About
Gestalt Integrative Institute (GI) is a global network of psychotherapists and supervisors created to support couples, therapists and researchers worldwide.
GI was founded by Dr. psych Vibeke Visnes after she finished her doctoral research in 2022. She created a new couple therapy method; Gestalt Integrative Method for Couple Therapy.
Dr. Visnes has since presented the research at conferences and she has developed advanced training in couple therapy for therapists worldwide. She is presently working on her first book based on the thesis.
Dr. Vibeke Visnes, founder
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The Gestalt Integrative Institute (GI) was established to help couples find a therapist within the modality through the webportal (link to find a therapist) and support clinical couple therapists in their practice.
As a co-created global community we organise retreats for couples and therapists. We also offer clinical supervision and workshops for continued professional development, ethical practice and exchange of expertise.
The Gestalt Integrative Method is based on clinical phenomenology and therapists are working from an existential, experience-near and humanistic methodology.
Partners
Jemma Crowe / UK
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Rita Jokay / Hungary
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Elin Ruhlin Juvsland / Norway
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Vilnius Gestalt Institute
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Story
The Gestalt Integrative Institute is based on Dr. Visnes’ doctoral research from 2022 carried out at Metanoia Institute, Middlesex University, London, UK. Her dissertation was a qualitative, theory-building case study. Six therapists were recruited and they each had two couples over five sessions. The sessions were followed by supervision and finally a focus group dialogue. Based on these phenomenological explorations, therapeutic experience and interventions, Visnes developed a Gestalt Integrative Method.
The Gestalt Integrative Method is based on two models; a Relational Process Model of the Therapeutic Field and a Gestalt Integrative Model of Phenomenological Domains inspired by Daniel Stern’s domains of relatedness. To read more about Visnes’ research please follow the link to Research gate or visit Dr. Visnes’ website www.visnes.no
Dr. Visnes with her focus group
Philosophy
Gestalt therapy is founded on a particular relational perspective and is often referred to as a therapy of contact and not a method of analysing the psyche (psycho therapy).
The modality leans on clinical phenomenology and is concerned with lived experience as the primary source of information.
A Gestalt approach to human (psychological) suffering and stagnation is different from a diagnostic paradigm. Existential philosophy and psychotherapy are concerned with how can we understand and meet challenges. The therapists are not overly invested in conceptualisation of healthy and unhealthy, but look at human conditions of existence. We live within a spectrum of differences and life adjustments. As therapists we support couples to find new ways of contacting, whether the couple is going to continue together or separate.
Values
The philosophical platform of the Gestalt Integrative Institute forms a holistic therapeutic stance. The therapists is not regarded as an expert who knows best. but through phenomenological exploration s/he/they supports the couple to greater awareness of their relational challenges. These challenges will be explored within the relationship itself, it is the couple’s relationship that is the client and not the individual partners.
The Gestalt Integrative Institute is concerned with therapeutic ethical presence and the recent emerging themes of gender, race and sex equality. Clinical phenomenology leans on a non-judgemental attitude.
Ethics and GDPR
The Gestalt Integrative Method is created, and researched, to support therapists in conducting ethical couple therapy. Couple therapy is regarded as the most complex of therapeutic practices, also when it comes to ethical issues.
The Relational Process Model is created to keep a balanced approach in the couple therapy situation where the relationship is the client and not the individual partners. The therapists are trained to keep this perspective in professional practice to avoid a therapeutic alliance with one of the partners. This perspective is of utmost importance for ethical professional conduct and entails:
• The therapist will not meet with any of the partners prior to receiving the couple.
• The pre-contact to schedule appointments is preferably by mail or sms.
• The therapist needs little information about the issues prior to the appointment.
These points are not fixed rules, but recommendations to ensure that both partners will perceive the therapeutic situation as safe and balanced as possible. The therapeutic relationship is regarded as the most important factor for a successful therapeutic outcome, and the Gestalt Integrative Method is created to support a balanced and ethical therapeutic releationship.
Each member of the Gestalt Integrative Insitute is required to be part of a professional organisation to ensure ethical codes of conduct. The memberships as well as legislation within each of the countries are explained at each of the therapeutic members website, and this includes the GDPR legislation. Each member is his/her/they selves responsible for the ethical codes of conduct and insurances as defined by their professional organisation. The Gestalt Integrative Institute has no formal or ethical responsibilities for the codes of conduct of each of the therapists or supervisors.
