Understanding Gestalt – Episode 9: The Contract in Gestalt Psychotherapy 🎙️
We are pleased to share the ninth episode of the podcast “Understanding Gestalt,” hosted by KamiL Torczewski – a psychotherapist and professional teacher at the Lodz School of Gestalt Psychotherapy, who is creating a series of conversations about the most important concepts and practices in the Gestalt approach.
In this episode, Kamil talks with Marta Wolowska-Cias – a gestalt psychotherapist, coach and supervisor – about one of the key elements of therapeutic work: the therapeutic contract.
🔍 What is a contract in Gestalt?
In the Gestalt approach, the contract – rather than being a dry formality – is understood as a living, dynamic communicative process that forms between therapist and client. It is more than setting rules and a framework for collaboration; it is the joint construction of a space in which encounter, contact and a viable relationship can occur.
The Gestalt contract is not just about writing out expectations or setting boundaries “on paper,” but about consciously agreeing on intentions, responsibilities and how to accompany the client – so that both parties have a sense of safety, clarity and space to explore themselves.
🧠 Understanding Gestalt – episode 9: Main threads of conversation
In an interview with Marta Wolowska-Ciaś, guests touch on such topics as:
🔹 How the contract strengthens the therapeutic process – not as a schema, but as a foundation for the quality of the meeting.
🔹 What co-creating a contract is all about – sensitivity to the client’s needs, pace and boundaries.
🔹 The contract vs. the authenticity of the relationship – how the contract reflects and supports mutual accountability, not just formal assumptions.
🔹 The role of the contract in the context of change and client responsibility – how clarity and agreement affect freedom in therapy.
💡 Why is it important?
Understanding the contract as a dialogic process and a living agreement helps the therapist and client move beyond routine and formality – toward an authentic collaboration in which both parties are present in the here and now. In this way, the contract becomes not just the beginning of therapy, but an active tool for being consciously present in the relationship.
🎧 Listen to the entire episode here:
👉 Episode. 9. Contract in Gestalt psychotherapy. Marta Wołowska-Ciaś
This is an episode for anyone who wants to understand how we at Gestalt think about the therapeutic contract – not as a formality, but as a key tool to support the process of encounter, accountability and authentic contact.
If you want to experience working with KamiL live, there will soon be a unique opportunity to do so. The Lodz School of Gestalt Psychotherapy will host the second edition of the workshop “A Man’s Journey. Consciousness – identity – relationships “, which KamiL Torczewski will lead together with Marten Bos.
This is a space dedicated to men who want to take a deeper look at their relationships, ways of reacting, inner conflicts and how to build a life more consciously and in touch with themselves.