Embodied Relational Gestalt Theories and Applications

An international selection of authors provide a detailed exploration of Gestalt as a somatic and relational practice. Covering many aspects of this relationship, the chapters include discussion of our relationships with nature, the role of Eros, energy in Taoism, affect and methods of practice. Both theoretical and practical application of an embodied relational approach to GT are presented, and many chapters include case studies from the contributors’ own work. The overall view of the book is that our bodies are inextricably embedded and co-creating with the environment, and that we know our body and the world through our embodiment.

Introduction by Michael Clemmens; Chapter One: Embodied Contexts: The Forms We Create, The Forms That Create us, Michael Craig Clemmens PhD; Chapter Two: Attentional scope and mental illness, Peri Mackintosh; Chapter Three: Nature-Healing-Body-Healing-Nature: Embodied Relational Gestalt Ecopsychology, Will W.Adams, PhD;Chapter Four: Erotic Ground: Always and Already There, Leanne O’Shea; Chapter Five: Signature Movement, Giselle Ruzany MALPC; Chapter Six: Nature Heals, Lucien Demaris and Deborah Ullman; Chapter Seven: Introjects and Introjection as Relational Embodied Phenomena, Renee J. Jennings; Chapter Eight: Engaging Strategic Curiosity: Toward an Embodied Relational Approach to Research in Gestalt Therapy, Rae Johnson; Chapter Nine: Towards Healing and Wholeness. The Menstrual Cycle: Self-Regulation and Self-Support for Women, Kate Merrick; Chapter Ten: Energy: A Taoist Gestalt Approach, Jody Telfair

Michael Clemmens PhD is a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Pittsburgh, PA working with individuals and couples. He is a faculty member at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland and Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. He travels nationally and internationally teaching and offering experiential learning opportunities. He is the author of “Getting Beyond Sobriety: Clinical Approaches to Long Term Recovery” published by Gestalt Press and the article “Culture and Body: Gestalt Therapy as an Embodied Relational Dialogue.”