Mental Health Counseling is a separate established scientific domain that recently has seen a dynamic evolution and in our country. It applies in many aspects of an individuals’ life such as work, family, education, heath, society and wherever the needs of our modern world deem necessary.

Mental Health Counseling refers to a systematic, organized and scientifically developed process that focuses in the development and empowerment of the individual in order to obtain a healthier, balanced and creative life. In other words, it facilitates and promotes mental health.

Among the subjects that Mental Health Counseling deals with is self-awareness, self-fulfillment, psychological support, problem solving, intrapersonal and interpersonal conflict management, adjustment to change etc.

Through this process a Mental Health Counselor provides support and help to individuals who want to gain the awareness they need to develop their self-esteem and comprehension of their choices. He helps them to increase their self –empowerment, autonomy and acceptance of responsibility towards themselves and others, to enhance their abilities to manage conflicts, to clarify their values and gain effective social skills.

Of course, this help and support can be appropriately and responsibly provided only by Counselors given the training on theory, ethics, skills, methodology and tools necessary to the application and practice of Mental Health Counseling.

The main purpose of the training is to teach the theory and methodology of the Gestalt psychotherapeutic approach.

Particular emphasis is placed on the integration by the trainees of the principles and methodology of the Gestalt psychotherapeutic approach, in their professional practice and in the development of a personal work style.

In addition to professional skills, an important part of education is personal development. Trainees become aware of their personal development and the structure of their interpersonal relationships. Through the safety, challenges and dynamics of the team, the trainees explore new and more authentic ways of existence and coexistence.

• Training Program Ideology

The philosophy of the training program is the most complete, modern and up-to-date bibliographic coverage in Gestalt psychotherapy, as well as the constantly supervised experiential education in clinical practice.

The program is based on a balance between theory, experience and practice. The trainees are active members in the shaping of the program, through the meeting and exchange of roles and experience between the years.

The main axes of the process are the dialogue, the phenomenological meeting of trainer - trainee, the interpersonal relationships through the dynamics of the group, the acceptance of diversity, the invitation for consciousness and the responsibility for the relationship between organization and environment.

The vision of the Gestalt Foundation is to contribute as much as possible to the Greek society with voluntary and professional work in many areas of application of Gestalt therapy.

• Program Completion

Upon successful completion of the hours of the training program and the required assignments, as well as upon submission of his / her dissertation (bibliographic or case study), the trainee Counselor is recognized as a Gestalt Mental Health Counselor and receives, from Gestalt Foundation, a certificate of training in Gestalt psychotherapeutic approach for Mental Health Counselors, which allows him/her to submit the required documents to the HAC (Hellenic Association for Counseling) to register as a member (Probationary, or regular).

• Training Program Participation Conditions

The training program is addressed to:

• University / College Graduates (psychologists, sociologists, social anthropologists, teachers, physicians, nurses, lawyers, etc.)
• People with Bachelor degree on Counseling, human resource managers, Business Consultants, artists and
• Individuals who have experience in the counseling field or have attended some other course in counseling.

So, the conditions for participation are the following:

• Higher school degree or counseling degree
• Application Form and CV
• Personal Interview
• 2 Reference Letters from mental health professionals (professors, directors, supervisors).

The Training Program complies with EAGT (European Association for Gestalt Therapy) and HAC (Hellenic Association for Counseling) educational standards and includes:

• 450 hours training on the Gestalt psychotherapy approach theory (minimum 3-year training) *
• 100 hours basic training** including Introduction to Consulting & Basic skills, Psychopathology, Psychology Courses and thematic training workshops on subjects such as crises, abuse, loss etc.
• 200 hours personal development allocated to 150 hours of group therapy (three years) and 50 hours of individual therapy
• 50 hours supervision (of which 40 hours must be individual supervision and 10 hours of group supervision)
  
• 200 hours practice
• Bibliography Study
• Term papers
• Thesis – Case Study papers

* Opportunity to attend the 4^th year training program after consultation with the trainers.

** The 100 hours are the minimum of the basic training hours calculated from the degree of the trainee counselor and his respective educational needs.