Ne plus savoir. Phénoménologie et éthique de la psychothérapie. L’Exprimerie,
Bordeaux, 226 p.
Bouchard M.-A. (1988): De la phénoménologie à la psychanalyse. Mardaga, Bruxelles, 240 p.
Burger A. (2003): La Gestalt-thérapie, in Traité de psychothérapie comparée, sous la direction de Duruz N., Médecine & Hygiène, Genève, 430 p.
Delacroix J.-M. (1983): Gestalt, introjection et psychose, in Le projet en psychothérapie par le
corps et l'image, ESF, Paris.
Delacroix J.-M. (1985): Ces dieux qui pleurent. IGG-GREFOR, Grenoble, 210 p.
Delacroix J.-M. (1994): Gestalt-thérapie, culture africaine, changement. L’Harmattan. Paris, 270 p.
Delacroix J.-M. (2000): Ainsi parle l’Esprit de la plante. Un psychothérapeute français à l’épreuve
des thérapies ancestrales d’Amazonie, Jouvence, Genève, 222 p.
Delacroix J.-M. (2004): L’approche holistique de la Gestalt-thérapie, in Psychosomatique et
guérison, sous la direction de Idelman S., Dangles, St-Jean-de-Bray.
Delacroix J.-M. (2006): La Troisième Histoire. Patient-psychothérapeute : fonds et formes du
processus relationnel, Dangles, St Jean de Braye, 480 p.
Delisle G. (1991): Les troubles de la personnalité, perspective gestaltiste. éd. du Reflet, Montréal,
285 p.
Delisle G. (1998): La relation d’objet en Gestalt-thérapie. éd. du Reflet, Montréal, 390 p.
Delisle G. (2001): Vers une psychothérapie du lien. éd. du Reflet, Montréal, 214 p.
Frank R. (2005): Le corps comme conscience. L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux, 212 p.
Gellman C. & Higy-Lang c. (2003): Mieux vivre avec les autres, l’art du contact.
éd. d’Organisation, Paris, 320 p.
Ginger S. (1983): La Gestalt-thérapie et quelques autres approches humanistes dans la pratique hospitalière, in Former à l’Hôpital, sous la direction d’Honoré B., Privat, Toulouse, p. 279-304
Ginger S. (1985a): La Gestalt-thérapie, une 3e voie, in Le Développement personnel et les
travailleurs sociaux, sous la direction de Vanoye & Ginger, ESF, Paris, p. 53-71.
Ginger S. (1985b): Développement personnel et sexualité, in Le Développement personnel et les
travailleurs sociaux, sous la direction de Vanoye & Ginger, ESF, Paris, p. 110-127.
Ginger S. & A. (1987): La Gestalt, une thérapie du contact. Hommes et groupes, Paris, 494 p.,
8e édition: 2006, 550 p. (traduit en 6 langues).
Ginger S. (1995a): Lexique international de Gestalt-thérapie (en 8 langues). éd. FORGE, Paris, 180 p.
Ginger S. (1995b): La Gestalt, l’art du contact. Guide de poche Marabout, Bruxelles, 290 p.
10e édition : Hachette, Paris, 2006. (traduit en 14 langues).
Ginger S. (2001): L’École Parisienne de Gestalt, une équipe en marche. EPG, Paris, 250 p.
Ginger S. (2003): La Gestalt-thérapie aujourd’hui, in A quel psy se vouer ?, sous la direction
d’Elkaïm M., Le Seuil, Paris, p. 205-238.
Ginger S. (2006a): Psychothérapie: 100 réponses pour en finir avec les idées reçues, Dunod, Paris,
288 p.
Ginger S. (2007): Un regard gestaltiste sur la supervision, in La supervision en psychanalyse et en
psychothérapie, sous la direction de Delourme A. et Marc E., Dunod, Paris, 236 p.
Ginger S. & A. (2008): Guide pratique du psychothérapeute humaniste, Dunod, Paris, 256 p.
Grosjean D. et Sauzède J. P. (2006): Trouver la force d’oser. 8 étapes pour faire tomber ses peurs
et vivre pleinement. InterÉditions. Paris, 166 p.
Jacques A. (1999): Le Soi : fond et figures de la Gestalt-thérapie. L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux, 264 p.
Juston D. (1990): Le transfert en psychanalyse et en Gestalt-thérapie. La Boîte de Pandore, Lille,
290 p.
Kepner J. (1998): Le corps retrouvé en psychothérapie. Retz, Paris, 254 p.
Lamy A. (2000): L’un et l’autre, l’interaction créatrice, document de l’Institut Belge de Gestalt,
Bruxelles.
Lapeyronnie B. (1992): La confluence. L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux, 4e édit. 2006, 180 p.
Latner J. (1991): Gestalt-thérapie. Théorie et pratique, L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux, 5e édit. 2006, 212 p.
Martel B. (2004) : Sexualité, amour et Gestalt. Éditions d’organisation, Dunod, Paris, 174 p.
Masquelier G. (1995): La Gestalt, in Guide des méthodes et pratiques en formation, sous la
direction de Marc E. et Garcia-Lorquenoux J., Retz, Paris, p. 146-157. 2e édition, sous un
nouveau titre: Guide de la formation et du développement personnel. Retz, Paris, 2006, p.
188-202.
Masquelier G. (1999): Vouloir sa vie. La Gestalt-thérapie aujourd’hui. Retz, Paris, 148 p.
Masquelier G. (2001): Le coaching gestaltiste, in Coacher, de O. Devillard, Paris, Dunod,
(2e édition, 2006), p. 212-223.
Masquelier G. (2002): Gestalt et pédagogie, in L’insertion par l’ailleurs, sous la direction de Dubouchet D. La Documentation française, Paris, p. 8-15.
Masquelier G. (2005): Qu’est-ce que la Gestalt-thérapie ?, in Pourquoi la Psychothérapie?
Fondements, méthodes, applications, sous la direction de Nguyen T., Dunod, Paris, p. 113-
123.
Miller M.V. (2002 : La poétique de la Gestalt-thérapie, L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux.
Moreau A. (1983): La Gestalt-thérapie, chemin de vie. Maloine, Paris, 207 p.
Moreau A. (1983): Gestalt, prolongement de la psychanalyse, Cabay, Louvain-la-N., 180 p.
Moreau A. (1995): Autothérapie assistée, Frison-Roche, Paris, 406 p.
Moreau A. (2005): Psychothérapeute : « faire » de la thérapie ou « être » thérapeute, Frison-
Roche, Paris, 252 p
Perls F. (1942): Le Moi, la faim et l’agressivité. Tchou, Paris, 1978, 334 p.
Perls F., Hefferline R., Goodman P. (1951): Gestalt-thérapie. Stanké, Montréal, 1979, 600 p. et
nouvelle traduction: L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux, 2001, 352 p.
Perls F. (1969): Rêves et existence en Gestalt-thérapie, L’Epi, 1972, 245 p.
Perls F. (1969): Ma Gestalt-thérapie, une poubelle vue du dedans et du dehors. Tchou, Paris, 1976,
310 p.
Perls F. (1973): Manuel de Gestalt-thérapie, ESF, Paris, 2003, 128 p. ; 2e édition : 2005.
Perls L. (1993): Vivre à la frontière. L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux, 2001, 196 p.
Petit M. (1980): La Gestalt, thérapie de l’ici et maintenant., Retz, Paris,184 p. ; 5e édition : ESF.
Paris, 1996.
Polster E. & M. (1973): La Gestalt : nouvelles perspectives théoriques et choix thérapeutiques et
éducatifs. Le Jour, Montréal, 1983, 330 p.
Robine J.-M. (1983): Figures de la Gestalt-thérapie, in Le projet en psychothérapie par le corps et
l'image, ESF, Paris.
Robine J.-M. (1989): Formes pour la Gestalt-thérapie, IGB, Bordeaux, 172 p.
Robine J.-M. (1994): La Gestalt-thérapie, Bernet-Danilo, Paris, 62 p.
Robine J.-M. (1998): Gestalt-thérapie, la construction du soi. L’Harmattan, Paris, 270 p.
Robine J.-M. (2004): S’apparaître à l’occasion d’un autre. L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux, 254 p.
Robine J.-M. (2006): La honte en supervision, in La supervision en psychanalyse et en
psychothérapie, sous la direction de Delourme A. et Marc E., Dunod, Paris.
Robine J.-M. (2006): La psychothérapie comme esthétique. L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux, 304 p.
Salathé N. (1991): Psychothérapie existentielle : une perspective gestaltiste. Amers, Genève, 140 p.
2e édition : 1995, 174 p.
Schoch de Neuform S. (1993): Un dialogue thérapeutique. L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux, 3e éd., 2005,
164 p.
Spagnuolo-lobb M. (2005): Gestalt-thérapie avec des patients sévèrement perturbés. L’Exprimerie,
Bordeaux.
Spagnuolo-lobb M. & Amendt-Lyon N., éd. (2003): Permis de créer – L’art de la Gestalt-thérapie.
L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux, 2006, 368 p.
Staemmler F. (2003): Cultiver l’incertitude. L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux, 232 p.
Van Damme P. (1994): Espace et groupes thérapeutiques d’enfants. Hommes et Perspectives,
l’Epi, Paris, 228 p
Vanoye F. & Delory-Momberger C. (2005): La Gestalt, thérapie du mouvement. Vuibert, Paris, 250 p.
Vincent B. (2003): Présent au monde : Paul Goodman. L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux, 2001, 472 p.
Zinker J. (1977): La Gestalt-thérapie, un processus créatif. InterEditions, Paris, 2006, 320 pages. Traduction revue et corrigée. Préface de S. Ginger.
Zinker J. (2006): Le thérapeute en tant qu’artiste. L’Harmattan, Paris, 238 p.
Scientific Journals and reviews
Cahiers de Gestalt-thérapie
Revue du Collège Européen de Gestalt-thérapie en langue française
Siège social : les Terrasses, 64600 - Anglet
Edited by l’Exprimerie, 87 Cours d’Albret, 33000 – Bordeaux
Tel : 00 33 (0)5 56 90 05 04 E-mail : cahiersGT@gestalt-ifgt.com
Revue Gestalt
Revue de la Société Française de Gestalt
Siège social : c/o E. Gilloots, 5 rue du Renard, 95490 - Vauréal
tel. : 00 33 (0)1 30 32 28 89 E-mail : sfg@sfgestalt.org
5. Research
Symposia, congresses, and publications
Since its foundation in 1981, the SFG (Société Française de Gestalt) has organized every year symposia on thinking and research in Gestalt therapy as well as international congresses. The 1983 congress gathered 250 participants from 9 countries; in 1987 there were 300 participants from 12 countries; and in 1992, 500 participants from 22 countries.
Twice a year the SFG publishes a scientific review: Gestalt, over 200 pages per issue, combining approximately fifteen articles or studies – centred on a specific aspect of Gestalt therapy, for example: F.Perls; P. Goodman; children and adolescents; families; sources and contexts; the therapeutic relationship; the resistances; abuse, violence and trauma; existential psychotherapy; the body; East-West; spirituality and psychotherapy; the separations; regression; roots and transplants; the frame; societal implications; awareness; pain and suffering; addictions; the self disclosure of the psychotherapist… 31 issues have been published to this day, representing over 7,000 printed pages.
In 1996, a split occurred within the SFG and another association, in parallel to the SFG, was created : the CEGT (Collège Européen de Gestalt Thérapie). This association also organizes annual conferences, and publishes a bi-annual review : Les Cahiers de Gestalt-Thérapie. Some of the themes treated in the first 20 issues were: conscious, non-conscious, unconscious; maliciousness; the Id; the group; the field; early bonds; shame; the incomplete and the open-ended; dreams; beginning and ending; pathologies in experience; emotions; violence; psychopathology…
Jean-Marie Robine, director of the IFGT (Institut Français de Gestalt-thérapie) created his own publishing company: L’Exprimerie – which has published more than 20 specialized French and foreign books concerning Gestalt therapy, as well as numerous brochures (for the most part, articles translated from English and German sources).
In total, one can find in today’s bookshops 70 books (or chapters within books) and 1 300 articles in French language on Gestalt therapy – with about 60 written by J. M. Robine and as many written by S. Ginger, and more than 20 titles by each of the following authors: J. Blaize, J. M. Delacroix, C. Masquelier-Savatier, M. Petit, F. Vanoye.
Some of these books are translated into a dozen different languages… but only two books have been translated into English to date:
• Masquelier, G (2006): Gestalt Therapy: Living Creatively Today, Gestalt Press, Mahwah, NJ
• Ginger,S. (2007): Gestalt Therapy, the Art of Contact, Karnac Books, London
International Connections
French Gestalt therapists are in constant contact with colleagues from all over the world:
- they participate in numerous symposia, congresses and workshops, in Europe as well as in America;
- they invite within their training cycles, foreign specialists to give workshops and lectures;
- they are also, in turn, invited to teach workshops or give lectures in Gestalt institutes in other countries.
In this way, Serge and Anne Ginger, Jean-Marie Robine, Gonzague Masquelier, Brigitte Martel, Aline Dagut and Jean-Marie Delacroix have each recently taught in Belgium, Brazil, Italy, Ivory Coast, Latvia, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, but also in the United Kingdom, the USA and Japan.
In 1991, Serge Ginger founded the FORGE (Fédération Internationale des Organismes de Formation à la Gestalt), in Paris. FORGE organizes each year an international meeting of directors in charge of Gestalt training institutes: 30 schools from 20 countries the world over regularly participate in these meetings. They freely share their training programs, their concerns and their research. They encourage the exchange of documents, of students and of trainers between themselves.
FORGE has published an International Glossary of technical terms used in Gestalt therapy, in 8 languages (FORGE, EPG, Paris, 1995).
At EPG, Anne and Serge Ginger have taught side-by-side, for 12 years, an international five day summer workshop, in French and in English. These « master classes » for advanced training and research have assembled more than 300 psychotherapists from more than 30 countries.
In 2001, Jean-Marie Robine, director of IFGT, founded GTin (Gestalt Therapy International Network), and for several years has coordinated and worked in association with wellknown Gestalt trainers from America and from Europe (Gary Yontef, Margarita Spagnuolo-Lobb, Peter Philippson, Michael Vincent Miller, Philip Lichtenberger, Lilian Frazao).
Principal Research Taking Place
The French landscape in Gestalt therapy is marked by a healthy emulation between two schools: the EPG and the IFGT – that constitutes, in fact, the roots of two separate national associations of Gestalt practitioners: SFG and CEGT. Each of these two schools and associations organize conferences-symposia and publish reviews and journals on a regular basis. Each has oriented the research in complementary directions:
EPG – essentially investigating the following areas: the body and the emotions in Gestalt therapy; Sexuality and Gestalt (B. Martel and G. Masquelier, C. Gellman); Gestalt therapy with couples (A. & S. Ginger); Gestalt in groups; a Gestalt view of psychopathology; Gestalt, neuroscience and EMDR (S. Ginger); Gestalt in organizations (G. Masquelier)…
IFGT – is investigating the following areas: the theory of the Self (J. M. Robine, J. M. Delacroix) ; Phenomenology (J. Blaize, P. Colin, E. Blanquet); Field Theory; Gestalt family therapy (A. Chemin); Paul Goodman’s contribution…
A third trend in research has recently appeared: PGRO (Psychothérapie Gestalt des Relations d’Objet), influenced by the Canadian Gestalt therapist Gilles Delisle and his French students (P. Van Damme, E. Drault, J. F. Gravouil…). He refers to work done at the British School of Object Relations (notably Fairbairn, 1954) and is interested in the early internalized object relations.
6. Projects and Future
A Consultative Assembly of Gestalt Therapy in France
The two professional associations have decided to organize together, a Consultative Assembly of Gestalt Therapy which took place in Paris in March 2008. The goal of this assembly is to evaluate how well Gestalt therapy is implanted in France (a history of the different orientations, how Gestalt therapy is perceived in the press, etc) and to coordinate training, research and publishing.
The Status of Psychotherapists
The need to assert and specify our competence in psychotherapy became urgent the moment that government policies put the legitimacy of psychotherapy into question. In August 2004, in France, a law was drafted and passed to regulate the right to practice psychotherapy. The parliamentary debates were long and tumultuous. Nevertheless, three years later, the specific decree of application of this law have not yet been signed due to persistent profound disagreements between psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, psychologists, medical doctors and university professors… and the law can’t be applied.
It is interesting to note that several Gestalt therapists are leading the negotiations with the government and also occupying main roles within the different professional associations (FF2P, AFFOP, etc.) representing diverse modalities of psychotherapy.
In addition, Gestalt therapists are very active in the Executive Committee of the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP).
Gestalt Coaching
Parallel to the regular development of Gestalt therapy, Gestalt coaching in organizations or companies is beginning to spread progressively (public transport workers, hospital workers, banks, insurance companies, supermarket chainstores, etc.), through the job functions of coach, consultant or counsellor – either from within the companies or from outside resources.
EPG, under the leadership of the actual director, Gonzague Masquelier, has elaborated an advanced certified training program for this specialisation.
7. References for this Chapter (Bibliography)
Blaize J. (2002): Ne plus savoir. Phénoménologie et éthique de la psychothérapie.
L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux, 226 p.
Delisle G. (1998): La relation d’objet en Gestalt-thérapie. éd. du Reflet, Montréal, 390 p.
Ginger S. & A. (1987): La Gestalt, une thérapie du contact. Hommes et groupes, Paris, 494 p.;
8e édition: 2006, 550 p. (Traduit en 6 langues).
Ginger S. (1995a): Lexique international de Gestalt-thérapie (en 8 langues). éd. FORGE, Paris, 180 p.
Ginger S. (1995b): La Gestalt, l’art du contact. Guide de poche Marabout, Bruxelles, 290 p.
10e édition : Hachette, Paris, 2006. (Traduit en 14 langues).
Ginger S. (2001): L’École Parisienne de Gestalt, une équipe en marche. EPG, Paris, 250 p.
Ginger S. (2007): Un regard gestaltiste sur la supervision, in La supervision en psychanalyse et en
psychothérapie, ss la direction de Delourme A. et Marc E., Dunod, Paris, 236 p.
Levitsky A. & Perls F. : The Rules and Games of Gestalt Therapy, in Gestalt Therapy Now, Fagan J. et
Shepherd I., New York, Harper & Row, 1970.
Martel B. (2004) : Sexualité, amour et Gestalt. Éditions d’organisation, Dunod, Paris, 174 p. 2e édit.:
2007.
Masquelier G. (1995): La Gestalt, in Guide des méthodes et pratiques en formation, sous la direction de
Marc E. et Garcia-Lorquenoux J., Retz, Paris, p. 146-157. 2e édition,
sous un nouveau titre : Guide de la formation et du développement personnel. Retz, Paris, 2006,
p. 188-202.
Masquelier G. (1999): Vouloir sa vie. La Gestalt-thérapie aujourd’hui. Retz, Paris, 148 p.
English translation.
Masquelier G. (2001): Le coaching gestaltiste, in Coacher, de O. Devillard, Paris, Dunod, (2e édition,
2006), p. 212-223.
Petit M. (1980) : La Gestalt, thérapie de l’ici et maintenant., Retz, Paris,184 p. ;
5e édition : ESF. Paris, 1996.
Robine J.-M. (1994): La Gestalt-thérapie, Bernet-Danilo, Paris, 62 p.
Robine J.-M. (1998): Gestalt-thérapie, la construction du soi. L’Harmattan, Paris, 270 p.
Robine J.-M. (2004): S’apparaître à l’occasion d’un autre. L’Exprimerie, Bordeaux, 254 p.
Robine J.-M. (2006): La honte en supervision, in La supervision en psychanalyse et en psychothérapie,
ss la direction de Delourme A. et Marc E., Dunod, Paris, 236 p.
Cahiers de Gestalt-thérapie
Revue du Collège Européen de Gestalt-thérapie en langue française
Editée par l’Exprimerie, 87 Cours d’Albret, 33000 – Bordeaux
E-mail : cahiersGT@gestalt-ifgt.com
Revue Gestalt
Revue de la Société Française de Gestalt
Siège social : c/o E. Gilloots, 5 rue du Renard, 95490 - Vauréal
E-mail : sfg@sfgestalt.org
L’Exprimerie
87 cours d'Albret - 33000 Bordeaux
Fax : 05 56 90 05 04
E-mail : edition@exprimerie.fr Site : www.exprimerie.com
Coaching gestaltiste
Site : www.coach-gestalt.org
by Serge GINGER,
Founder of the Paris School of Gestalt (École Parisienne de Gestalt, or EPG),
of the French National Society for Gestalt (Société Française de Gestalt, or SFG),
of the International Federation of Gestalt Training Organisations (FORGE),
Secretary General of the French National Umbrella for Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis (Fédération
Française de Psychothérapie et Psychanalyse, or FF2P),
Member of the Executive Board of the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP),
in charge of the European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP),
Chair of the Training Accreditation Committee (TAC) for the Training institutes in 42 countries in Europe