Advanced gestalt couple therapy training - Dr Vibeke Visnes

Module 1 - Friday 12th September - Sunday 14th September 2025

Relational process model

Couple therapy is the most complex and vulnerable of the therapeutic situations due to the presence of the significant other. In the first module, we work with the therapeutic relationship: What it demands in couple therapy and how it is different from individual therapy.

From the beginning, the training is highly experiential and practice-near, combining theory with therapeutic explorations. Development somatic psychotherapy (DSP) by Ruella Frank is introduced and implemented throughout the training modules.

Module 2 - Friday 10th October- Sunday 12th October 2025

Gestalt integrative model of phenomenological domains

Building on the first model, this module is the Gestalt integrative model of phenomenological domains (GIMod). The GIMod is created to support therapists to find figures and grade interventions in the complexity of a couple therapy situation and is inspired by the developmental domains by Daniel Stern. Again, taking a practice-near approach and reflexive and reflective practice on theory in light of experiential practice in smaller groups.

Module 3 - Friday October 31st - Sunday 2nd November 2025

Intimacy and autonomy

Our work as therapists is to bring the clients to the “id of the situation” (Robine, 2016), meaning in practice, direct spontaneous contact in the relational field of the clients. We explore the resources of the therapist and how to support the clients to new and more dynamic way of relating. We dive deeper into the potential in DSP, sexuality and therapeutic presence.

Module 4 - Friday 21st November - Sunday 23rd November 2025

Working with traumatised couples

In the last two decades, relational (developmental) trauma has been increasingly acknowledged and implemented in trauma theory. Vibeke’s research project has been specifically created to include what she found missing in couples therapy - a humanistic, holistic and relational perspective to suffering in traumatised fields. We will practice couple therapy and implement the GIMod as support to sustain working in these complex situations. We will do a practical session intervention training with space for reflection and sharing of theory and process.

Find out more and get in touch to book your place.