05/10/2025
Gestalt therapists from 13 countries followed the invitation of the Estonian Gestalt & Training Center (EG&TC) to attend an intensive workshop with psychiatrist and Gestalt therapist Gianni Francesetti in September.
The workshop was a true tour de force through the history of psychotherapy, phenomenology, and finally field theory – all viewed through the specific lens of Gestalt therapy.
The Italian Gestalt psychotherapist, who has been deeply engaged with this topic for many years, explores in his new book Field Perspectives in Clinical Practice the concept of field theory from the perspectives of three different therapeutic approaches.
During the two days, central aspects closely related to the field theory were discussed. On one hand, the historical background and societal dimensions of psychopathology were examined; on the other, the field approach with the “mono-personal” and “bi-personal” perspectives were connected. Furthermore, the various dimensions of the field perspective – the phenomenal field, the phenomenological field, and the psychopathological field – were differentiated and their relevance for clinical practice explored.
Throughout these two intensive days, the international participants also discussed topics that play a central role in Gestalt theory and practice, such as the therapeutic relationship, unprocessed feelings, atmosphere, epochè, the role of the body, and the concepts of suffering and psychopathology.
The workshop offered not only an in-depth theoretical exploration but also a vibrant space for dialogue and shared reflection. The encounter of diverse cultural and professional perspectives highlighted how fruitful the field-theoretical view can be for the ongoing development of Gestalt therapy and its clinical applications. Many participants left the workshop inspired and with a renewed sense of belonging to a living and evolving international Gestalt field.
