The One Day Conference, organised by the Gestalt Foundation, as part of its 20th anniversary celebration, took place in Athens, on 9 December 2018, in the Antonis Tritsis amphitheatre at the OPANDA cultural centre.
The theme of the Conference was “Phenomenology in Gestalt Therapy” and the event was a huge success, with a wealth of speakers and attendees from different scientific and professional backgrounds taking part.
The initiative was warmly received by Lilian Houliara (Vice-President of the Hellenic Association of Psychotherapy), Vivian Sachazi (President of the Hellenic Association of Counselling) and Kostandinos Kostas (President of the Hellenic Association of Gestalt Psychotherapy).
The event was opened by one of the main speakers, Mr. Panos Theodorou (Associate Professor of Philosophy, Department of Philosophy and Social Studies at the University of Crete). It was an honour to have Mr. Theodorou take part with his in-depth development of the theme: “Phenomenology in Gestalt Therapy: Framework, Perspectives, and the Case of the Phenomena of Emotions”.
The first part of “Phenomenology in Gestalt Therapy”, which was facilitated by Konstandinos Kostas, was introduced by Yianna Yamarellou (M.A. Clinical Psychology, Gestalt psychotherapist, trainer and supervisor, member of EAGT, holder of ECP, founder member of the Gestalt Foundation and the HAGT), who addressed the concept of “Phenomena in Greek Philosophy”. This was followed by Mr. George Diplas (P.g.D. in Pca Counselling, Gestalt trainer and supervisor, EAGT member and ECP holder, member of HAGT), who presented the subject “Freedom of the Will and Phenomenology”, before passing the baton on to Antonia Konstandinidou (M.S.c Social and Clinical Psychology, Gestalt psychotherapist, trainer and supervisor, holder of ECP, member of EAGT and founder member of HAGT), who explored the subject: “When Pain becomes Form: The Phenomenological Dimension of Gestalt therapy in Diagnosis and Psychopathology”. Despina Balliou (M.Sc. Counselling Psychology, Gestalt psychotherapist, trainer and supervisor, member of EAGT, trained in EMDR Trauma Therapy, holder of ECP, founder member of the Gestalt Foundation and HAGT), followed, with her presentation “Mother Nature is Suffering: The Eco-Phenomenological Approach in Gestalt Therapy”.
The second subject area, “Society, Research, Organizational”, facilitated by George Diplas, began with Ioanna Kato (M.Sc. Psychology, Speech Therapist, Gestalt psychotherapist, trainer and supervisor, member of EAGT and HAGT) on the theme of “Human rights in relation to Gestalt therapy” followed by Antigone Mertika (B.Sc Psychology, P.g. certificates in Counselling and Organizational Psychology from Columbia University, New York, Ph.D Clinical Psychology), who delivered her speech on “Research in Gestalt: Approaches and Variations in Clinical Practice with Scientific Research”. To close part two, Mr. George Stamatis (B.A. Law, H.S.D. (marketing), M.Ed. Adult Education, Gestalt Foundation graduate, development counsellor, trainer and coach in businesses and organizations) highlighted and emphasised the importance of Gestalt Coaching and intervention in the world of businesses and organizations.
Part three, “The Phenomenological Field in Action”, was facilitated by Katia Chatzilakou (M.Sc. Social and Clinical Psychology, Gestalt psychotherapist, trainer and supervisor, ECP holder and EAGT member, founder member of Gestalt Foundation and HAGT) and included the presentations of: Exarmenia Pappa (M.Sc.Psychology, M.Sc. Mental Health Studies, PgCert Gestalt Body Process, Certificate in Performance Studies at Birbeck College, Gestalt psychotherapist and trainer, member of EAGT and HAGT): “Contradiction as a Phenomenon of the Field”; Maria Farmaki (Infant and nursery school teacher, Psychologist, Gestalt psychotherapist, member of EAGT, HAGT and member of the Panhellenic Association for Infant and Nursery Schools): “Savouring the Pleasure of Closure”; Kostas Michailidis (B.Sc. Counselling and Psychological Science, Gestalt psychotherapist and trainer, member of EAGT and HAGT): “The surprise of the meeting: The Field takes Shape”; and Antigone Orfanou (School Psychology, M.Sc. Professional Training in Educational Psychology, Gestalt psychotherapist and supervisor, member of EAGT and HAGT, trained in the Ruella Frank model of Somatic Psychotherapy): “The Aesthetic of the Presence of Other”.
The fourth and final subject area, entitled “The Phenomenological Approach in Group Therapy”, was facilitated by Despina Balliou and commenced with a speech by Amalia Kapoulea (B.SC. Counselling and Psychological Science, Gestalt psychotherapist, member of EAGT and HAGT) on the subject of “The Phenomenological Field in the Formation Process”, followed by Elena Antoniou (B.Sc. Psychology, M.Sc. Counselling Studies, member of EAGT and HAGT), who talked about “What the Body Tells us in the Therapeutic Process”. Marietta Paraschou (B.Sc. Psychology, M.Sc. Counselling Studies, psychotherapist, member of EAGT and HAGT) carried on from here by addressing the important function of speech in the context of the therapeutic process, and the speeches came to a close with Konstandina Gkioni (Psychologist, M.Sc. Mental Health, Gestalt psychotherapist, member of EAGT and HAGT), who discussed how therapeutic interventions are fed in a group context by the phenomenological concept of Prolongation and Dimitra Chantziara (B.Sc. Psychology, Gestalt psychotherapist, member of EAGT and HAGT, trained in EMDR Trauma therapy) who presented the subject: “Approaching Phenomenologically the Ethical Issues that arise in the therapeutic process”.
There followed a lively and interesting open discussion with the audience which was enriched by the diversity of questions posed by those who participated in the exchange. The Conference came to a close with a small, celebratory gathering in the foyer of the amphitheatre, which was ‘illuminated’ by the warm and moving comments and good wishes extended by many, with regard to the road that the Gestalt Foundation has now carved!
