The Cork person centred gestalt project: Two outcome studies

The present paper considers two studies that investigated the outcomes of person centred gestalt groups with graduate trainee therapists. The treatment group in both studies underwent 24 hours in a person centred gestalt group. Study 1 compared 12 graduate students who were trainee first year therapists with 12 graduate students who served as a control group. Results indicated that the treatment group had higher scores than the control group on empathy, congruence, unconditionality and level of regard at the 0.01 level. In Study 2, seven graduate trainee therapists were compared with 10 graduate students who served as a control group. Results indicated a significantly higher score on the part of the graduate trainee therapists for acceptance of others in comparison to the control group at the 0.05 level. Trust was the greatest reported change by the treatment group as assessed by Van Kaam's phenomenal analysis. They also reported the development of various aspects of awareness and this development was further supported by the reports of spouses/partners/best friends. The studies offer research support for person centred gestalt therapy as proposed by O'Leary (1997c).