Peter Philippson - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Videos by Peter Philippson
Video of a webinar in which I describe the distinction between 'one-power' families (where only o... more Video of a webinar in which I describe the distinction between 'one-power' families (where only one person can be powerful) and 'two-power' families (where everybody can be powerful). While most clients come with problems arising from one-power families of some kind, most therapies are also one-power systems, and do not support clients to discover two-power relating.
52 views
Drafts by Peter Philippson
Topics in Gestalt Therapy Kindle/Kobo series
The ‘empty chair’ experiment has had mixed fortunes in Gestalt Therapy. Once it was a central met... more The ‘empty chair’ experiment has had mixed fortunes in Gestalt Therapy. Once it was a central method, with Fritz Perls naming it as one of his essentials, along with a ‘hot seat’ and tissues. It was so prevalent that it got taken as defining the approach, and taught in that way on counselling courses.
While the technique has remained meaningful for many Gestaltists, it has fallen into disfavour with most of the training schools I have come across. I think this is for two reasons: firstly, that it connects with a certain paradigm of technique-based Gestalt work, often associated with Fritz Perls’ work in California, that many are trying to distance Gestalt Therapy from; secondly, that the paradigm has shifted back from ‘working on the client’ to a more relational style of work, and two-chair work, and indeed any formal experiments, are not seen as part of that but of a kind of intrapsychic tinkering with the client’s mind. Two-chair work is also linked with that simplified version of Gestalt work that was so common in the past. I remember myself being taught to tell clients to put their mothers on a cushion and hit it with a tennis racquet!
In this paper, I want to describe why and how I continue to use the empty chair at times, how I understand it in relational terms, and, more generally, how experiments can be integrated with relational dialogue.
Papers by Peter Philippson
Topics in Gestalt Therapy Paper 19, 2024
In this paper, I have tried to do two things: to show how it is possible to talk about self-of-gr... more In this paper, I have tried to do two things: to show how it is possible to talk about self-of-group in Gestalt terms, and to give a practical illustration of the idea of a person as an organ of choice and will of the field (in this case the field of a group). This way of looking at groups can be extended to groups of many sizes and configurations, including national politics and large organisations.
I have tried to avoid losing either a field-centred orientation or a sense of the significance of the field-emergent individual. We are never in a social vacuum, nor are we ever wholly socially determined. Human beings are both highly socially adapted, and able at any moment to turn round and take a different path: this is where social change comes from.
British Gestalt journal, Jun 1, 2002
": In this paper, I explore the requirements of a Gestalt theory of transference. These need... more ": In this paper, I explore the requirements of a Gestalt theory of transference. These need to be consistent with Gestalt therapy’s basis in field theory, phenomenology, and a present-centred understanding of memory. I distinguish between two aspects of transference: defensive and expressive, and the differences in work with each. I propose a field-related understanding of projective identification. Key words: transference, co-creation, field theory, phenomenology, present moment, defensive and expressive transference, projective identification."
British Gestalt journal, May 1, 2014
": In this paper I explore the world of the hikikomori, people who fail to individuate from ... more ": In this paper I explore the world of the hikikomori, people who fail to individuate from their attachment to home and parents, from a Gestalt perspective. I outline how the work with these clients contains a number of traps for the therapist, ways to approach the therapy which are ineffective, and look at the ways of working that I have found effective. Key words: Failure to launch, hikikomori, paradoxical theory of change, aggression, counter- transference, suicide."
British Gestalt journal, Dec 1, 2004
": This paper explores the place of drive theory in Gestalt therapy, and how its neglect in ... more ": This paper explores the place of drive theory in Gestalt therapy, and how its neglect in favour of a 'dialogic relational' approach has led to the disembodying of the therapy and loss of holism. I suggest how this came about, and what needs to be recovered for a fully holistic therapy. Key words: drive, holism, dialogue, body, sexuality."
British Gestalt journal, May 1, 2012
"Editor’s note: This paper is from a talk given by Peter Philippson at a German-Austrian- Sw... more "Editor’s note: This paper is from a talk given by Peter Philippson at a German-Austrian- Swiss Conference held in Vienna, 12 November 2011, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Paul Goodman’s birth. This article is also being published in parallel in Gestalttherapie, 26 (1), Spring 2012."
Gestalt review, 1999
In this paper, I follow as much as possible the format and content of my workshop at the AAGT Con... more In this paper, I follow as much as possible the format and content of my workshop at the AAGT Conference in Cleveland, June 1998. I present the approach of the Brazilian educationalist Paulo Freire and its connection to the theory and practice of Gestalt therapy. I pay particular attention to issues of power and domination as factors in education and in psychotherapy.
Gestalt review, 2010
In this Commentary, I explore and critique Erving and Miriam Polster's idea of the “radical c... more In this Commentary, I explore and critique Erving and Miriam Polster's idea of the “radical center” and of point/counterpoint. I suggest that the polarities are often best not viewed as polarities in the way they do, and that they misconstrue the “center” as a position rather than as a place where the poles meet and can be viewed. I further discuss the proposed polarities of process and content, past and present, and field and system.
British Gestalt journal, Nov 1, 2018
In this paper, I follow as much as possible the format and content of my workshop at the AAGT Con... more In this paper, I follow as much as possible the format and content of my workshop at the AAGT Conference in Cleveland, June 1998. I present the approach of the Brazilian educationalist Paulo Freire and its connection to the theory and practice of Gestalt therapy. I pay particular attention to issues of power and domination as factors in education and in psychotherapy.
Video of a webinar in which I describe the distinction between 'one-power' families (where only o... more Video of a webinar in which I describe the distinction between 'one-power' families (where only one person can be powerful) and 'two-power' families (where everybody can be powerful). While most clients come with problems arising from one-power families of some kind, most therapies are also one-power systems, and do not support clients to discover two-power relating.
52 views
Topics in Gestalt Therapy Kindle/Kobo series
The ‘empty chair’ experiment has had mixed fortunes in Gestalt Therapy. Once it was a central met... more The ‘empty chair’ experiment has had mixed fortunes in Gestalt Therapy. Once it was a central method, with Fritz Perls naming it as one of his essentials, along with a ‘hot seat’ and tissues. It was so prevalent that it got taken as defining the approach, and taught in that way on counselling courses.
While the technique has remained meaningful for many Gestaltists, it has fallen into disfavour with most of the training schools I have come across. I think this is for two reasons: firstly, that it connects with a certain paradigm of technique-based Gestalt work, often associated with Fritz Perls’ work in California, that many are trying to distance Gestalt Therapy from; secondly, that the paradigm has shifted back from ‘working on the client’ to a more relational style of work, and two-chair work, and indeed any formal experiments, are not seen as part of that but of a kind of intrapsychic tinkering with the client’s mind. Two-chair work is also linked with that simplified version of Gestalt work that was so common in the past. I remember myself being taught to tell clients to put their mothers on a cushion and hit it with a tennis racquet!
In this paper, I want to describe why and how I continue to use the empty chair at times, how I understand it in relational terms, and, more generally, how experiments can be integrated with relational dialogue.
Topics in Gestalt Therapy Paper 19, 2024
In this paper, I have tried to do two things: to show how it is possible to talk about self-of-gr... more In this paper, I have tried to do two things: to show how it is possible to talk about self-of-group in Gestalt terms, and to give a practical illustration of the idea of a person as an organ of choice and will of the field (in this case the field of a group). This way of looking at groups can be extended to groups of many sizes and configurations, including national politics and large organisations.
I have tried to avoid losing either a field-centred orientation or a sense of the significance of the field-emergent individual. We are never in a social vacuum, nor are we ever wholly socially determined. Human beings are both highly socially adapted, and able at any moment to turn round and take a different path: this is where social change comes from.
British Gestalt journal, Jun 1, 2002
": In this paper, I explore the requirements of a Gestalt theory of transference. These need... more ": In this paper, I explore the requirements of a Gestalt theory of transference. These need to be consistent with Gestalt therapy’s basis in field theory, phenomenology, and a present-centred understanding of memory. I distinguish between two aspects of transference: defensive and expressive, and the differences in work with each. I propose a field-related understanding of projective identification. Key words: transference, co-creation, field theory, phenomenology, present moment, defensive and expressive transference, projective identification."
British Gestalt journal, May 1, 2014
": In this paper I explore the world of the hikikomori, people who fail to individuate from ... more ": In this paper I explore the world of the hikikomori, people who fail to individuate from their attachment to home and parents, from a Gestalt perspective. I outline how the work with these clients contains a number of traps for the therapist, ways to approach the therapy which are ineffective, and look at the ways of working that I have found effective. Key words: Failure to launch, hikikomori, paradoxical theory of change, aggression, counter- transference, suicide."
British Gestalt journal, Dec 1, 2004
": This paper explores the place of drive theory in Gestalt therapy, and how its neglect in ... more ": This paper explores the place of drive theory in Gestalt therapy, and how its neglect in favour of a 'dialogic relational' approach has led to the disembodying of the therapy and loss of holism. I suggest how this came about, and what needs to be recovered for a fully holistic therapy. Key words: drive, holism, dialogue, body, sexuality."
British Gestalt journal, May 1, 2012
"Editor’s note: This paper is from a talk given by Peter Philippson at a German-Austrian- Sw... more "Editor’s note: This paper is from a talk given by Peter Philippson at a German-Austrian- Swiss Conference held in Vienna, 12 November 2011, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Paul Goodman’s birth. This article is also being published in parallel in Gestalttherapie, 26 (1), Spring 2012."
Gestalt review, 1999
In this paper, I follow as much as possible the format and content of my workshop at the AAGT Con... more In this paper, I follow as much as possible the format and content of my workshop at the AAGT Conference in Cleveland, June 1998. I present the approach of the Brazilian educationalist Paulo Freire and its connection to the theory and practice of Gestalt therapy. I pay particular attention to issues of power and domination as factors in education and in psychotherapy.
Gestalt review, 2010
In this Commentary, I explore and critique Erving and Miriam Polster's idea of the “radical c... more In this Commentary, I explore and critique Erving and Miriam Polster's idea of the “radical center” and of point/counterpoint. I suggest that the polarities are often best not viewed as polarities in the way they do, and that they misconstrue the “center” as a position rather than as a place where the poles meet and can be viewed. I further discuss the proposed polarities of process and content, past and present, and field and system.
British Gestalt journal, Nov 1, 2018
In this paper, I follow as much as possible the format and content of my workshop at the AAGT Con... more In this paper, I follow as much as possible the format and content of my workshop at the AAGT Conference in Cleveland, June 1998. I present the approach of the Brazilian educationalist Paulo Freire and its connection to the theory and practice of Gestalt therapy. I pay particular attention to issues of power and domination as factors in education and in psychotherapy.
... Another source has been my discussions with my colleagues in Gestalt Therapy International Ne... more ... Another source has been my discussions with my colleagues in Gestalt Therapy International Network: Gary Yontef, Michael Vincent VII Page 9. ... So when a monk asked Joshu (778897), the great Zen master, What is my Self?, Joshu replied Have you finished your morning ...
The New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy in the 21st Century: An Anthology of Published Writings since 2000, 2014
In its original foundation, Gestalt Therapy was a very heavily physically/biologically based appr... more In its original foundation, Gestalt Therapy was a very heavily physically/biologically based approach, rooted in the functioning of a human organism in its environment, and the specifics of the physical capacities and limitations of the human animal.
In this paper, I develop my understanding of the Gestalt theory of relational self to take greater account of the physical aspects of relational selfhood.
I argue that there is a danger of the body being sidelined in a relational approach, and that this would compromise the holistic nature of Gestalt therapy. I outline the implications of making a clear distinction between the embodied level of organism/environment, and the personal level of self and other, and apply this specifically to work with people with eating disorders.
Pointing out the similarities between the Husserl of the Crisis and Foundational Gestalt Therapy.