DCES 886 - Existential and Gestalt Therapy

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This course is an integrative examination of the classical therapeutic approaches of Gestalt and existential therapies from an innovative and dialectical perspective, covering both theories at the doctoral level and beyond. The existential and phenomenological perspectives of Martin Heidegger, Edmund Husserl, Jean-Paul Sartre, Irvin Yalom, and Viktor Frankl are covered in depth, with special attention given to such transcultural issues as death, meaning, isolation, freedom, powerlessness, existential anxiety, mindfulness, authenticity, empathy, consciousness, being, oppression, and liberation. In addition, many little known and some original existential techniques are discussed that are taken directly from existential sources and converted into to therapy applications. A range of Gestalt therapy topics will be covered including contact, unfinished business, boundary disturbances, subpersonalities, personality integration, mindfulness, and the broad range of Gestalt techniques including the empty chair. The emphasis of the course is on instilling a practical, immediately applicable understanding of these theories and principles. Many practical techniques and strategies from both theories will be explored along with over a dozen existential growth exercises for both students and clients. The integration of cognitive, behavioral, existential, and Gestalt therapies is also addressed.