WHO IS THIS PROGRAM FOR?
For those,
who plan to change profession and
become a psychotherapist
During the course of the training you will be able to start a private practice and
get income
For practitioner
psychologists,
wishing to expand their practice and skills
Get new professional skills to improve your work efficiency
For all,
who want to understand themselves, work through personal issues and improve their relationships with others
You will learn to understand people and yourself, build creative relationships and live a happy and harmonious life.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The training program was developed by the Institute in collaboration
with the European Association for Gestalt Therapy (EAGT) and meets professional training standards
Training is conducted in Georgian-English and Georgian language, according to the program in compliance with the professional training standards of the European Association for Gestalt Therapy (EAGT)
Form of the training - process-oriented offline (90%) and online (10%) learning;
Within the framework of the program, students master Gestalt theory and practice step by step, consistently and dynamically.
The training program strictly takes into account the European standards for the training of Gestalt therapists, and the training is carried out according to the program and lasts for 5 years (2026-2030)
As a result of this systematic training, after three years of study the student is recommended to begin private practice as a student practitioner, under appropriate supervision, within the Institute’s psychotherapeutic and clinical settings, as well as in existing psychotherapeutic clinics and centers.
Our Gestalt therapy program has already had four groups of graduates:
in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2024
38 graduates of the institute from Georgia, Ukraine, Russia and 4 from Armenia have already received European recognition in Gestalt therapy (accredited members of the European Association of Gestalt Therapists) and membership in the European Association of Psychotherapists
The remaining graduates from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia are in the process of accreditation
EDUCATIONAL DOCUMENT
After graduating the course, the graduate receives an internationally recognized diploma in Gestalt therapy of post-diploma professional European education, which allows to receive EAGT accreditation, also accreditation of EPA and other international professional associations if desired.
This program is the best opportunity to acquire a new profession, improve the quality of your life, enjoy the present and create a better future.
Get qualified education and an internationally recognized accredited diploma that allows you to join EAGT and other international professional organizations.
Create employment prospect and secure future in Europe and around the world.
Join the world psychotherapists community!
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
The Institute organizes
-
100 hours of group supervision;
-
200 hours of group psychotherapy;
-
600 hours of Gestalt therapy teaching-theory/methodology;
-
60 hours of studying modern methods of psychodiagnostics;
-
46 hours of personality theory and developmental psychology;
-
32 hours of studying clinical psychology and psychosomatics;
-
22 hours of training in social psychology;
-
32 hours of studying psychiatry and pathopsychology, psychopathology;
-
22 hours of general psychology;
-
24 hours of psychology of attitude and set
-
-
300 hours of lectures in necessary academic disciplines;
Students, with the assistance of the Institute, independently
organize
-
400 hours of personal practice;
-
80 hours of individual psychotherapy.
-
50 hours of individual supervision.
-
100 additional hours (outside the curriculum) attending trainings, seminars and conferences
-
288 hours of work in the intervision group
Students
Also
-
Participate in educational therapeutic programs of European and American Institutes of Gestalt Therapy;
-
Conduct scientific research on Gestalt therapy during clinical practice;
-
Participate in international conferences and symposiums;
-
Receive discounts on international trainings, seminars and conferences;
-
Participate in the activities of the Institute within the country or abroad;
-
Work in intervision groups;
-
Conduct open lectures for a wide audience.
-
Use our rich library (including electronic);
-
Work in triples;
-
Have a support in the field of employment;
Students also study the following 6-6 credit subjects:
Theories of Personality - 134 hours in total
Contact hours: 42
• Lectures: 28
• Seminars: 14
Independent work: 92
Clinical Psychology and Psychosomatics - 134 hours in total
Contact hours: 42
• Lectures: 28
• Seminars: 14
Independent work: 92
General Psychology and Basics of Psychology - 134 hours in total
Contact hours: 42
• Lectures: 28
• Seminars: 14
Independent work: 92
Social Psychology - 134 hours in total
Contact hours: 42
• Lectures: 28
• Seminars: 14
Independent work: 92
Psychiatry and Pathopsychology - total: 134 hours
Contact hours: 42
• Lectures: 28
• Seminars: 14
Independent work: 92;
Psychiatry and Pathopsychology - 134 hours in total
Contact hours: 42
• Lectures: 28
• Seminars: 14
Independent work: 92;
Developmental Psychology - 134 hours in total
Contact hours: 42
• Lectures: 28
• Seminars: 14
Independent work: 92
Neurophysiology - 134 hours in total
Contact hours: 42
• Lectures: 28
• Seminars: 14
Independent work: 92
Neuropsychology - total: 134 hours
Contact hours: 42
• Lectures: 28
• Seminars: 14
Independent work: 92
Psychology of Attitude - total: 134 hours
Contact hours: 42
• Lectures: 28
• Seminars: 14
Independent work: 92;
Modern Methods of Psychodiagnosis, DSM 5 - 134 hours in total
Contact hours: 42
• Lectures: 28
• Seminars: 14
Independent work: 92
TRAINING AGENDA FOR 2026
During the first year you have an opportunity to join the group
Training module 1
May 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 2026
Training module 2
Training module 3
Training module 4
Training module 5
TRAINING SCHEDULE BY YEAR
I Course:
200 hours - group psychotherapy (5 blocks, 40-hour, 5-day Gestalt therapy group trainings per year),
Lectures Courses:
General psychology - 22 hours;
Theories of personality and developmental psychology - 46 hours;
Psychology of Attitude - 24 hours;
Neurophysiology;
II-III courses:
530 hours - theory and methodology of Gestalt Therapy.
One 5-day training (40/45 hours) in 2/4 months including weekends;
144 hours of intervision;
144 hours of work in triples;
Lecture Courses:
Clinical psychology and psychosomatics - 32 hours;
Social psychology - 22 hours.
Psychiatry and pathopsychology, psychopathology 32 hours;
Modern methods of psychodiagnostics - 60 hours;
Work in triples;
Neuropsychology;
IV course:
145 hours of theory and methodology.
200 hours - psychotherapeutic practice.
Work in individual (15 hours) and group (64 hours) supervision;
72 hours of intervision;
144 hours of work in triples.
V course:
200 hours of psychotherapeutic practice;
64 hours group supervision;
72 hours of intervision;
16 hours of individual supervision;
15 hours of individual supervision;
144 hours of work in triples;
Preparation of a thesis under the guidance of one of the methodology teachers.
Defense of the thesis online.
Presentation of the thesis in the form of a lecture or seminar at the International Conference of our Institute.
Training Period: 5 years
After 3 years, the participant of the program is granted the status of Gestalt practitioner
This status allows the Gestalt practitioner to begin work, to conduct psychological counseling and psychotherapy under the guidance of his/her personal supervisor
in psychotherapeutic clinics, centers and organizations recommended by the institute..
In accordance with EAGT professional training standards the training covers minimum 600 hours.
We have 675 actual contact hours with minimum 4 different trainers
(this could be lectures, master classes, seminars, reading sessions, etc.).
CURRICULUM TOPICS
TOPIC 1:
HISTORY AND ROOTS OF GESTALT THERAPY:
Philosophy;
Anthropology;
Psychoanalysis;
Existentialism;
Phenomenology;
Gestalt Theory;
Eastern Philosophies, Jewish roots of GT
Body Work, Arts
Human rights and social responsibility
Radical Social Philosophies.
TOPIC 2:
THEORY OF GESTALT THERAPY:
Organism/environment field;
Figure/ground resolution;
Creative adjustment;
Paradoxical theory model of change;
Authenticity;
Contact-withdrawal Cycle of experience;
Theory of Self;
Awareness/consciousness;
Polarities; resistance/contact interruptions;
Therapeutic process
TOPIC 3:
HUMAN ORGANISM AND ENVIRONMENT:
Theory of Personality ;
Health and sickness;
Child development and contemporary infant research;
Person in society, gender and sexuality
The impact of global changes on the individual.
TOPIC 4:
TECHNIQUES OF GESTALT THERAPY:
Experiment;
Amplification;
Dream work;
Chair work;
Artwork;
Breathing;
Enacting, etc
TOPIC 5:
DIAGNOSIS: comparative approaches.
Differential Diagnosis;
DSM and ICD;
Psychodynamic Diagnosis;
Gestalt Diagnosis- Phenomenological /field embedded Diagnosis.
Comparative approaches, integration of various diagnoses.
TOPIC 6:
DIFFERENT CLINICAL TOPICS:
Gestalt perspective of psychopathology;
Neurosis, psychosis,
Personality disorders (borderline, narcissism, dependent, histrionic, etc);
Anxiety/ mood/ eating/ psychosomatic disorders, addictions, etc
TOPIC 7:
FIELDS AND STRATEGIES OF APPLICATION:
Individual;
Couple;
Families;
Groups;
Organizations therapeutic communities; etc.
TOPIC 8:
THE GESTALT THERAPIST IN THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP:
Gestalt perspective of transference
Counter transference;
Dialogue,
Contacting,
I-thou relationship,
Co-creation of contact,
Inter-subjectivity.
TOPIC 9:
HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:
The social, cultural, political and ecological aspects of therapy in general and its implications for a Gestalt therapist.
Therapist's responsibility toward the individual clients and towards the community / environment in which he/she practises.
TOPIC 10:
PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS OF ETHICS
The EAGT Code of Ethics;
The Ethics committee;
The Complaint procedure;
The implications of ethics in personal and professional spheres.
TOPIC 11:
RESEARCH IN GESTALT
Research methods in Gestalt practice;
Quantitative /qualitative methods;
Comparative methods;
self-report methods;
Levels of research.
TRAINERS
Marian Krasta
(Czech Republic)
Friedhelm Matthies
(Germany)
Roland Tsagan
(Slovakia)
Irina Zakharyan
(Germany)
Camilla Bialy
(Poland)
Tina Pantsulaya
(Georgia)
John Gillespie
(Britannia)
Monica Bronzini
(Italy)
Olena Zozulya
(Ukraine)
Georgy Smolin
(Ukraine)
Natalia Shubertiy
(Ukraine)
ABOUT TRAINING
Duration of study:
2026-2030
Training format:
in person offline (90%) and online (10%) in Tbilisi
Languages of instruction:
English, Georgian
Number of participants in the group:
no more than 25 people
COST OF EDUCATION
Total cost of the five-year course:
10,000 euro
(or equivalent in GEL to the national rate)
PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION OF ETHICS
EAGT Code of Ethics
Ethics Committee
Grievance Procedure
The importance of ethics in personal and professional spheres.
Note
Prior to signing the contract, or within one week after signing, it is mandatory to pay 20% of the tuition fee in advance, in the amount of 2,000 EUR. The remaining 8,000 EUR (paid in the equivalent amount in GEL) will be divided into monthly or quarterly installments, starting from the beginning of the training.
In accordance with the contract, the advance payment is obligatory and essential, as the group is closed. This means that the training is conducted as an ongoing process with the participation of the same group members throughout. If a student discontinues the studies for any reason, h/s will not be replaced by another participant in the group.
