Remembering Robert Resnick, PhD: European Summer Residential Program

After almost 50 years of training therapists from every continent except Antarctica, the European Summer Residential Program has evolved into a structure that optimizes a smooth operation and responds creatively to current field conditions. Gestalt Associates Training Los Angeles (GATLA) has become an international community, a home to many around the world.The Gestalt Therapy Institute of Los Angeles was formed in 1969 by a group of psychotherapists trained by James Simkin and Frederick (Fritz) Perls. Robert Resnick (psychology), Robert Martin (social work), and Eric Marcus (psychiatry) were the first officers in the nonprofit training organization. Perls wanted Resnick to take Gestalt back to Europe, and Resnick was eager to do so. He led his first workshop in the Netherlands in the fall of 1969. Three years later, Jan Rainwater’s dreams of training in Yugoslavia (with help of Resnick, Martin, and Janet Ruckert) led to organizing a group of 29 therapists from the United States and three from Yugoslavia (Mladen Kostić (Belgrade), Vanja Jelić, and Branko Pražić (Zagreb) for two training groups. Thus began the European Summer Residential Program. Later Gary Yontef, Hunter Beaumont, Lynne Jacobs, and others joined the faculty.1 When the European training began, participants were new to Gestalt therapy. With excitement they returned to their countries, and many started their own training programs, often inviting the faculty for continued training. As years and decades passed, the needs of the participants changed, expressed through formal evaluations which the faculty implemented into the program.In the late 1980s, GATLA was formed by Robert Resnick, Rita Resnick, and Todd Burley. The trio continued organizing the Summer Residential, inviting faculty whom they had trained and certified. Faculty and group leaders (formerly called assistants) traveled from Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Slovenia, South Africa, and the United States. Guest faculty, who supervise small groups, give lectures, and demonstrations, have included Erving Polster, Edwin Nevis, Sonia Nevis, Joseph Melnick, Gaie Houston, Malcolm Parlett, Hanna Hostrup, Jean-Marie Robine, Toni Gilligan, Charlie Bowman, Lu Grey, Peter Cole, Daisy Reese, Alan Cohen, Connie Newman, and Dan Bloom.GATLA groups meet for 3 three-day segments with a free day in between. A group leader stays with each group throughout the three segments, holding the history and continuity. Trainers rotate among the groups for three days in each segment, maximizing the opportunity to see different styles. Both trainer and group leader are available for live work with participants who work as clients, or supervising those who want to work as therapists. Attention is paid to group process to develop safety without jeopardizing difference.Sunday evening welcomes the whole community sitting in a large circle; in the last few years, this included more than 120 people representing 25 countries. A microphone is passed first to faculty to share their name and the country where they reside, and then participants share their details. Demographics of the group are explored by a series of questions, and participants stand in response. People not only become familiar with the community, but identify people with whom they might want to connect in terms of psychotherapy orientation, interest in research, clinical or organizational development work, sports, pets, food, music, dance, yoga, and so on. Often participants use this information to offer some skill or expertise to the whole community. Previous GATLA participants are then asked to stand in the center based on the number of years they have attended. Participants new to the community, left sitting in the circle, are welcomed individually by faculty and previous attendees.After the schedule is presented to the entire group, everyone is dismissed except those who will be individual clients, therapists, or supervisors for the entire nine days. These trios have been organized in advance by the faculty to maximize learning for the therapist in the clinical practicum. Supervision is done by the faculty, group leaders, master class, and guest faculty. Clients have volunteered in advance and priority is given to those who have not participated in this part of the program before.A short community meeting begins with, “Good morning, Rita” and is held every morning (except free days) to bring any issues coming up in the community, whether a need for a pillow or an interest in a specific presentation or discussion open to the whole community.Groups typically meet for two hours each morning, and then for a theory session that lasts an hour and a half. The Introductory Group attends basic theory, while two or three other theory tracks are offered: Organizational Development (Doug Aberle), Family and Systems (Anna Tanalska-Duleba), and other current clinical issues.Lunch provides an opportunity to meet with participants from other groups as well as with faculty.Individual therapy sessions are held in the afternoon. Other participants meet in small groups to practice skills as a therapist or to work as a client. Supervision is done by the clinical practicum, group leaders, faculty, and guest faculty.In the late afternoon, participants return to their designated groups for work as therapist/client, theory discussion, or group process, as needed.Evenings are filled with presentations by faculty and/or participants on current topics of interest. Some evenings include music, singing, films, arguing theory, or just hanging out over a glass of wine.During free days, participants may do as they like: rest, organize an excursion with other members, or participate in team sports. Venues may offer swimming, canoeing, hiking, and other activities. Some people choose to explore the local area. Everyone needs a break from the intensive routine.The Introductory Group is for therapists with little or no experience in Gestalt therapy, even if a practiced clinician. The group has its own theory track to ensure a base of GATLA orientation to field theory, phenomenology, and dialogue with a focus on awareness and process. People are not expected to act as therapists but may do so with supervision from the trainer or group leader.Advanced Group participants volunteer as either client or therapist. When work is finished, if the client agrees, group members share the personal impact their work. The therapist then receives supervision from the trainer or group leader, with a particular emphasis on their growing edge. Theory is discussed as it relates to the work.The Advanced Intensive is an opportunity for the therapist to work with the same client throughout the two weeks in their group setting. This is an intermediate step to the clinical practicum, giving the faculty an opportunity to see if a participant is ready for the responsibilities of the clinical practicum and supervision with lower groups. Each person receives therapy from someone in the group and is also therapist to another person in the group. This is a fast-paced group, and there is little opportunity for group process or working with the group leader or trainer as therapist.Clinical Practicum therapists are assigned a client from the Introductory or Advanced groups and see their client in a designated private space for 40 minutes while the supervisor observes and takes notes. The client leaves and supervision from the faculty, group leader, or guest faculty proceeds for 20 minutes. Participants supervise one of the small groups. Group time is used for personal work, working as therapist, or bringing issues about the supervision of small groups.The Master Class is made up of very experienced clinicians, many of whom are trainers in their own countries. The group members organize what they need and want from their group. A trainer rotates, as with all the other groups. People in the Master Class are responsible for supervising those in the clinical practicum or in small groups from the Introductory, Advanced, and Advanced Intensive tracks.Other Groups may be formed as needed (group Leaders, guest faculty, and writer’s group).Evaluations forms are distributed to each participant and collected by the group leaders at the end of each three-day segment; information is available to all faculty. On the last day of the residential, there is also an evaluation of the venue.Saturday evening: before the workshop begins, faculty meets to go over structure and make any changes in group make-up or supervisor/therapist/client sessions.Sunday morning faculty meets to personally catch up and deal with any issues among faculty members.Mid-workshop faculty meets to assess the groups, presentations, and other aspects of the program making any changes needed.The last day evaluations are collected by group leaders and read by all who have been evaluated. The final faculty meeting ends with specific feedback about the training groups and the residential as a whole.After the final group meetings, the whole community gathers again in a circle. Participants and faculty are invited to share about the workshop. Colleagues from each country say goodbye in their own language. Everyone is full, tired, and excited about the evening celebration: a special dinner with group members sharing a table, taking photographs, and making plans to stay connected. Theatre follows with our usual master of ceremonies and preperformance organizer, Doug Aberle, offering music, mime, skits, poems, dance, and much more. Some participants want to stay; others are ready to go home. The faculty is exhausted and looking forward to next year.2Thanks to Jasenka Golub (Croatia) and GATLA faculty members for their contribution to this discussion.

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