Want to learn a new therapeutic skill or refresh your knowledge about a specific population? Take a class at the Southern California Counseling Center. We offer an ongoing series of continuing education courses for licensed therapists and SCCC counselors and alumni, plus certification classes that are open to everyone.
Gestalt Summer School Four (4) Part Series
Gestalt Summer School. You are invited to join us for a 4 part training series on the foundations of relational gestalt therapy. In this summer school you will have a chance to get introduced to the experiential, dialogic, experimental, and relational world of gestalt therapy. We will cover core principles of relational gestalt therapy in lectures, discussions, experiential exercises, and live demonstrations.
Space is limited for the first 20 participants who sign up. You must commit to attending all 4 workshops.
Workshops will be virtual and will take place on:
(this course satisfies the 8-CE BBS requirement when you attend all 4 workshops)
This workshop series is currently full. If you want to join the waitlist, please complete this form. If a spot becomes, you will be notified via email. Join Waitlist
Workshop Schedule
Saturday July 13, 10-12:30pm – Gestalt Summer School Weekend 1: Paradoxical Theory of Change with Paulina Trujillo Perez, LMFT and Matthew Shima, LMFT
Learning Objectives
Presenters Bio
Paulina Trujillo, LMFT, was born and raised in Chiapas, Mexico. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Universidad de las Americas-Puebla, Mexico and her MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University, in Boulder, Colorado; a Buddhist inspired university where she studied mindfulness and Gestalt therapy. She has worked in community mental health, school settings and private practice providing therapy for English and Spanish speaking adults and couples. Paulina has trained at the Pacific Gestalt Institute since 2016 and has been group anchor/assistant faculty there since 2020. In addition, she is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy, EMDR and is a certified mindfulness meditation teacher. Paulina is warm, genuine and doesn’t take herself too seriously.
Matthew Shima, LMFT is the founder of Shima Therapy, a psychotherapy practice that is both everywhere and nowhere and serves many clients who often exist in the between. Matthew is a psychotherapist, supervisor, and educator specializing in relational gestalt therapy informed by Zen Buddhism. Since 2019, Matthew has trained with Pacific Gestalt Institute and continues to study what is means to be aware and to be alive.
Saturday July 20, 10-12:30pm – Gestalt Summer School Weekend 2: Dialogue with Matthew Shima, LMFT and Steve LeSieur, LMFT
Learning Objectives
Presenters Bio
Matthew Shima, LMFT is the founder of Shima Therapy, a psychotherapy practice that is both everywhere and nowhere and serves many clients who often exist in the between. Matthew is a psychotherapist, supervisor, and educator specializing in relational gestalt therapy informed by Zen Buddhism. Since 2019, Matthew has trained with Pacific Gestalt Institute and continues to study what is means to be aware and to be alive.
Steven LeSieur, LMFT identify as a relational Gestalt therapist and hold licenses in CA and FL. After 4 years of advanced studies with the Pacific Gestalt Institute (PGI) he hoped soon to become credentialed as a certified Gestalt therapist. He moved to Los Angeles nearly 20 years ago to work as a sound editor in the entertainment industry. He eventually moved into the field of psychotherapy, an occupation well-suited to my evolving curiosity for relationships and growth. He recently moved to Cambridge MA. He has an extensive background in the arts, (music, dance, theater), continue to engage creatively and collaboratively, and believe wholeheartedly in the transformational potency of creative expression. Nature is also an essential life nutrient for me. He identifies with principles and participate in practices associated with animism. Connecting to the natural world brings him more alive and provides a sense of vitality, ground, and balance. He cherish relationships with all beings, including the being that is “me.” He engage intentional dialogue practices that revolve around building and sustaining these connections, and is irresistibly drawn to the ways we navigate and negotiate them. Relationships are primary for self-care, self-identity, self-sufficiency, and self-worth. He believes at our core, “I” is born of “We.” He endlessly curious about how relationships shape us, and in turn, how we shape them.
Saturday July 27, 10-12:30pm – Gestalt Summer School Weekend 3: Phenomenology with Steve LeSieur, LMFT and Kerry Gough, LPCC, LMHC
Learning Objectives
Presenters Bio
Steven LeSieur, LMFT identify as a relational Gestalt therapist and hold licenses in CA and FL. After 4 years of advanced studies with the Pacific Gestalt Institute (PGI) he hoped soon to become credentialed as a certified Gestalt therapist. He moved to Los Angeles nearly 20 years ago to work as a sound editor in the entertainment industry. He eventually moved into the field of psychotherapy, an occupation well-suited to my evolving curiosity for relationships and growth. He recently moved to Cambridge MA. He has an extensive background in the arts, (music, dance, theater), continue to engage creatively and collaboratively, and believe wholeheartedly in the transformational potency of creative expression. Nature is also an essential life nutrient for me. He identifies with principles and participate in practices associated with animism. Connecting to the natural world brings him more alive and provides a sense of vitality, ground, and balance. He cherish relationships with all beings, including the being that is “me.” He engage intentional dialogue practices that revolve around building and sustaining these connections, and is irresistibly drawn to the ways we navigate and negotiate them. Relationships are primary for self-care, self-identity, self-sufficiency, and self-worth. He believes at our core, “I” is born of “We.” He endlessly curious about how relationships shape us, and in turn, how we shape them.
Kerry Gough holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is a LPCC in California and a LMHC in Massachusetts. She has been working in the mental health field since 2009 and has worked in a variety of settings including community mental health, residential treatment, and in-home therapy for at-risk youth and families. In addition to seeing adults in California and Massachusetts, Kerry also served as the Assistant Director at the Institute for Psychospiritual Maturation in Cambridge, MA and has worked as a mental health consultant providing mental health and wellness seminars for global companies such as Tom’s and Wayfair to help support employees on cultivating health practices such as mindfulness and stress reduction as well as for service members, their families, and veterans through the American Red Cross. Kerry has been a visiting webinar faculty for The International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP) Foundation and currently works as an assistant trainer for Pacific Gestalt Institute (PGI). She also serves on the board for Gestalt Training Institute of Los Angeles (GTILA) where she helps lead the education committee in providing free and low cost gestalt therapy educational salons and training initiatives. In addition to Gestalt therapy, Kerry loves many things including connecting with people, “good” food, and comedy. When she’s not enjoying the California sunshine, you can find her studying or trying to be a more balanced, loving and authentic human.
Saturday August 3, 10-12:30pm – Gestalt Summer School Weekend 4: Field Theory with Isaías Placencia, MA and Elisa Smerik, AMFT
Learning Objectives
Presenters Bio
Isaías Placencia is Mexican gestalt therapist and thanatologist. Born and raised in Tijuana Mexico. Studied psychology at Universidad Autónoma de Baja California in Tijuana, started his career as a volunteer doing crisis intervention for 5 years at the ER of the Red Cross; studied and got his diploma in Thanatology with the speciality of terminal ill clients; studied a masters in Gestalt Therapy at Occidental Region Gestalt Therapy Institute, continuing with his Gestalt journey in different gestalt trainings like Field Theory Gestalt with Carmen Vazquez Bandín at the Centro de Terapia y Psicología (Madrid), relational gestalt therapy at PGI. He’s a university professor in public and private schools, has a private practice and it’s currently enrolled in the program: Gestalt-Humanistic Education Masters program at the IHPG in Puebla. He has a cat named Buttercup, a French fiance and a good relationship with tacos.
Elisa Smerik had her first experience studying and practicing Gestalt Therapy while living in Brazil, her home country. She got her B.A. in Psychology from Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – Brazil – and her Specialization in Psychological Assessment from Associacao Educacional of Santa Catarina – Brazil. In Brazil, she worked with Organizational Psychology in a multinational company and taught Psychology classes at FAMEG University. In 2012. Elisa moved to San Diego – CA, where she received her certification in Business Management from UCSD and her M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from National University. She is certified in Safe and Sound Protocol and trained in Emotional Focused Therapy, Dialectical and Behavioral Therapy, and Relational Gestalt Therapy. Elisa has experience working for community mental health centers and private settings. Currently, she works at a private clinic providing psychotherapy in English and Portuguese for children, teens, and adults. Elisa is empathetic, spontaneous, and passionate about learning/growing through new experiences and in contact with people.
SCCC Alumni receive a 20% discount for this training, as they do with all training that have a fee. Register below today!
The Southern California Counseling Center is approved by CAMFT (Provider # 62299) to provide continuing education for MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. The Southern California Counseling Center maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.
Course meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
For info on the SCCC Cancellation Policy, Grievance Policy, and ADA Complience, click here.
The Southern California Counseling Center is approved by CAMFT (Provider # 62299) to provide continuing education for MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. The Southern California Counseling Center maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.
Course meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences
For information on the SCCC Cancellation Policy, Grievance Policy, and ADA Compliance, visit Guidelines and Policies.