Beyond the Surface: Experiental therapy through Nature, Gestalt and Creativity
Join us for an immersive and enlightening two-day workshop where we delve into the diverse and transformative world of therapeutic practices. This unique event will explore the therapeutic aspects of nature therapy and creative mediums, all through the lens of the Gestalt and phenomenological approaches. Additionally, we will integrate the Oaklander cycle for play therapy and the contact cycle of Gestalt. Designed for both professionals and clients, this workshop offers an exceptional opportunity to expand your understanding and experience the profound benefits of these therapeutic modalities.
This event brings together six therapists (or anyone working with people) and six individuals who are eager to experience these therapies firsthand. Over two days, we will create a supportive and inclusive environment grounded in the principles of nature, support, and awareness. Participants will engage in hands-on activities and reflective discussions, allowing them to fully absorb and practice the techniques introduced.
Key components and goals
Gestalt approach
Experiencing: Therapists will personally engage with the Gestalt principles, focusing on enhancing self-awareness, embracing the present moment, and understanding the therapeutic relationship through direct experience.
Learning How to Use with Clients: Therapists will learn how to apply Gestalt techniques to facilitate clients' self-awareness, foster personal growth, and deepen the therapeutic connection by staying attuned to the 'here and now.
Phenomenological approach
Experiencing: Therapists will explore the phenomenological approach by engaging in exercises that encourage them to observe and describe their experiences without judgment, fostering a deeper understanding of their inner world.
Learning How to Use with Clients: Therapists will learn how to guide clients in exploring their lived experiences, helping them articulate and make sense of their feelings and thoughts as they arise in the therapeutic setting.
Experimenting (Gestalt approach)
Experiencing: Therapists will engage in pure Gestalt experiments, which involve spontaneous, in-the-moment activities designed to reveal deeper truths about the self and the therapeutic relationship. These experiments will help therapists directly experience how their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interconnected, fostering greater self-awareness and insight.
Learning How to Use with Clients: Therapists will learn how to incorporate Gestalt experiments into their practice, using these techniques to help clients explore their present experiences, challenge fixed patterns, and discover new ways of being. This process encourages clients to experiment with new behaviors in a safe environment, promoting growth and transformation.
Oaklander Cycle for Play Therapy
Experiencing: Therapists will participate in activities that utilize play, nature, and equine-assisted therapy to connect with their inner parts and drives. These experiences will allow therapists to explore and understand different aspects of themselves, including emotions, desires, and motivations, in a non-verbal and embodied way.
Learning How to Use with Clients: Therapists will learn how to apply the Oaklander cycle in therapeutic settings, using play, nature, and equine-assisted activities to help clients access and integrate their inner parts and drives. This approach is particularly effective in working with children and adults alike, enabling them to express complex emotions and drives in a safe and creative manner.
Contact Cycle of Gestalt
Experiencing: Therapists will explore the contact cycle by engaging in activities that highlight the process of contact, withdrawal, and integration, allowing them to become more aware of how they connect and disconnect in relationships and within themselves.
Learning How to Use with Clients: Therapists will learn how to use the contact cycle in their practice to help clients become more conscious of their contact boundaries, navigate relational dynamics, and integrate new experiences in a healthy and holistic manner.
Join us for this transformative workshop to expand your therapeutic toolkit, embrace new perspectives, and experience the profound healing power of nature, creativity, and human connection. Whether you are a therapist seeking to enhance your practice or an individual eager to explore new therapeutic avenues, this workshop promises to be a journey of growth, connection, and transformation.
Program
Day 1 (30.10.)
Exploring Nature and Gestalt Therapy
09:30 - 10:30 | Check-In and Opening Circle
- Welcome and introductions
- Setting intentions for the workshop
- Establishing a safe and supportive environment
10:30 - 11:30 | Presentation: Nature Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, and the Oaklander Model
- Overview of nature therapy and its integration with Gestalt therapy
- Introduction to the Oaklander cycle for play therapy
- Discussion on how these approaches can be used together in therapeutic practice
11:30 - 12:30 | Experiment in Nature
- Guided experiential activity in nature
- Focus on awareness, presence, and the connection to the natural environment
- Participants engage in a Gestalt experiment to explore their relationship with nature
12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch Break
13:30 - 14:30 | Reflective Cycles (First Round)
- Therapists: Reflective discussion on the morning’s experiences, focusing on personal insights and professional applications
- Other Attendees: Group discussion on personal experiences and insights gained from the nature experiment
14:30 - 15:30 | Second Experiment in Nature
- Another experiential activity in nature, building on the morning’s work
- Introduction of new elements or challenges to deepen the experience
- Focus on experimenting with different ways of interacting with the environment
15:30 - 16:30 | Reflective Cycles (Second Round)
- Therapists: Further discussion on the second nature experiment, exploring how these experiences can be integrated into their therapeutic practice
- Other Attendees: Reflection on personal growth and new insights gained from the second experiment
16:30 - 17:00 | Day 1 Closing Circle
- Summary of the day’s activities
- Sharing insights and reflections
- Preparing for the next day
Day 2 (31.10.)
Working with creative mediums and phenomenological approach
09:30 - 10:00 | Check-In and Morning Circle
- Brief check-in and sharing of overnight reflections
- Setting goals for the day
10:00 - 11:00 | Presentation: Working with Creative mediums and the Phenomenological Approach
- Discussion of the phenomenological approach
- How observing and describing experiences can enhance therapeutic outcomes
11:00 - 12:30 | Working with Creative mediums (Observation and Therapy Session)
- 11:00 - 11:30: Observation: Participants observe horses, focusing on phenomenological principles (observe, describe without judgment)
- 11:30 - 12:30: Live therapy session with a client and workshop leader, demonstrating therapy
12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch Break
13:30 - 14:30 | Reflective Cycles (Third Round)
- Therapists: Reflect on the observation and therapy session, discussing how to incorporate these methods into their practice
- Other Attendees: Group discussion on the personal impact of the morning’s activities and insights gained
14:30 - 16:30 | Therapist-Attendee Sessions with Experiments
- 14:30 - 15:30: Each therapist works with one attendee on a specific issue the attendee wants to explore. They collaboratively construct a Gestalt experiment to address the issue.
- 15:30 - 16:30: Conduct the experiment, observe outcomes, and discuss experiences
- Workshop leader provide supervision and guidance throughout the sessions
16:30 - 17:00 | Final Closing Circle
- Sharing final reflections and insights from the workshop
- Discussing how to integrate the experiences into daily life and professional practice
- Closing the workshop with a group ritual
The leader of the workshop
Ferdinand Bijzet is a highly regarded trainer and therapist specializing in Gestalt experiential therapy and family therapy. Based in the Netherlands, Ferdinand is the owner and a lead trainer at the Kempler Institute, where he has developed his expertise in working with couples, families, and individuals within mental health settings. His background includes training as a social worker and further specialization at the Kempler Institute in the Netherlands and the Institute for Systemic Approach, Supervision, Training, and Research.
Ferdinand's work is deeply rooted in the Gestalt approach, emphasizing present-moment awareness, experiential learning, and the significance of family dynamics in therapeutic settings. He is also involved in training and supervising therapists in Slovenia, contributing his extensive knowledge to the development of effective therapeutic practices in various cultural contexts. Ferdinand's method is particularly noted for its focus on addressing trust issues within couples, and he is in the process of becoming a recognized supervisor for family therapists. Ferdinand's approach integrates the principles of Gestalt therapy with a systemic understanding of family dynamics, making his contributions invaluable for therapists looking to deepen their practice and effectively address complex relational issues.
Join us on the beautiful ranch BELI in White Carniola region of Slovenia
30. - 31. 10. 2024 (9:00 - 17:00)
One day: 175€; Both days: 310€ (food included)
You are welcome to spend the night in our teepee or hayrack, feel free to bring your tent or to book the accomodation in a near by apartments. Please mind that we need the weather for this kind of workshop so in a case of bad, cold weather we will postpone the workshop.
For applications or in case of any questions write us on our email equiness.eu@gmail.com