Gestalt Saga

Written by John D. Carter

In the year 2000 the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland had three distinct Centers and the Institution known as GIC was struggling with another of issues that had existed since the very beginning of days of the founders.  It had over a 25 year period become the number one training center for therapist learning Gestalt theory and methods in the world.  The professional community of GIC was confronted with the three Centers working together to become the number one personal and professional development organization in the world or splintering into three organizations and dissolution of the Institution.  John wrote this Saga to express his perspective on the struggle within the organization and some of the choices facing the Institution.  In 2002 the Clinical Center separated from GIC and in 2006 the Organization & Systems Development Center separated from the Institution.  The professional staff in 2006 voted 70 to zero to terminate the professional staff and the Institution thus dissolved itself.  Three organizations emerged from the dissolution.