Two Gestalt therapists discuss some of the early history of Gestalt therapy in the United States and the formation of the Gestalt Therapy Institute of Los Angeles (later Gestalt Associates Training Los Angeles and Pacific Gestalt Institute) in Los Angeles, California. Liv Estrup shares her personal story discovering Gestalt in the 1960s and on becoming an integral  part of shaping Gestalt into what it has become today.

Liv Estrup, LMFT became a faculty member with Gestalt Associates Training Los Angeles in 1998 and has done training in the US, Europe, and Asia with psychotherapists from diverse backgrounds. For many years she led women’s groups, the Journey Workshop for Women, women’s sexuality groups and groups for survivors of sexual abuse. In graduate school she worked with a research team to help people quit smoking. She twice served as President of GTILA, was the Conference Coordinator for AAGT’s International Gestalt Conferences (1994 –1999) and is an Associate Editor of the Gestalt Review. Liv is a member of GTILA, CAMFT, AAMFT, and AAGT.

Liv is a Faculty Member with Gestalt Associates Training Los Angeles in their Los Angeles training program, the European Summer Residential Training Program, and the Couples Training Program. She taught Gestalt therapy courses at Loma Linda University for fifteen years and has supervised privately and at a counseling center for over twenty five years. 

https://livestrup.com/

Host information:
Stephanie Goldsmith, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and the owner and Clinical Director at Goldsmith Psychological Services where she provides individual, couples, family, and group therapy as well as post-graduate supervision to associate clinicians.  Some of her specialty areas include trauma, dissociation, interpersonal relationships, eating disorders, LGBTQI issues, and whole person care. 

​Stephanie is a Certified Gestalt Therapist, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, is trained in EMDR and EFT “Tapping”, and has completed certificate training in Emotion Focused Couple’s Therapy. She is the Co-Director for Gestalt Associates Training, Los Angeles and she also provides Gestalt clinical consultation via teleconferencing to therapists all around the world. 

In addition to her work in private practice, Dr. Goldsmith is an Associate Clinical Professor at Loma Linda University. 

www.goldsmithpsychologicalservices.com; www.gatla.org

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