07907 800672

Fortnightly personal development /therapy

How we work

We share the sentiment that 'Gestalt's therapy rebellion against catagorising, analysing and putting patients into cubby holes according to theory-driven priory beliefs and concepts' (Yontef 1993) is liberating and an essential componant of therapeutic health.  Many current Gestalt trainings we contend have lost the baby in the professional bath-water!  When therapy walks too close to the social order it courts the same conditions that bring clients to us in the first place!

Therefore we attempt to develop whole persons through holistic group inquiry informed by Gestalt and Humanistic psychology informed by Taoist and Buddhist philosophy.

Groups are kept small at about 6-8 members.  We celebrate feast-days together and other notable occasions with wine and snacks, and allow our agenda to emerge from those present.

  • Days: Wednesday or Thursday
  • Time: 7.45pm - 9.45pm
  • Venue: Redhill, Surrey
  • Fee: £25 per attendance
Paul Barber
Paul Barber
I teach Gestalt therapy and practice, group facilitation, clinical philosophy and research, counselling and organisational consultancy in university settings, and have researched and published widely on health, therapy and organisational change.  

As a psychotherapist in private practice, I see individuals and couples and facilitate Gestalt therapy groups.  In addition, I supervise Gestalt, humanistic and psychodynamic therapists, as well as coaches and consultants.    

I also offer a range of workshops suitable for trainee and qualified psychotherapists, counsellors, coaches and organisational consultants, and anyone interested in personal and professional development.


1970s: I trained in psychiatric nursing at Epsom (St Ebbas & Long Grove Hospitals)and the Henderson Hospital before establishing a therapeutic community in acute mental health within Belmont Hospital.

1980s: I applied humanism and therapeutic community practice to education and the public sector.  After being recruited to the Royal College of Nursing to develop nurse tutors, I joined with the Association of Therapeutic Communities and group analysts from the Tavistock and Institute of Group Analysis to initiate a programme in Therapeutic Community Practice for medics, social workers and nurses.

1990’s: I applied humanism, Gestalt and group analysis to education, being recruited by the Human Potential Research Group at the University of Surrey to design and co-deliver an MSc in Change Agent Skills and Strategies.

21st Century : I have acquired an international audience and been propelled into illuminating the potential of Gestalt to resolve conflict and to build communities through the holistic process of its phenomenological inquiry.