Resources

Relational Change Online Gathering 2022

Working at the Edge in Supervision

Dr Lynda Osborne on "Good Fit" in Supervision

In this brief clip from the 2022 Gathering, Lynda Osborne examines the concept of "Good Fit" in supervision, by asking the question Who should I work with, or not work with, in supervision. In exploring the issue, she considers the risks and benefits of seniority.

Key Themes "Working at the Edge"

In this short PowerPoint presentation, the main themes from the 2022 Gathering: "Working at the Edge in Supervision", are outlined as a set of slides. This includes slides summarising the theory, as well as key issues emerging from each of the presentations Edges in Contracting, Edges in Boundaries and Edges and Needs and the subsequent inquiries. You can pause the presentation at any point, and/or download the slides as a pdf.

Relational Change Online Gathering 2021

Hoping in Darkness: Gathering Climate Voices

Climate Voices

Collated by Miriam Taylor as part of the 2021 Relational Change Online Gathering, we hear the informed views of:

Prof. Alastair McIntosh, former Professor of Ecology at Edinburgh University and author of "Riders on the Storm" about Climate Change.
Prof. Phillip Antwi-Ageyi, Associate Professor of Environmental Science at Kwame Nkrumah University (KNUST) in Ghana and lead author of the IPCC Special Report on the Impact of Global Warming.
Jethro Gauld, ecologist, researcher and activist.
Jacqueline Ogden, who speaks of her concerns as a grandmother.
Roshi Parmar-Hill who is a 20 year old Cambridge student.

Interview with Donna Orange on Hope

In this interview, Philosophy Professor, Psychotherapist and Author, Donna Orange explores with Sally Denham-Vaughan the sources of hope, in the face of the widespread destruction of forests by wildfires in her home State, and the injustice of Climate Change in the disproportionate effect on those developing and poorer nations. Those who have contributed least to the rise in CO2 and global temperatures will in many cases suffer the most. Donna emphasises the importance of hope based on practical action, and radical hope in the greater global awareness of the upcoming generation.

Interview with Beatrix Wimmer on Action

Beatrix Wimmer, ex-President of the European Association of Gestalt Therapists, discusses with Sally Denham-Vaughan, our ethical responsibility to future generations, as well as to other species, to take action, to mitigate the effects of Climate Change. She explores what actions we can take as individuals, and how we can do things differently, expanding our awareness of the impact of our actions on others who are often far away. The ethical demand is the call to each do this ourselves, and not merely leave it to Governments and politicians.

Relational Change Online Gathering 2020

Managing, Acknowledging & Sustaining Change.

	Part 1 of 4: Introduction and Framing Recorded during the 2020 Relational Change Online Gathering: Managing, Acknowledging & Sustaining Change on 25th November 2020. In this video, Marie-Anne Chidiac gives an overview of the themes of managing, acknowledging & sustaining change in a difficult field, such as a pandemic, using the trifold lenses of Self, Other and Situation.
	Part 2 of 4: Managing Change Recorded during the 2020 Relational Change Online Gathering: Managing, Acknowledging & Sustaining Change on 25th November 2020. In this second video, Sally Denham-Vaughan describes the process of managing change, using the concepts of Will and Grace, and the forms it might take.
	Part 3 of 4: Acknowledging Change Recorded during the 2020 Relational Change Online Gathering Managing, Acknowledging & Sustaining Change 25th November 2020. In this third video, Marie-Anne Chidiac talks about acknowledging change, radical acceptance and the importance of staying open to the actual.
	Part 4 of 4: Sustaining Change Recorded during the 2020 Relational Change Online Gathering Managing, Acknowledging & Sustaining Change 25th November 2020. In this final video, Marie-Anne Chidiac and Sally Denham-Vaughan talk about stability and sustaining change, when the field is not generous, and examine how power and privilege contribute to feelings of stability, and the importance of ethics.

Relational Organisational Gestalt Videos

An Emergent Approach to Organisational Development

Interview with Marie-Anne Chidiac about the Book

In this interview, Marie-Anne Chidiac speaks about her new book Relational Organisational Gestalt: An Emergent Approach to Organisational Development. The book offers a transformative, emergent and relational approach for working with the complexity of today's organisations. To read an interview with Marie-Anne about her book, please follow the link to the March 2018 Relational Change Newsletter.

ROG Videos & Podcasts

	Overview of the ROG Approach. What is Relational Organisational Gestalt (ROG)? Marie-Anne Chidiac provides an overview of the ROG Approach, its origins and key influences.
	The SOS Framework. What is meant by a 'Relational Approach'? Sally Denham-Vaughan and Marie-Anne Chidiac discuss relationality and the Relational Change SOS Framework.
	The Notion of Presence. What is Presence and how to define it? Marie-Anne Chidiac and Sally Denham-Vaughan discuss presence as a relational and ethical process. and make the distinction between presence and charisma.
	Relational Ethics and Values. What is the importance of ethics and values in a relational approach? Sally Denham-Vaughan and Marie-Anne Chidiac discuss the ethical dimension of presence and values in organisations.
	What to expect from the ROG Programme? What to expect from the Relational Organisational Gestalt (ROG) Programme? How will it support me in my work? How will greater ethical presence help me? Marie-Anne Chidiac and Sally Denham-Vaughan share their insight into the programme and discuss these questions.

Other Videos & Podcasts

	Transformational Self Process: Ecological and Relational Dimensions by Sally Denham-Vaughan How do we shift our consciousness from Ego to Eco? To read more about Sallys lecture, please download the "Transformational Self Process" flyer. To watch her lecture for the "Scientific and Medical Network" on YouTube, please go to the SMN YouTube Channel
	The Inevitability of Change Dr. Sally Denham-Vaughan on the Space2BE Podcast Sally Denham-Vaughan was recently interviewed by Karen Griffin, Managing Director of Space2BE, on the topic "The Inevitability of Change". In the podcast Sally discusses her increasing sense that "change" is all around us. As a consequence, key skills for leaders are now more to do with responding to unplanned changes than leading planned projects. The podcast discusses key concepts from our ROG, (Relational Organisational Gestalt), program including the "SOS" framework, "Will and Grace" and the organisational ecology of change.
	Unfinished: Dr. Marie-Anne Chidiac on The Digital Human on BBC Radio 4 Ever had that gnawing feeling that there’s some unfinished business you have an itch to resolve? Maybe it’s a friendship you’ve let drift or a task at work left incomplete. Maybe it’s that sense of having too many tabs open at once on your computer. Our hyper-connected modern lives facilitate multi-tasking and the expansion of our social circles, and it could be argued a by-product of this is that we have more unfinished business than we had in the past. In this episode of the Digital Human, Marie-Anne Chidiac is one of several expert contributors interviewed by Aleks Krotoski in the examination of what it means to leave things Unfinished - and whether it is always a bad thing.
	Fields of Power: The Marianne Fry 2022 Lecture by Dr. Marie-Anne Chidiac Understanding power, its impact and how it manifests, feels more urgent than ever. It is no longer an option to assume we live in a world where power dynamics are simple and straightforward – they are constantly in play. Power is both explicitly and implicitly present in our personal lives, work and societies. It is our ethical responsibility to illuminate and bring it to awareness as enablers of presence and dialogue. In this talk, building on both her clinical and organisational experience, Marie-Anne puts forward an understanding of power as not just coercive but as a structuring aspect of the field. She addresses a theme that she has explored in her writing – namely that power moderates the field. She shares her thoughts, from the point of view of a practitioner, on how the work of Kurt Lewin and other field theorists can be a support to our work both clinically and organisationally.
	Relational Change Dr. Sally Denham-Vaughan on the Space2BE Podcast In this podcast, Sally Denham-Vaughan is interviewed by Karen Griffin of Space2BE about the relational change process, and how this differs from classic organisational change process methodologies. Some of the key points include a description of the relational change process and why it is important, an explication of Better Relationship, Better World, how change is emergent from context in a relational field and what a successful change programme looks like.
	Coach to Coach: Team Coaching Studio Webinar In this video, Sally Denham-Vaughan discusses a variety of topics relating to Relational Organisational Gestalt (ROG) and Team Coaching, in conversation with Georgina Woudstra (ICF MCC) and Allard de Jong (ICF PCC) from Team Coaching Studio.
	TeamTime TableTalks: A Gestalt Approach to Working in Teams In this hour long podcast, Dr Marie-Anne Chidiac talks to Debbie Wayth on her TeamTime Table Talks podcast about the Gestalt approach to working with teams and the importance of paying attention to the here-and-now experience as part of our sense-making.
	Ethical Presence: Power and Privilege This short excerpt is taken from a conversation between Sally Denham-Vaughan and Sebastian Fox. The discussion focussed on the topic of Ethical Presence and how this relates to issues of Power and Privilege. These topics are covered in more detail on our ROG Phase 2 (PAG) programme starting 27th May 2021. Sebastian is a qualified executive and team coach. He is a director at brownfox consultancy and a faculty member of the Team Coaching Studio where he co-leads their community of practice.
	EAGT GPO Webinar: Gestalt Process and the VUCA Environment Recorded: Wednesday, 24 February 2021 from 17:00-18:00 UTC+01 (UK). Facilitated by: Sally Denham-Vaughan In this hour long video, (originally offered as part of the EAGT Gestalt Practitioners in Organisations 'Learning Space'), Dr Sally Denham-Vaughan introduces the concept of the 'VUCA' environment (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex & Ambiguous) and relates this to developments in Organisational Development and in particular, Relational Organisational Gestalt (ROG).
	Recorded Webinar: The Use of Embodied Presence Online Recorded: Thursday, 23 April 2020 from 16:00-17:30 UTC+01 (UK). Facilitated by: Marie-Anne Chidiac and Helena Kallner With so many practitioners having to resort to virtual communication at this time, the challenge doesn’t just lie in mastering the technology but also in bringing all of our presence and skills as embodied and creative practitioners to this medium. What does this mean for therapists and practitioners who work primarily in an embodied way? How do we support our clients and ourselves to feel our embodied presence and relatedness? What is possible in terms of creative experimentation? Helen Kallner and Marie-Anne Chidiac tackle some of these challenges through this webinar.
	Sally Denham-Vaughan Interview for "Humans of Gestalt" –April 2020. In this interview, Kamila Bialy from Humans of Gestalt interviews Sally Denham-Vaughan about her life, likes, influences and the future of Gestalt. Humans of Gestalt, is an experimental series of informal documentary and personal interviews, facilitated by Heather Anne Keyes and Kamila Bialy, and born of an interest in preserving the lived experience of being with colleagues, mentors and friends in the international Gestalt community.
	Mark Fairfield: "Relational Culture and Undoing Individualism" –The Healing Justice Podcast 2018. Mark Fairfield speaks about the central role of connection in our lives and lethal individualism. We learn about relational culture, factors for resilience, his work supporting caregivers in the AIDS movement, how bullying is a euphemism, and failure. https://healingjustice.podbean.com/e/20-relational-culture-undoing-individualism-mark-fairfield/
	Mark Fairfield: "Sharing Resonance" –The Healing Justice Podcast 2018. Mark Fairfield introduces an exercise called "Sharing Resonance" It is a framework for building relational culture and dismantling individualism in our relationships and groups. This episode is more of a training and intro to how to share resonance, so you can listen on the go and learn the practice wherever you are... and then take it into relationship and practice it with one or more others. We especially recommend starting with groups of 3-5. https://healingjustice.podbean.com/e/20-practice-sharing-resonance-with-mark-fairfield/
	GANZ 2014 Keynote Lecture: Gestalt & States of Grace; Aesthetics, Ethics and Spaciousness. Sally Denham-Vaughan outlines a framework for conceptualising Grace and develops the concept with attention to "harmonious Relational fit" and responsivity to the co-emergent situation.
	Marianne Fry 2010 Keynote Lecture: The Liminal Space; An Opening to Transformational Shift. Sally Denham-Vaughan discusses the concept of "liminality" and offers a Gestalt perspective on the opening to transformation.

Self as Instrument in Gestalt

Marie-Anne Chidiac describes the importance of self as instrument as a key aspect of gestalt facilitation.

The Artistry of Gestalt in Organisations

Listen to an Interview with Sally Denham-Vaughan.

Articles & Papers

General

Organisational Development

Coaching

Psychotherapy

General

Fields of Power: the moderation of relational moments, Chidiac, M-A., British Gestalt Journal, (2023) 32, (1), pp. 8–20. This article addresses the concept of power in Gestalt therapy, building on the work of Kurt Lewin and Pierre Bourdieu to propose a view of power, not just as coercion, but as implicit power moderating the relational field.
The Cure: working with separation and loss through song parody (lyric substitution), Giordano, A., British Gestalt Journal, (2023) 32, (2), 25–37. This paper discusses the method of song parody as a Gestalt experiment, for therapeutic purposes.
The Ecological Self: Narratives for Changing Times, Taylor, M., British Gestalt Journal, (2022) 32, (1), 39–48. This paper by Miriam Taylor, considers some of the inevitable reasons why the challenge to our usual way of thinking by Climate Change is resisted by many, and provides some cultural context for the individual dilemmas and choices that face us. Based on the work of Joanna Macy, a three-part developmental model is presented, illustrated by clinical examples, personal narrative and dream work.
Gestalt, the Good and the concept of Ethical Presence, Chidiac, M-A., Denham-Vaughan, S., British Gestalt Journal, (2020) 29, (1), 21–29. This paper examines the ethical nature of Ethical Presence, and the the risks of harm in dismissing aspects of power and privilege that are often implicit alongside notions of presence.
Ethics, dialogue and small acts of great significance, Chidiac, M-A., Denham-Vaughan, S., Festschrift for G. Salonia, Avere A Cuore, Edited by Conte, V., Sichera, A., published by San Paolo Press, (2018). This paper discusses the dialogic principles of confirmation and committment to dialogue.
The relational matrix model of supervision: context, framing and inter-connection, Chidiac, M-A., Denham-Vaughan, S. and Osborne, O., British Gestalt Journal, (2017) 26, (2), 21–30. This paper proposes a new matrix model applicable to a wide range of supervisory relationships and settings; therapeutic and organisational.
Moving towards more supportive fields: COPs, CANs and RCOPs, Denham-Vaughan, S. and Clark, M., British Gestalt Journal, (2016) 25, (2), 20–32. This paper defines three varieties of community/team organising and the relationship of each to Gestalt practice.
SOS: A relational orientation towards social inclusion, Denham-Vaughan, S. and Chidiac, M-A. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, (2013) 17, (2), 100–107. This paper describes the contextual formulation of the term "Relational" used by the co-founders of Relational Change.
The Relational State: How recognising the importance of human relationships could revolutionise the role of the state, (IPPR, Nov 2012). This collection of papers explores how ideas underpinning the relational state could help to reframe public sector service and government goals and provide a guide to policy and action. Also available on the IPPR Website
The Relational Movement, by Fairfield, M., The Relational Movement, British Gestalt Journal, (2013), Vol. 22, No. 1, 22–35.
The Process of Presence, by Chidiac, M.A. and Denham-Vaughan, S. – published in the British Gestalt Journal, 2007.
Dancing dialogue, Gestalt therapy and the 5Rhythms. An obituary for Gabrielle Roth, by Kallner, H. – published in the British Gestalt Journal, 2013.
The Rise of the Enabling State: A review of policy and evidence across the UK and Ireland, by Jennifer Wallace, – published by the Carnegie Trust UK, 2013.
Will and Grace: An Integrative Dialectic Central to Gestalt Psychotherapy, by Denham-Vaughan, S. – published in the British Gestalt Journal, 2005.

Organisation Development

Relational Gestalt approach to building a COVID-19 community of practice in a hospital setting by Prof. Justin T. Denholm et. al. – published in the British Medical Journal: Denholm J.T., Johnson D., Denholm G.C., Deligiannis E., BMJ Leader 2022;0:1–3. doi:10.1136/leader-2021-000587. The paper summarises the use of ROG to create an effective Community of Practice (CoP) during the COVID-19 pandemic in an Australian Healthcare setting.
Being Present as a Trader: Application of Relational Gestalt Practice in a Financial Market Context by Steve Goldstein – published in New Gestalt Voices Edition 2, January 2018, p42-46 explores the concept of Presence applied to individuals working in roles within organisations, characterised by high levels of uncertainty.
A Relational Perspective on Public Sector Management, by Mike Clark, 2013. This is a brief paper that outlines the importance and potential contribution of a relational approach to leading and managing in the public sector.
An Organisational Self, by Chidiac, M.A. and Denham-Vaughan, S. An Organisational Self, British Gestalt Journal, (2009), 18, (1), 42-49. This paper shows how the notion of "self as process" can be usefully applied to work with an Organisation or Community.
Should They Really Stop Fighting? Dealing with Conflicts – A Gestalt Approach, by Frans Meulmeester. This paper outlines the Gestalt approach to conflict, which embraces and explores it rather than rushing to a solution, in the belief that this approach leads to a better long term resolution.
Case Study – Gestalt Facilitation in Action within a Consultancy, by Paul Barber. This study examines an organisational consultation which arose from crisis within a corporate body and the demands of working with an organisation in a period of acute distress, from a consultant and client viewpoint.
Moving Relationality: Meditations on a Relational Approach to Leadership, by Dian Marie Hosking. Chapter 33 in Alan Bryman, Collinson, D., Grint, K., Jackson, B., and Uhl-Bien, M. (editors), Sage Handbook of Leadership, Sage Publications, pp. 453-465, 2011.
Why Work with Gestalt? An Insight into how Gestalt Influenced my Practice, by David Lines. Coach, consultant and Relational Change Associate David Lines discusses why Gestalt is his preferred approach to personal and organisational development.
Bringing Gestalt to Cyber Security: a case study, by Maggie Marriott. This essay from ROG Graduate and Organisational Consultant Maggie Marriott was the winner of the British Gestalt Journals Student Essay Prize. Maggie describes her use of Relational Organisational Gestalt in her work with a British Government Department.

Coaching

A Gestalt Perspective of Coaching: A Case for Being More Yourself, by M-A Chidiac – published in Development and Learning in Organizations Journal, 2008.
Creating a Coaching Culture: Relational Field Coaching, by M-A Chidiac – published in Development and Learning in Organizations Journal, 2013.
Interview with Dr Sally Denham-Vaughan, by Tracey Skoyles – published in The UK Bulletin of the Association of Coaching, Spring 2013.
A Field-Relational Model of Coaching for Gestalt Beginners: The PAIR Model, by Denham-Vaughan, S. and Gawlinski, M. Field-Relational Coaching for Gestalt Beginners: The PAIR Model. British Gestalt Journal, (2012), 21, (1), 11-21. This paper describes the development of a coaching process aimed at improving the quality of all interactions occurring in a situation and thereby creating a coaching culture.
Book Review by Sally Denham-Vaughan of Ethical Maturity in the Helping Professions: Making Difficult Life and Work Decisions, by Michael Carroll and Elisabeth Shaw, PsychOz Publications, Australia, 2012, published in The Coaching Psychologist, June 2013, 9, (1), 60-62.
Emergent Coaching – A Gestalt Approach to Mindful Leadership, by Paul Barber. This paper examines ways that coaches and organisational consultants might begin to educate the workplace to holistic awareness and Gestalt methods of inquiry through coaching.

Psychotherapy

Reorganisation in a Traumatised Relational Field: The Well Grounded Therapist, by Miriam Taylor and Vienna Duff – published in the British Gestalt Journal (2018), Vol. 27, No. 2, 18–29. This paper discusses the ethics of self-care as a dialogic relationship with Nature. There is a specific emphasis on trauma work.
When the Therapist Falls, by Christine Dukes – published in New Gestalt Voices, Edition 2, January 2018, p8-20. This Paper explores existential falling and groundlessness following bereavement. It draws on the 'liminal space model' (Denham- Vaughan S, 2010), and Perl’s 'five-layer model' (1969) as a support for transitioning an impasse into a place of transformation and emergent self.
In Dialogue with Sally Denham-Vaughan, by V. Edmond – published in the Gestalt Journal of Australia and New Zealand, (2013), Vol 10, No.1, Pages 7-23. © 2013, GANZ. This article by Virginia Edmond features a dialogue with Sally Denham-Vaughan. Sally discusses 'Relational Pluralism' and other current issues she sees affecting gestalt praxis.
Philosophy with Tears: Study Group Visit to Dachau Concentration Camp, by Swanson C., Norton L., Parlett M., Jacobs L., Denham-Vaughan S., Denham-Vaughan J., Staemmler F-M., Philosophy With Tears: Gestalt "Study Buddies" Visit Dachau. British Gestalt Journal, (2009), 18, (2), 21-34. This paper describes a visit to Dachau Concentration Camp by members of a philosophy peer study group who had been reading and researching the topic of 'Evil'
The Liminal Space and Twelve Action Practices for Gracious living, by S. Denham-Vaughan – published in the British Gestalt Journal, 2010.
New Reflections on Death, by Paul Barber. A reflection on Death as the boundary marker of physical existence and the twin-brother of birth.

Site Map

Resources

Relational Change Online Gathering 2022

Working at the Edge in Supervision

Relational Change Online Gathering 2021

Hoping in Darkness: Gathering Climate Voices

Relational Change Online Gathering 2020

Managing, Acknowledging & Sustaining Change.

Relational Organisational Gestalt Videos

An Emergent Approach to Organisational Development

ROG Videos & Podcasts

Other Videos & Podcasts

How do we shift our consciousness from Ego to Eco?

Self as Instrument in Gestalt

The Artistry of Gestalt in Organisations

Articles & Papers

General

Organisation Development

Coaching

Psychotherapy