At the end of each year trainees are involved in a process of self – assessment and evaluated by their trainers and peers as to their suitability to continue training.
If the trainee is not accepted to continue training, the reason will be presented to them. The Irish Gestalt Centre expects trainees to begin each year with a commitment to fulfil the entire years requirements. If the year is not completed, the trainee is responsible for the full fees for that year.

Ways of Working

A typical working session is carried out in a small group with a trainer supervising trainees as they work as therapist with a client. Feedback is given by the group and staff and the underlying theory is discussed. Meditation, bodywork, dream work and on-going awareness are all part of the Gestalt experience .The relationship between client and therapist is crucial to Gestalt Therapy with constant attention paid to the process of each. Through constant  practice, the confidence and skill of the therapist can grow in a safe and challenging environment.

Trainee Requirements

Between the workshops there are three study days organised by the trainees.
Each year a trainee is required to produce a 5,000 word essay on a specific topic that is related to the trainee’s development within the programme.
In the third and fourth years of the programme, trainees are expected to  develop a client base outside the programme and practise under recognised supervision [and the code of ethics of the centre.] In conjunction with this practise, the final essay will be a case study based on the trainee’s client work.
At the conclusion of their final year the trainee is awarded a diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy. This diploma is recognised by the Irish Association of Counselling and psychotherapy.

Personal Development and growth is a strong component of the Centre’s four year Training Programme. Acceptance onto the programme is subject to the following conditions :

An individual must have completed the Personal Development Programme as outlined above, and have been assessed by the staff of that Programme as suitable for training.  The individual must be at least 25 years of age, and have a basic understanding of psychology and psychotherapy.  Finally the individual must be committed to experiential learning within a group setting.  The Irish Gestalt Centre will invite individuals who meet the above criteria to join either of the Diploma Programmes in Gestalt Psychotherapy.