Clinical consultation in Gestalt therapy
(professional reflection activity – not considered psychotherapy)
Clinical consultation based on the Gestalt therapy approach is a space of reflection, dialogue and presence for psychologists, psychotherapists, practitioners and students who wish to deepen their understanding of the therapeutic process and the clinical relationship.
It offers a place to explore situations experienced in practice, better understand one’s professional stance and cultivate a conscious presence in the encounter with the client.
Foundations of the approach
Gestalt therapy is rooted in phenomenology and existentialism, two schools of thought that recognize the primacy of lived experience and the responsibility of human beings in the way they exist in the world.
Rather than interpreting or explaining, we seek to describe and welcome what presents itself to experience, in the present moment, with curiosity and respect.
Awareness — the direct consciousness of what I feel, think, do and how I am in contact with the other — is at the heart of clinical work.
Contact, in this perspective, is the living movement through which the organism and the environment meet, influence and transform one another.
The contact functions (sensations, emotions, thoughts, actions) support creative adjustment between self and world.
When they become rigid or cut off from their natural fluidity, contact dysfunctions appear — such as avoidance, confluence, retroflection or introjection.
Clinical reflection work then makes it possible to recognize these movements, both in the client and in the therapist, and to open the way to more authentic and attuned contact.
Our vision of consultation
Our vision of clinical consultation is to offer a space of trust, authenticity and presence, where the psychologist can set things down, reflect and find meaning in what they experience in their practice.
It is not about correcting or evaluating, but about supporting the professional in a process of clarification, growth and integration, in keeping with the principles of Gestalt therapy.
We believe that every clinician already possesses the resources needed to move forward; consultation aims to foster the emergence of their own answers, to explore avenues of creative adjustment and to strengthen confidence in their clinical judgment.
In an authentic and caring relationship, founded on mutual respect and confidentiality, dialogue becomes a living space where the presence of the other illuminates and supports reflection.
This process is part of a professional and ethical perspective, consistent with the standards of the Ordre des psychologues du Québec, and helps nurture the competence, security and integrity of the practitioner in their daily practice.
Formats offered
Consultations can take place:
- Individually or in a small group
- In person in Sherbrooke, in collaboration with Apogei Clinique
- or online, via Zoom or another secure platform.
The frequency and length are adapted to the needs and pace of each participant.
Who is it for?
Clinical consultation is for professionals who wish to:
- reflect on their practice in a supportive, non-judgmental setting
- deepen their understanding of therapeutic contact and the process of change
- clarify their reactions and adjustments in the clinical relationship
- strengthen their ethical, conscious and creative stance.
Professional framework
These clinical consultation sessions are offered under the professional responsibility of
Helena Pinheiro Jucá Vasconcelos, psychologist (OPQ #15704-25), founder and executive director of the Gestalt Therapy Institute of Sherbrooke.
They are part of a professional development and clinical reflection framework and do not constitute official supervision or psychotherapy, in accordance with the standards of the Ordre des psychologues du Québec.
Fees
Fees vary according to the length, format (individual or group) and frequency of the sessions.
The applicable rate will be provided to you at first contact.
A receipt is issued for each session for insurance or tax purposes.