Estonian Gestalt & Training Center

06/04/2026

Invitation to online child protection workshops series:

Dear colleagues in the field of child protection!

In Estonia, the protection of children’s well-being and rights is the responsibility of numerous parties, ranging from local government child protection workers to national institutions such as the Social Insurance Board, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Police, as well as law enforcement agencies and the judicial system.

We all know from experience that child protection is an extremely complex, emotional, and difficult issue, especially in cases of high-conflict separations. It is a field that sparks disputes, involves contradictions, and often leads to difficult choices, tensions, and suffering.

We believe that the only way to address such demanding and important issues is to face them head-on: by making sense of them, engaging in critical discussion, broadening our horizons, and collaborating with other practitioners.

Our goal is to support a balanced discussion and dialogue on this important topic from theoretical, academic, and practical perspectives. We are pleased to announce that we are launching a series of webinars under the Estonian Gestalt & Training Center, focusing on children’s well-being and the protection of their best interests in custody disputes.

We are bringing in experts who have been working on these issues for decades. The first guest speakers in the series will be renowned forensic psychiatry expert Dr. William Bernet (from the U.S.) and licensed psychologist Lena Hellblom Sjögren, Ph.D. (from Sweden).

👉If you work with children and families or deal with complex custody disputes, this webinar offers valuable insights, a practical perspective, and the opportunity to ask questions that matter to you.

📌For more information and to register:
https://egtc.ee/en_gb/high-conflict-separation-protection-of-children/

See you at the webinar!

Professor Emeritus Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Nashville, Tennessee, USA

15/02/2026

On Friday, the third conference on the prevention of sexual abuse took place in the conference hall of the Riigikogu, this time dedicated to the sexual abuse of boys.

Key messages:

* Boys and men tend to remain silent about abuse. Many take this knowledge to their graves. Those who do speak out do so decades later.

* It is estimated that one in six boys in Estonia has experienced sexual abuse. However, no one knows the exact numbers, as this is one of the most hidden types of crime.

* Boys remain silent out of shame. Because they don't have the vocabulary to describe what happened. Out of a desire to protect their loved ones from this terrible truth. Out of guilt, because they feel they should have been able to prevent it, since they are boys. Out of fear that they will be considered gay. Because when they told someone about it once, the listener started crying and they felt they had made a mistake. Because they don't trust anyone – especially if the abuser was someone from their family or an adult who was considered an authority figure due to their role (teacher, coach, etc.).

* Sexual abuse severely damages a person's identity and image of masculinity.

When men don't talk about it, it seems like this isn't a problem in Estonia. But the high number of suicides among men tells a different story.

The aim of the conference was to encourage men to seek support and find a way out through words and trauma work.

EGTC is encouraging the victims to contact the support groups: tugigrupp555@gmail.com & start trauma therapy

Organizer: MTÜ Eesti SV Tugigrupid with the support of Estonian Gestalt & Training Center

You can find the conference here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg497fQEbqE

23/01/2026

The Estonian Gestalt & Training Center is supporting the third conference on sexual violence, which will take place on February 13 in the Riigikogu hall in Tallinn. This time, the focus will be on the sexual abuse of boys.

The main organizer of the conferences is Rita Holm, coordinator of support groups for victims of sexual violence.

Come along to https://www.riigikogu.ee/.../konverents-poiste.../, listen to the live broadcast on the Riigikogu channel https://www.riigikogu.ee/live/2/et/ or https://www.riigikogu.ee/.../multimeedia/otseulekanded/... If the time doesn't suit you, it will also be uploaded to YouTube later.

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.

04/09/2025

Last call!
International workshop with Gianni Francesetti 2025
“Field Theories in Gestalt Therapy and Contemporary Clinical Issues”
26.09. – 27.09.25 online
Last possibility to join:
https://egtc.ee/.../field-theories-in-gestalt-therapy.../
Estonian Gestalt & Training Center (EGTC)

Target group: professionals (psychotherapists, psychiatrists, counsellors, coaches, psychologists etc.) wishing to deepen their knowledge about integrative and humanistic approach to psychopathology.

18/07/2025

We are proud and delighted to share that Veronika Kolaříková and Oliver Baiocco have presented the first results of our Erasmus+ project at the 10th World Congress for Psychotherapy (WCP), held from 16–19 July 2025 at Sigmund Freud Private University (SFU) Vienna 😊.

Theme of the Congress - “Polarities of Life” - is a compelling exploration of the opposing forces that shape human psychology and well-being, such as autonomy vs. connection, body vs. mind, resilience vs. vulnerability.

Over 2000 participants, from fields including psychotherapy, neuroscience, philosophy, and mental health, with hundreds of talks and panels to engage with 😊.

22/05/2025

Gestaltteraapia tutvustus juba sel laupäeval Tallinnas! 😊

Lisaks teooriale ka praktiline kogemus.

https://egtc.ee/et/courses/what-is-gestalt/

12/05/2025

https://fb.watch/zy9L-77Enh/