NYIGT Now
As we were then, so are we now: a teaching/learning community where we explore ever-evolving Gestalt theory as experienced in and expressed through the practice of therapy, group work, and organizational development. Presentations mine the history of Gestalt theory and examine the larger intellectual context within which current theory is developing. Anyone with an interest in Gestalt ideas, applications, and practices is invited to join our community and membership organization.
Our offerings include monthly presentation meetings that are open, without charge, to anyone interested in attending and cover a range of contemporary topics. To see the full schedule, please click here.
In addition, there are several business meetings during the year. We also sponsor special events and encourage participation in relevant conferences. We hope you will join us for any of these that draws your
interest.
The past few years have been especially difficult, given the ongoing pandemic. Yet we have forged ahead with special online events to support our members, and these have given us the opportunity for unprecedented international outreach.
As a result, our 2022-2023 season will have an expanded digital focus. We look forward to sharing it with you.
For more information, please contact us.
We welcome you,
Michael Vincent Miller
President, NYIGT
Susan Gregory
Vice President, NYIGT
PHILOSOPHY
THE NYIGT TODAY
Over the years, the Institute has evolved into a world-wide membership organization addressing the needs of the Gestalt therapy community. Its structure continues to develop according to the needs of individuals and of the group-as-a-whole. Each month from the relative isolation of psychotherapy practices, supervision, seminars, practica, and study groups, people come together in a larger community to socialize, learn from one another, and contactfully challenge themselves in the on-going group process.
Each of us meets as a peer, regardless of our background or experience, whether student, teacher, fellow, full or associate member.
We at the New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy think of ourselves as serving a special function in the larger Gestalt therapy community.Rather than offer formal structured programs to “train” Gestalt therapists,our primary function is the ongoing teaching and learning of Gestalt therapy itself. We believe teaching and learning Gestalt therapy are aspects of a single contact-boundary phenomena. An experienced teacher learns through the process of teaching; a student teaches through the process of learning. All of us continue to discover, invent, learn, and create the theory of Gestalt therapy.
Learning thus does not emanate from the top down in a fixed hierarchy, but emerges as figures of interest in a field of excitement and support. We invite all interested people to join our teaching/learning community. Each of us organizes his/her own teaching learning experience based on need, interest and excitement. We encourage one another to follow his/her interest, attend to what is exciting in this process, and to bring his/her needs, questions, and concerns to our monthly meetings in order to further the continuing study of Gestalt therapy by all of us.We believe this leads to awareness and growth in a way that most effectively embodies the values and spirit of Gestalt therapy.
HISTORY
The New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy, founded in 1952, is the original Gestalt therapy institute. In the late 1940’s Frederick (Fritz) and Laura Perls emigrated to the United States and settled in New York City. Here they continued their work begun in South Africa , developing a novel theory and method of psychotherapy. In 1951, the therapy was named and presented to the world in Gestalt Therapy, Excitement and Growth by Frederick Perls, Ralph Hefferline, and Paul Goodman.
A year following its publication, 40 people arrived for study at the Perls’s apartment; Fritz and Laura each led a group of 20. The NYIGT, the first Gestalt therapy institute in the world, was fueled by the excitement of this group. The original circle soon grew to include Isadore From, Paul Goodman, Elliot Shapiro, Paul Weiss, Richard Kitzler, and others. Over the years, these people spread the seeds of Gestalt therapy from which many national and international Gestalt therapy institutes grew. Fritz’s enthusiasm sparked the fires of the NYIGT and for many years Laura’s forceful patience sustained it. The continuing liveliness and commitment of its member to the Institute’s core values has kept it vital for nearly half a century.
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