A specialisation for students and practising psychologists
Clinical psychology in the gestalt approach with Liv Vadum (Norway) start: 26–27 September 2026 online
What traditional medicine usually calls a personality disorder, in the gestalt approach we can describe as personality traits, or as a fixed creative adjustment that was once simply necessary.
ON THIS PROGRAMME WE WILL WORK WITH THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
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A look at narcissistic, borderline and schizoid personality traits from the point of view of fixed creative adaptation.
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A survey of the kinds of adaptation each of us resorted to at an early age in order to feel safe, and of how this affects us in adult life.
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We will also talk about how you, the therapist, can recognise clients with any of these traits.
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What becomes figure in the field when working with such clients?
STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME:
five two-day weekend seminars,
80 academic hours of theory and practice
Format of study: online.
Study on the ZOOM platform.
HOURS:
9.30
Session 1 (one break in the middle of the session)
Lunch – 12.30–14.00
14:00
Session 2 (one break in the middle of the session)
Finish at 17:00
SCHEDULE AND TOPICS OF THE MODULES: 26–27 September 2026
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An introduction to understanding the creative adaptation of the personality from the point of view of gestalt therapy.
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Understanding the concept of whole object relations and object constancy, and how it can show itself in different personality qualities and in behaviour in relationships.
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Understanding the different types of adaptation in borderline clients.
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Working with borderline personality adaptations in gestalt therapy.
07–08 November 2026
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Understanding the different types of narcissistic adaptation.
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Working with narcissistic personality adaptations in gestalt therapy.
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Recognising and treating narcissistic wounds in clients who are in contact with narcissists.
05–06 December 2026
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Understanding the different types of schizoid adaptation.
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Working with schizoid personality adaptations in gestalt therapy.
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A short summary of personality adaptations.
These three webinars are based on the research of Dr Elinor Greenberg and her book describing its results, and also on Liv Vadum’s own experience of working with this subject.
The next two seminars will be devoted to the following topics:
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What does it mean to be in a personal or working relationship with a narcissistic or schizoid partner?
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What effect do such relationships have on us?
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How does working with such clients affect the therapist?
16–17 January 2027
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Working with the inner critic — understanding your inner critics and turning them from enemies into allies.
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How your inner child can help you restore contact with your inner Self (the Id of SELF theory).
13–14 February 2027
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Shame — shame often has a very strong effect on people with fixed personality adaptations, and on those who live beside them.
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In this webinar we will look closely at this feeling.
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We will also talk in detail about how a gestalt therapist can work with shame.
All the webinars and seminars will combine:
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personal work for every student
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training participants in the role of therapist — for further work on these topics with their own clients
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lectures, slides, exercises in pairs and case discussion
After each seminar students will be sent summarised theoretical notes and slides on the topic of the seminar.
Liv Vadum
GROUP LEADER
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clinical gestalt therapist and supervisor of NGI (the Norwegian Gestalt Institute)
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full member of NGF (the Norwegian Gestalt Association) and EAGT (the European Association for Gestalt Therapy)
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specialist in the clinical therapy of trauma and in complicated grief therapy
COST OF PARTICIPATION: The cost in hryvnia is the equivalent of 200 € on the day of payment, for each of the five seminars.
To be enrolled on the programme an advance payment is required (for the first and the fifth seminar).
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
up to 20 people.
The group will be closed.
No fishbowl.
DOCUMENT ON COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAMME: A KIGiP certificate of professional development in clinical psychology (80 academic hours of theory and practice), signed by Liv Vadum.