2025 Residential Training Program

February 5 –  13, 2025

Casa de Descanso Tetela,  Cuernavaca, Mexico

Wednesday evening, February 5th through Thursday noon, February 13th, 2025. Monday is a “rest day” during which one can enjoy the pool and grounds, explore the sights of Cuernavaca…..

For more information or to register, email us.

lmjacobs@mac.com;  pacificgestaltinstitute@gmail.com 

Transportation:

There are plush, comfortable buses that run from Mexico City Airport to Cuernavaca.

For information on Visa requirements, click here.

Cost: The cost includes the housing, training and meals.

$3100 for a single room

$2600 for a double room (Fee is for each occupant.)

Learning Goals

Join our faculty and other participants to explore clinical applications of the evolving relational perspective in Gestalt Therapy, an approach that we have been developing over many years. Each of our faculty members have integrated other therapeutic influences into our relational/dialogic model, thereby contributing to its expansiveness and inclusiveness . Share our week of exploration and learning and living together. We have opportunities for learning for all levels of experience with gestalt therapy, from folks who serve on gestalt therapy faculties, from folks who serve on gestalt therapy faculties, to folks who are relatively early in their gestalt therapy learning journey (our minimum requirement is generally at least one year of prior training in gestalt therapy).

We begin our workshop with introductions in our first meeting, which begins after a 5. pm dinner. We follow with 3 days of a full program, one day of rest and relaxation, and then another three full days. On the final day, we have a morning program, which ends at noon.

On the full days, you will have theory talk, a chance to practice what you are learning in small clusters, and two meetings in your “home group.” In each day of the home group, the morning segment provides a chance to observe, participate in, and discuss “pieces of work” that your trainers will offer to group members. The afternoon segment your trainers will support you to engage in group process explorations.

Disclosure regarding required texts: Generally, reading materials will be provided at no cost, but in some cases students may be required to obtain books, some of which are written by presenters or faculty who may benefit from the sale of these books.

Program Highlights

A strong sense of community, coupled with an inclusiveness towards all participants, has allowed the faculty and community to experiment with program design. For instance, we have an optional evening program run by participants who wish to contribute ideas and experiences. Some examples have been:

• Improvisation and presence
• Embodied shame
• Aesthetics of creativity and therapy
• Yoga and the relation with “self.”
• Moving meditation
• Free writing

From beginning therapists to faculty members of gestalt therapy training programs, we have an extremely high rate of returning participants. Defining qualities of the program have become: the support for taking risks, mutual respect, and honest (even when difficult) dialogue.

Our Expectations Regarding Your Participation

In our week of intensive living and learning together, you may have your own emotions stirred. We are there to help you learn from those experiences, and how our dialogical approach serves the development of skill with your emotional process (and thus, with your patient’s emotional process). There will very likely be moments of mis-meeting between you and another that may dysregulate you, stirring intense self-protective reactivity, including behaviors to counteract the discomfort of shame and anger or rage. At such a time, we expect you to make use of faculty and fellow participants to get support for reflecting on these difficult experiences, and to strive to stay in dialogue. At such a vulnerable time, it is hard to remember that your feelings and your thoughts about the mis-meeting reflect a perspective, rather than a truth. For instance, your personal truth (about your experience) is not the truth about the other’s intentions, etc. True dialogue requires an ability to work with anger in the conversation, without devolving into aggressive behavior. Please consider whether you you have had enough prior training and experience to be able to manage putting your feelings at risk, and to be able to stay open to engage in a “disruption AND repair process.”

Prerequisites For Signing Up

This program is geared toward people who have had some prior experience and training in gestalt therapy, as well as some experience in group process. On occasion, we accept people who have not had prior gestalt therapy training. It is best that if you have no gestalt training experience, you contact Lynne Jacobs directly, at lmjacobs@mac.com

Our Guest Faculty

Registration

To register, email us.

Continuing Education for Psychologists, MFTs and LCSWs: 36 CE hours

Pacific Gestalt Institute (PGI) Provider #PCE 369

PGI is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. PGI maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences recognizes APA approved CE providers for MFT’s and LCSW’s.

Refund Policy: Any cancellation must be received 30 days in advance of the program starting date and a non-refundable charge of $75 will apply.