PTPG

Polish Association for Gestalt Psychotherapy

In the last several years many new centers and private offices have been opened, offering Gestalt psychotherapy. The Gestaltist community in Poland has increased - the Institute has trained many of them.
In the perspective of Polish integration to the EU, the Institute has undertaken many activities due to which since 2001 it has been a full member of EAGT (European Association for Gestalt Therapy) as a training centre and the centre conducting psychotherapeutic activity. There was a need in this community to create the organization that would be a national representation of Gestaltist in Poland - of both individuals and psychotherapeutic and training centers and which could become a national representative in EAGT.
The EAGT Board offered help to those countries which want to create national structures gathering psychotherapists. The Gestalt Therapy Institute as an EAGT member become a meeting place for representatives of Gestalt centres and Gestaltist with Peter Schulthess, a Board member, Chair of the Training Standards Committee, EAGT consultant for creation of national organizations.
The following centres responded to our invitation:
Institute of Integral Gestalt Psychotherapy - Krakow
Centre for Gestalt Therapy and Development - Warsaw
"Gestalt" Centre for Psychotherapy and Psychoeducation - Wrocław
During the meeting the guest from EAGT presented the idea for the creation of the national Gestalt organizations (NOGT) and opportunities that it gives. NOGT is to create for psychotherapists the opportunity to obtain EAGT certificates through recommending individuals and through accreditation of institutes and training centres.
It is to be a bridge to obtain an ECP.
The objectives of NOGT are: development and promotion of Gestalt therapy in Poland. It fulfils the function of a forum integrating the professional community, scientific research between the centres and the organization caring for professional and ethical standards, regulating complaints procedures.
The meeting with Peter Schulthess brought about the creation of an initiative group of an informal character. The group included representatives of centres and institutes conducting psychotherapy and training:

Ewa Canert - Łąka (Gestalt Therapy Institute)
Maria Wilamowska (Centre for Gestalt Therapy and Development)
Magdalena Zaleska - Stolzman (Gestalt Therapy Institute)
Zofia Pierzchała (Institute of Integral Gestalt Psychotherapy)
Dorota Węgrzyn (Institute of Integral Gestalt Psychotherapy)
Krzysztof Papis ("Gestalt" Centre for Psychotherapy and Psychoeducation)

This group worked on the proposition of the Statute, than the founding meeting of a new association took place. The founding members of the new association were members of the initiative group and certified psychotherapists and psychotherapy teachers.
The Founding Committee was elected , the Statute was accepted and the name of the association - Polish Association for the Gestalt Psychotherapy. The Association in its objectives accepted the role of NOGT in Poland. The Association was registered in the national court register.

More information: www.gestaltpolska.org.pl