A program that will radically change your practice and your life.
Our Post Graduate Training In Contemporary Gestalt Therapy is a two year course for Postgraduate students who have a relevant first degree from a recognised tertiary institution, offering a Creative, Experiential, Dynamic & robust learning experience. It is tailored for people who wish to focus on learning and developing ethically informed Gestalt therapy skills and application.
This program is available either through our RTO as a nationally recognised Graduate Diploma of Gestalt Therapy
or as a non accredited professional training for practitioners wanting to incorporate gestalt therapy skills into their work. The 2 year specialist training provides 400 hours of instruction for students seeking a training to meet the requirements of the PACFA college of Psychotherapy.
It focuses on the personal & professional development of the therapist as the foundation for a solid relational clinical practice.
Students will engage in a supportive group-learning environment where they can grow in self-awareness as the foundation to supporting a solid clinical practice.
Nationall
COURSE CONTENT
YEAR 1
Unit 1
Gestalt therapy framework
This module provides you with the foundational understandings of Gestalt therapy, and will be the first of 4 incremental modules that are required for successful completion of the Advanced Training. It explores the history and evolution of Gestalt therapy and the underlying philosophy and influences. This module emphasises the development of the therapist through a process of self-development and provides an introduction to group theory and practice.
Unit 2
Gestalt therapy
This unit focuses on the application of Gestalt therapy. The concept of ‘self’ is introduced and explored from the perspective of the Client, the Therapist and the co-created relationship. Students will be invited into focussed reflection and practice around the therapeutic encounter with an emphasis on deepening the relational figure through awareness of self, other and our diverse social contexts. Finally, the idea of a ‘relational ethics’ is introduced to deepen students’ understanding of best practice and ethical maturity.
YEAR 2
Unit 3
Trauma Informed Gestalt Therapy
This unit provides you with the foundational understandings of trauma informed Gestalt therapy. It will explore the foundational theory and practical applications of working with the body, drawing on Gestalt methodology and safe trauma theory and practice. Particular attention will be given to ethical, informed, somatic applications into your practice as a Gestalt therapist and how to assess and work with trauma. The unit will cover recent developments in trauma theory and offer a framework for practice. These principles will be linked with contemporary developments in best practice, our current understanding of the neurobiology of trauma, and to the cultural and relational contexts we live in.
Unit 4
Nature Based Gestalt Therapy
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to apply nature based gestalt therapy. It applies to work with individuals using nature based gestalt therapies and includes researching and evaluating nature based approaches, applying these to practice an devaluating the use of nature based therapies. It includes developing an understanding of Indigenous practice and protocols for working with nature as ‘co-therapist’.
In addition, this unit brings together students two years of training and their learning & development from this course.
Our training includes residential learning in nature
Entry Requirements
Students who wish to gain entry into the Graduate Diploma of Gestalt Therapy are required to have Undergraduate qualifications in fields such as Social Work, Psychology, Counselling, or other allied fields. Other TAFE qualifications together with relevant employment experience may be considered, along with relevant life experience. Consideration will also be given to people seeking admission into the course with Diploma or other vocational Certificate qualifications in the counselling or related areas of study, together with extensive relevant work experience.
All applicants are expected to fulfil the following occupational and personal requirements (below).
Admission is open to all qualified candidates regardless of race, religion, ethnic or national origin, or sexual orientation. We particularly encourage and support ethnic, racial and life-style diversity in our faculty and students.
Personal Attributes
Students need to demonstrate the capabilities listed below as a pre-requisite for beginning training as a Gestalt therapist/counsellor.
- A relational capacity. This includes a one-to-one therapeutic situation along with an ability to work with a group or team.
- A capacity to understand and practice ethical behaviour and be prepared to follow the PACFA code of ethics.
- Demonstrate substantial proficiency in English to a degree that will support work with real clients throughout the training.
- Self-awareness, including the capacity to relate in a facilitative way with others and to reflect on and examine the impact of these actions.
- Possesses a high level of mature life experience which is shown by the capacity to reflect on and learn from experience, including being open to positive and challenging feedback.
Application pack
Contact us using the form below for an application pack for 2025: Training commences MAY
HOW TO APPLY
If you are interested in learning more, please fill out the form below and we’ll set up a time to chat more about the course.
Once we recieve your application, we will schedule an interview time with you and one of the TRIA Directors. This will take place via Zoom technology. The interview will be a mutual opportunity to assess the suitability of the TRIA program and to attend to any questions the prospective student may have.
Applicants will be considered in line with the above personal attributes, along with relevant qualifications and experience. Students accepted into the program or module will be asked to sign a TRIA Student Agreement and a relevant Financial Agreement. Students not accepted into the program will be notified in writing within 7 days.