History and Philosophy of Gestalt Therapy

Following its highly acclaimed response, this seminar returns in an expanded format with new material and extended time for reflection and discussion.

Gestalt Therapy did not emerge in a vacuum. It was born at the intersection of radical art, philosophy, psychoanalysis, political upheaval, and cultural rebellion. To understand Gestalt is to understand the world that shaped it—and, in many ways, the world we still inhabit today.

In this expanded seminar series, Dimitris Tzachanis offers a deep, nuanced exploration of the historical, philosophical, and cultural foundations of Gestalt Therapy. Moving beyond linear history, the seminar weaves together biography, theory, art, and social context to illuminate how Gestalt became not only a therapeutic method, but a distinct way of realizing human existence.

With additional hours and new material, this edition allows for:

• deeper exploration of key figures and movements
• clearer articulation of Gestalt’s philosophical stance
• more space for dialogue, integration, and critical reflection

Rather than presenting Gestalt as a fixed doctrine, the seminar invites participants to encounter it as a living, evolving tradition—one that continues to challenge how we relate, practice psychotherapy, and live.

This seminar will be of particular interest to those who wish to:

• situate Gestalt Therapy within its broader intellectual and cultural lineage
• reflect critically on contemporary psychotherapy
• explore the relationship between personal philosophy, clinical practice, and historical context

No prior specialization is required—only curiosity and openness to inquiry.

History and Philosophy of Gestalt Therapy​

Join us on an in-depth journey into one of the most influential and provocative therapeutic approaches of the 20th century.

In this seminar, we will trace the historical and philosophical roots of Gestalt Therapy by following the life and work of one of its central figures, Fritz Perls. Through rich audiovisual material, we will explore how key psychobiographical elements, major social, artistic, therapeutic, and philosophical movements—as well as the broader zeitgeist of the time—shaped what later became known as Gestalt Psychotherapy.

These historical landmarks will serve not only as a contextual framework, but also as entry points into core Gestalt concepts, illuminating their implications for therapeutic stance, clinical practice, and contemporary life. Along the way, we will examine decisive encounters (such as Perls’ meeting with Freud), as well as controversial and sometimes shocking episodes that—although not representative of modern Gestalt practice—remain an important and thought-provoking part of its tradition.

The seminar also opens broader questions:

• What ultimately constitutes “psychotherapy”?
• To what extent does it concern us personally?
• How relevant is Gestalt Therapy today?
• What does the tumultuous life of Fritz Perls has to teach us? Is it necessary—or even possible—for a psychotherapist to have “resolved” all personal issues?

Since Gestalt Therapy is not only a clinical approach but also a philosophy of life, this seminar is addressed both to mental health professionals and to individuals interested in personal development and cultural history.

Key Stations

• Berlin background & psychobiography of Fritz Perls
• Theatre
• Bauhaus
• Dada & Expressionism
• Gestalt Psychology
• Field Theory
• Psychoanalysis & Sigmund Freud
• Wilhelm Reich
• Holism
• Psychodrama
• Elsa Gindler & Charlotte Selver: Sensory Awareness
• Paul Goodman
• Gestalt Politics: “In a mad world, only the mad are sane”
• Zen & Taoism
• Esalen Institute
• Counterculture of the 1960s
• Laura Perls
• Existentialism & Martin Buber
• Phenomenology
• Fritz Perls: bum or prophet?
• One, none, or one hundred thousand Gestalts?

Although the seminar is primarily theoretical, participants will have opportunities—if they wish—to engage with the material experientially and to share reflections within the group. Each meeting will conclude with time for questions and discussion.

An extensive bibliography and filmography will be provided for further exploration.

Facilitator

Dimitris Tzachanis is the founder of Gestalt Synthesis and an accredited psychotherapist by the National Society for Psychotherapy of Greece (NOPG), holder of the European Certificate of Psychotherapy (ECP), and member of the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP). He trained in Gestalt Therapy at the Gestalt Institute of San Francisco, served as Head of the Institute in Greece, and is a member of the European Association for Gestalt Therapy (EAGT). He is also an accredited body psychotherapist, graduate of the Center for Psychotherapy & Counseling “Wilhelm Reich,” and member of the Greek and European Associations of Body Psychotherapy.

He holds a BA in Social Anthropology (University of Kent) and an MA in Psychoanalytic Studies (Brunel University, London). His additional training includes Trauma Therapy, the Diamond Approach, IFS, and Inner Child work. His orientation is integrative and transpersonal. He works with individuals and groups, designs and facilitates training seminars, and teaches Gestalt Therapy at KETHESY.