Before and After:

A Phenomenological Exploration of the Impact of a Four-Year Training in Gestalt Psychotherapy on Gestalt Psychotherapists

Abstract

This article is a shortening of my Master dissertation in gestalt psychotherapy that I conducted as a phenomenological and qualitative exploration into how a group of gestalt psychotherapists in Norway had been impacted by their gestalt psychotherapy training. The related literature and research studies in the areas of training of gestalt therapists, gestalt psychotherapy, individual and group therapy and supervision were reviewed and found to be lacking in number and quality. The data was generated through a semi -structured interview in a focus group and analysed by using a phenomenological method that is discussed. During this process the data were organised in interrelated themes around what motivated them for joining the training, their experience of being in the training and the outcome or impact of the training concluding with a description of the meanings and essence of these experiences. The findings are discussed in the light of the literature, and the limitations of the study are considered.