Gestalt Workshop with Peter Philippson: Eating Disorders in Gestalt Therapy – Self and Skin
In its original conception, Gestalt therapy was a very physically/biologically based approach, rooted in the functioning of the human body in its environment and the specifics of a person’s physical capabilities and limitations. In this workshop, I develop my understanding of the Gestalt theory of the relational self to take greater account of its physical aspects.
In my view, there is a danger of sidelining the body in a relational approach, which would compromise the holistic nature of Gestalt therapy. I will outline the implications of a clear distinction between the embodied body/environment level and the personal level of the self in a relationship, and show how to apply this to working with people with eating disorders.
There will be time for theory, discussion, experiments on embodiment and personal work.
Gestalt workshop with Peter Philippson: Eating Disorders in Gestalt Therapy – about the presenter:
Peter Philippson has worked as a psychotherapist for 36 years. He is a former president of the International Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy. Peter is the author of Self in Relation, pub. Gestalt Journal Press, “The Emergent Self,” ed. Karnac/UKCP, “Gestalt Therapy: Roots and Branches” pub. Karnac and “The ‘Active Principle’ in Gestalt Therapy and Other Essays,” and co-authored many chapters and articles.
He is a teacher (4th dan) and student of traditional Aikido. His books combine his more than 30 years of experience as a Gestalt psychotherapist, his philosophical studies, Aikido, and his interest in modern science, especially neuroscience. He draws on his extensive knowledge of chaos theory, quantum mechanics, mathematics, Zen Buddhism and Gestalt psychotherapy theory to expertly introduce readers to the concept of the self as an emergent process.