Gestalt Introductory Course
Authenticity, Relationships & Leadership
A residential week to deepen how you relate - to yourself, others, and life
50 Years of Accredited Experiential Learning · Orø, Denmark
For more than 50 years, GIS-International has offered accredited experiential learning in Gestalt therapy, personal development, authentic leadership, and professional training.
This introductory course is for people who want to explore Gestalt through direct experience rather than theory alone. It can be taken as a stand-alone personal development course or as a first step toward GIS-International’s four-year psychotherapy training.
Is something in you ready for change?
Many people come to this course because they sense that something in their life, relationships, or work is asking for deeper attention.
You may want to understand why certain patterns repeat. You may want to become more present, honest, and grounded. You may be curious about Gestalt therapy or considering psychotherapy training.
Or you may simply feel ready for a more meaningful encounter with yourself and others.
This week gives you the space and support to explore how you meet yourself, how you relate to others, and what becomes possible when you become more aware of your patterns, choices, and responsibility.
In large and small groups, you will meet others, receive feedback, and notice your relational patterns as they emerge in real time.
What this course gives you
This is not a theoretical course where you only learn about Gestalt.
It is an experiential residential course where you take part in group process, personal reflection, creative experiments, dialogues, and personal exploration.
You will have the opportunity to explore:
- how you connect with others
- how you hold back
- how you protect yourself
- how familiar survival patterns shape your life
- how you can meet yourself and others with more presence
- how awareness can create new choices
The course is designed to support deeper authenticity, relational awareness, and grounded personal leadership.
Why Gestalt?
Gestalt is a holistic, relational, and experiential approach to awareness, contact, and responsibility in the here and now.
At GIS, Gestalt works with the whole person: body, emotions, mind, imagination, relationships, and the wider context of life.
Rather than only analysing your life from a distance, you explore what is happening now — in your body, feelings, thoughts, contact, communication, and relationships.
This makes the learning immediate, personal, and alive.
How the week works
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Experiential Gestalt learning
You will not only learn about Gestalt — you will experience it. Through personal work, reflection, creative experiments, and group interaction, you will explore awareness, contact, and responsibility in the present moment. Sessions are interactive, lively, creative, and grounded in real experience. -
A living group process
The group becomes an important part of the learning. In large and small groups, you will meet others, receive feedback, and begin to notice your relational patterns as they happen. Through dialogue, resonance, shared experience, and reflection, new insights can take shape. -
Personal work at your growing edge
You will be invited to explore themes that matter in your life right now — familiar patterns, inner conflicts, unresolved situations, relationship challenges, and new possibilities for choice and change. Personal work takes place within a confidential and supportive group setting. -
Time to go deeper
Because the course is residential, the learning does not only happen during formal sessions. Being together over several days allows trust to develop, insights to deepen, and different ways of relating to be experienced more fully. You have time to arrive, participate, reflect, and integrate.
Who this course is for?
It is especially relevant for people whose work involves relationships, communication, learning, care, leadership, or change — including therapists, teachers, leaders, educators, caregivers, coaches, social workers, organisational practitioners, and community workers.
The course is also open to anyone drawn to personal development through experiential Gestalt learning.
Who Is This Online Introduction For?
This online introduction is open to anyone interested in Gestalt therapy, psychotherapy training, personal development, relational awareness, authentic leadership, experiential learning, and communication in relationships.
It is especially relevant for therapists, coaches, educators, psychologists, social workers, healthcare professionals, leaders, managers, organisational consultants, caregivers, and community practitioners who want to deepen their relational awareness, communication skills, and understanding of Gestalt therapy.
No previous Gestalt experience is required.
No previous Gestalt experience
You do not need previous Gestalt experience to join.
You only need curiosity, willingness to participate in an experiential group process, and an interest in your own personal development.
This course may be meaningful if you are:
- in a life transition
- seeking more clarity in your relationships
- wanting to reconnect with your authenticity and direction
- working with people and wanting more relational awareness
- considering psychotherapy training
- looking for a serious but supportive personal development experience
If you are unsure whether the course is right for you, we warmly invite you to contact us.
A stand-alone course - and a pathway into training
You can take this course solely for personal development.
You can also use it as a qualifying step toward the European Certified GIS-International four-year psychotherapist training.
GIS-International offers a European Certified four-year psychotherapy training, and this introductory course can be used as a qualifying step toward the training programme.
GIS is also an international learning environment with students and faculty from many countries.
Dates, fees & registration
Upcoming dates, prices, accommodation details, course leaders, and registration information are listed on our course calendar.
Course leaders
The course is led by experienced members of the GIS-International faculty, sometimes together with senior students working under supervision.
GIS leaders are an international team of trainers and therapists from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Australia. They bring extensive psychological, pedagogical, organisational, and therapeutic experience.
Register or ask a question
Ready to take the next step?
To register, ask about suitability, or discuss accessibility requirements, contact us at:
or call +45 59 47 00 17.
Practical information
Location: Næsbyvej 28, 4305 Orø, Denmark
Format: Residential introductory course
Contact: gis@gis-international.com
Phone: +45 59 47 00 17
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00–16:00
We warmly welcome you to join us for five days of experiential Gestalt learning, personal exploration, and relational discovery.