A Practical Guide to Fostering Interpersonal Norms in a Gestalt Group

One form of Gestalt group therapy focuses on the interpersonal interactions and relationships among group members as well as the intrapsychic issues that emerge. This is an effective and exciting way to make therapeutic use of the group setting. This practical article discusses how to foster group norms that intensify and maximize the interpersonal aspect of a Gestalt group. It covers pregroup handouts and interviews, how to define and encourage interpersonal norms, helping group members initiate interpersonal work, and how to move work in an interpersonal direction.