Gestalt Certificate Program Overview
The Gestalt Institute of the Rockies offers a training to earn a Certificate in Gestalt Psychotherapy. These trainings incorporate theoretical, practical, and experiential learning that will become a pivotal point in your professional and personal journey.
The GIR Certification Training consists of 4 semesters (one semester is 2 days a month for 4 months). Students sign up for each semester individual vs signing up for the entire 2 year program. This allows students to take the semesters at their own pace.
GIR offers ongoing enrollment. This allows students to join at different parts of their journey and new students can learn from seasoned students. i.e a 1st semester student will be in the same semester as a graduating 4th semester student.
Students are asked to delve into their own process as a person and as a therapist. There are opportunities to explore issues on a professional and personal level while experiencing relationship and support of the group and while receiving important feedback and support from seasoned and skilled facilitators. These practice therapy sessions are called “workings”
GIR trains mental health professionals (counselor, social worker, marriage & family therapist, psychotherapist…), counseling graduate students, coaches. On an interviewed case by case basis, other allied professionals are considered for acceptance: body workers, educators, business leaders.
Who is the training for?
In each semester, students will start the semester by learning a couple of basics of Gestalt therapy: Contact, Contact Boundary Disturbances, Field Theory, I/Thou, Here & Now, Phenomenology, Language of Responsibility, Paradoxical Theory of Change, Cycle of Experience, Therapeutic Circle, Experiments, Polarity, Fertile Void, Transference, Following the charge/energy.
Semester ONE Theme: Somatic Work Semester TWO Theme: Attachment & Development Semester THREE Theme: Systems Semester FOUR Theme: Trauma
Students will deepen their understanding of each theme as it relates to Gestalt Therapy
Semester topics:
What is means to be a Gestalt Therapist and Gestalt as a “way of life”.
Basic Theory and Principles of Gestalt Therapy: Contact, Here & Now, Phenomenology, Polarities, Paradoxical Theory of Change, Language of Responsibility, I-Thou, Fertile Void, & Creative Adjustments.
How Gestalt works with Systems, Trauma, and Development & Attachment
Build personal somatic awareness and how to recognize the importance of phenomenological body expression in clients.
Learn three different therapy models that will help guide your therapy sessions.
Feel and learn what it means to be in contact with self, other and community.
Students will participate in live therapy sessions (workings) as an observer, client, and/or therapist and receive live consultation.
Continue to explore what was learned at GIR and how to integrate it in your professional practice.
what you will learn at GIR
location & semester information
GIR offers the Gestalt Therapy certificate training in-person: 7550 W. Yale Ave., Ste. B204 Denver, CO 80227 And virtually (live via Zoom, MST).
The certificate program is the same whether you attend virtually or in-person. The semester number offered, though, will be different during the same calendar year. i.e Fall 2025 in-person is semester #1 and Fall 2025 online is semester #3.
Students can start on any semester. Upon entering the program, students will receive a per-recorded video that catches all students up on the basics of Gestalt.
Students are expected to complete a full semester either online or in-person. However, students can change format at the start of a new semester.
Dates
Online
Fall 2025 September 5-6, October 3-4, November 7-8, December 5-6, 2025
Spring 2026 February 6-7, March 6-7, April 3-4, May 1-2, 2026
Fall 2026 September 11-12, October 2-3, November 6-7, December 4-5
Fall 2025 September 19-20, October 17-18, November 21-22, December 19-20, 2025
Spring 2026 February 20-21, March 20-21 April 17-18, May 15-16, 2026
Fall 2026 September 18-19, October 16-17 November 20-21, December 18-19, 2026
In-person
times
ONLINE: Friday & Saturday 9:00am- 4:30pm MST
IN-PERSON: Friday & Saturday 10:00am-5:30pm MST
tuition & Fees
The cost of GIR Certificate Program: ONLINE is $10,720 (full program)/$2,680 (semester) IN-PERSON cost is: $11,520 (full program)/ $2,880 (semester) Total Certificate Program is 232 Contact Hours
If paid in full 2 months prior to start date, there is a 5% discount
Payment plans available upon request. Please reach out to Steph Joseph at gestaltir@gmail.com to coordinate
Limited tuition assistance may be available based upon financial need.
For questions about tuition or payment please contact: gestaltir@gmail.com or Steph Joseph at 630-309-0099
232 contact hours (full program)/ 58 contact hours (semester)
Participate in didactic and hands-on learning
Live practice as “therapist” and live consultation from skilled and seasoned Gestalt therapists
Live participation as client and community member that will foster personal growth.
A digital video sent to new students that teaches the basics of Gestalt and demos a “working”
2 hours of individual consultation and 1 hour of group consultation per semester.
Skills sheet for topics of each semester and to track workings as observer and therapist.
Handouts & Reading List
What is included in tuition
GIR works to foster an inclusive environment that recognizes the contributions and supports the advancement of all, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or ability. We believe an inclusive environment supports a richer and livelier learning community, enhancing the health and well-being of individual participants and the group as a whole.
diversity and inclusion
Application steps:
Fill out and submit a NEW STUDENT APPLICATION
A GIR staff member will reach out and set up a NEW STUDENT INTERVIEW upon receiving the application.
If accepted to the program, pay your tuition or set up a payment plan.