Recently a lot of studies have pointed to the relationships between the major homeostatic systems of the human body: the neuroendocrine system and the immune system. There is considerable evidence that they make up a psychoneuroendocrine... more
Recently a lot of studies have pointed to the relationships between the major homeostatic systems of the human body: the neuroendocrine system and the immune system. There is considerable evidence that they make up a psychoneuroendocrine immunologic network. In the present review the most interesting data concerning the relationships between the neuroendocrine system and the immune system are taken into account.
Research Interests:
The paper stresses the importance of the dexamethasone suppression test in the diagnosis of severe depression (major psychiatric disorders). For some decades researchers have been aware of the importance of the... more
The paper stresses the importance of the dexamethasone suppression test in the diagnosis of severe depression (major psychiatric disorders). For some decades researchers have been aware of the importance of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland axis in the physiological response to stress, and likewise the importance of possible correlations between emotional and biological factors in psychiatric disorders. Several studies have sustained that in major psychiatric disorders, and in particular in depression, not only is there a hypersecretion of cortisol, but also a resistance to the suppression of cortisol secretion which normally follows the injection of an exogenous steroid, for example dexamethasone. This laboratory test is therefore of value both for diagnostic purposes and for identifying severe depression from other morbid conditions; it may also be usefully employed for prognostic and therapeutic purposes.
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Over the last two decades, the exploration of transgenerational phenomena has been supported by studies on infant development, epigenetics and trauma. In clinical work it is important, at times essential, to consider more than two... more
Over the last two decades, the exploration of transgenerational phenomena has been supported by studies on infant development, epigenetics and trauma. In clinical work it is important, at times essential, to consider more than two generations in order to give meaning to what is happening to us and to our clients as well as to support the therapeutic process. We know that what happened to previous generations is transmitted to subsequent ones, but we need a better understanding of how transgenerational legacies are passed on and how they emerge in therapeutic processes. Building on a phenomenological and Gestalt perspective, and so on a conception of the self as an emergent process and on field theory, in this paper the author proposes the concept of atmosphere as a useful element of support for clinicians in being aware of, and working with, a transgenerational perspective. Atmospheres can be considered media of transgenerational transmission. In therapy, they can be useful for relating what is happening in the here and now with the history of previous generations, and thus supporting the therapist in being aware of therapeutic processes, intentionalities and transformations. Keywords atmosphere, transgenerational transmission and phenomena, emergent self, field theory, psychopathology, Gestalt therapy.
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In this paper the Authors report on the immunologic alterations in two psychiatric disease: schizophrenia and infantile autism. While a lot of researches have been concluded on the immunologic alterations in schizophrenia, only a few data... more
In this paper the Authors report on the immunologic alterations in two psychiatric disease: schizophrenia and infantile autism. While a lot of researches have been concluded on the immunologic alterations in schizophrenia, only a few data on infantile autism are available. Based on data from international literature the Authors advance some hypotheses on the role possibly played by the immune system in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and infantile autism.
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": In this article I introduce the concept of psychopathological field to move from an individualistic psychopathology towards a radically relational one. I have sought to describe the concept by tracing its roots, which lie deep in... more
": In this article I introduce the concept of psychopathological field to move from an individualistic psychopathology towards a radically relational one. I have sought to describe the concept by tracing its roots, which lie deep in Gestalt psychology, in Gestalt therapy and in phenomenology – in its classical and neo-phenomenological formulations and in its deriva- tions in psychopathology and psychiatry. From this perspective, the psychopathological field is the field of experience that is actualised in the therapeutic encounter, bringing into play at the contact-boundary the absence which it conveys. To grasp the actualisation of the field and its movements, the therapist must develop an aesthetic sensibility, which is what enables him to become attuned to the root of the experience, where the psychopathological field emerges as an atmospheric presence, a perceptive prius, before distinct subjects and objects emerge. In this way the therapist perceives how the intentionalities for contact at play in the field move and shift, so as to reveal the presence of an absence, which can then be transformed into presence itself and beauty. Taking the subject of psychopathology to be the field instead of the individual opens up a radically relational horizon, with significant implications for both clinical practice and therapy. This perspective on Gestalt therapy seeks to remain faithful to its epistemological roots while tuning in to the developments and needs of contemporary psychotherapy. Key words: psychopathological field, psychopathology, aesthetics, domains of contact, perception, Gestaltung, pain, beauty, almost-entities, new-phenomenology, trans- generational."
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The results of a retrospective study on the personality traits of a patient with cancer are reported. The research was carried out on a group of cancer patients and on 2 control groups, one consisting of carriers of chronic non-tumoral... more
The results of a retrospective study on the personality traits of a patient with cancer are reported. The research was carried out on a group of cancer patients and on 2 control groups, one consisting of carriers of chronic non-tumoral disease, the other of patients with acute accidental pathology. Statistical processing of the data obtained has permitted the detection of interesting personological details in the 3 groups studied.
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Numerous observations have evidenced the high prevalence of psychosomatic disturbances in the third age, so much so that this type of pathology is second in order of frequency in the elderly. In the light of these data a study has been... more
Numerous observations have evidenced the high prevalence of psychosomatic disturbances in the third age, so much so that this type of pathology is second in order of frequency in the elderly. In the light of these data a study has been carried out on functional disturbances in the third age related to certain psychological and sociobiological variables. The purpose of the research was to assess the effective influence of these "extrinsic" variables in the psychosomatic disturbance observed through the psychophysiological test carried out in the different groups examined. The results of the study are discussed and some keys for interpreting the data observed are put forward.
Research Interests: Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Medicine, Italy, Humans, and 8 moreFemale, Pubmed, Male, Aged, Middle Aged, Institutionalization, Adult, and Age Factors
The paper examines the phenomenon of drug addiction from a bio-socio-pathological point of view. Neurophysiological advances in the field of drug addiction reveal the correlations between biology and behaviour, thus allowing the creation... more
The paper examines the phenomenon of drug addiction from a bio-socio-pathological point of view. Neurophysiological advances in the field of drug addiction reveal the correlations between biology and behaviour, thus allowing the creation of numerous synergic strategies at different levels of intervention.
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The purpose of the research was to ascertain whether hospitalization makes it easier to treat heroin addiction and to what extent. Eighty-six subjects hospitalised in two Turin hospitals were considered. Two different therapeutic... more
The purpose of the research was to ascertain whether hospitalization makes it easier to treat heroin addiction and to what extent. Eighty-six subjects hospitalised in two Turin hospitals were considered. Two different therapeutic protocols were applied. Results obtained are discussed and some interpretation of resulting data are advanced.
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The relationship between psychological features and coronary heart disease (CHD) have long been investigated. Type A behaviour consists of psychological, behavioral and cognitive features and represents an important risk factor for CHD.... more
The relationship between psychological features and coronary heart disease (CHD) have long been investigated. Type A behaviour consists of psychological, behavioral and cognitive features and represents an important risk factor for CHD. The present report is a review of the international literature on the subject. In particular we have taken into account the relationships among type A and other risk factors and the possible biological mechanisms through which type A behaviour may promote CHD.
Research Interests:
This study analyses the physical and physiognomic semiotics characteristic of anxious persons which, together with other symptoms, lead to the diagnosis of the disorder caused by anxiety. The theories of several authors concerning... more
This study analyses the physical and physiognomic semiotics characteristic of anxious persons which, together with other symptoms, lead to the diagnosis of the disorder caused by anxiety. The theories of several authors concerning physiognomy, an ancient science based on the assumption that an individual's character and personality traits may be distinguished from his physical form and appearance, are discussed. It is clear that the symptoms apparent in the behaviour and body of the anxious person, such as tremor, sweating, tachycardia and numerous other psychosomatic symptoms, form an important element of assessment in psychiatric diagnosis.
Research Interests: Psychology, Personality, Physiognomy, Medicine, Anxiety, and 4 moreHumans, Pubmed, Minerva Medica, and ANXIETY
Several reported cases point out significant alterations in the psychologic profile of obese subjects and the utility of a psychotherapeutic support to the dietetic or pharmacological therapy. Each patient underwent a psychodiagnostic... more
Several reported cases point out significant alterations in the psychologic profile of obese subjects and the utility of a psychotherapeutic support to the dietetic or pharmacological therapy. Each patient underwent a psychodiagnostic interview and the following rating-scales were applied: QPF (Psychophysiological Test); STAI X-1 and X-2 (State and Trait Anxiety Inventory); Hamilton-D (Depression); ZUNG (Self-administered Depression Test); TSR (Reaction Schemes Test). We observed an increase in the answer of the blocked projection (in the 40% of subjects), of negation (26.6%), of guilt (13.3%), a decrease in the projection answer (33.3%), high scores of QPF (21%). The STAI, the Hamilton, and the Zung were altered in the 10% of the examined subjects. Our data emphasize the importance of an individual psychotherapeutic support in a subgroup of obese subjects.
Research Interests: Psychometrics, Obesity, Medicine, Anxiety, Humans, and 6 moreFemale, Pubmed, Clinical Sciences, Psychological Tests, Adult, and ANXIETY
On the basis of literature data relative to the alteration of beta-endorphin tone in obese subjects, we conducted a clinical trial employing Naltrexone (a receptorial antagonist of endogen opioids) in order to evaluate its efficacy in... more
On the basis of literature data relative to the alteration of beta-endorphin tone in obese subjects, we conducted a clinical trial employing Naltrexone (a receptorial antagonist of endogen opioids) in order to evaluate its efficacy in increasing the compliance of these subjects on dietary treatment. The drug dosage was 50 mg/daily (100 mg/die). The clinical study was carried out following the double-blind crossover method for a period of 4 months in a group of 17 obese subjects who also underwent to psychodiagnostic interviews. Significant weight reduction was observed in the 9 patients who carried out the treatment by assuming Naltrexone (kg 4.00 +/- 3.97) rather than with placebo (kg 0.96 +/- 4.95). The drug was subjectively well tolerated and it did not alter the endocrine, metabolic, psychometric, and cardiovascular monitored parameters. The insulin secretion during OGTT did not show significant alterations. Our data emphasize the Naltrexone efficacy in improving the compliance of the obese subjects during dietary treatment.
Research Interests: Obesity, Medicine, Humans, Placebo, Pubmed, and 5 moreClinical Sciences, Middle Aged, Adult, Naltrexone, and crossover study
In questo articolo l’autore introduce il concetto di campo psicopatologico, inteso come campo esperienziale che attualizza un’assenza al confine di contatto. Per coglierne l’attualizzarsi, il terapeuta deve possedere una competenza... more
In questo articolo l’autore introduce il concetto di campo psicopatologico, inteso come campo esperienziale che attualizza un’assenza al confine di contatto. Per coglierne l’attualizzarsi, il terapeuta deve possedere una competenza estetica, grazie alla quale puo sintonizzarsi alla radice dell’esperienza, dove il campo emerge come presenza atmosferica, prima del definirsi di distinti soggetti e oggetti. In questo modo coglie i movimenti delle intenzionalita di contatto in gioco affinche si riveli l’assenza di cui il campo e portatore e questa possa trasformarsi in presenza e bellezza. Considerare oggetto della psicopatologia il campo ci colloca in un orizzonte radicalmente relazionale e ha rilevanti ripercussioni sulla pratica clinica.
Research Interests: Humanities and Art
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This article presents an approach to obsessive-compulsive disorder based on the Gestalt therapy theory, Gestalt psychology and psychiatric phenomenology. After establishing a diagnostic framework, the experiences of patients are explored,... more
This article presents an approach to obsessive-compulsive disorder based on the Gestalt therapy theory, Gestalt psychology and psychiatric phenomenology. After establishing a diagnostic framework, the experiences of patients are explored, starting from the experience of space and time, of the relationship between details and the whole, of boundaries, and of materiality. In the light of the Gestalt theory of perception, the obsessive-compulsive symptom is framed as a creative adjustment protecting the patient from more severe suffering in a situation in which the bodily sensorial ground is permeated with terror. After describing how the obsessive-compulsive field is aesthetically actualized in therapy, a number of issues are highlighted that can help therapists in their journey with the sufferers.
Research Interests:
The paper reports on the emergency psychiatric Unit (EPU) that has been instituted in Turin. A period of transformation in the philosophy of psychiatric departments, has led, among other things, to the approval of a regional law that can... more
The paper reports on the emergency psychiatric Unit (EPU) that has been instituted in Turin. A period of transformation in the philosophy of psychiatric departments, has led, among other things, to the approval of a regional law that can be considered as a local interpretation, of national legislation. The EPU is an experimental model that codifies the emergency level of intervention to stand alongside existing emergency medical facilities, including first-aid stations. The purpose of this first investigation is to examine the number and type of calls studying the data obtained so far is a fundamental stage in our understanding of the "emergency" phenomenon and in the construction of other levels of intervention aimed to optimise available resources.
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Research Interests: Philosophy and Humanities
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The relationship between depression and alterations in circadian hormonal rhythms has received much attention in recent times. In particular abnormalities in cortisol rhythm can be viewed as an endocrine correlate of depression. Circadian... more
The relationship between depression and alterations in circadian hormonal rhythms has received much attention in recent times. In particular abnormalities in cortisol rhythm can be viewed as an endocrine correlate of depression. Circadian rhythms are normalized under recovery. The objective of this study was to make an evaluation of clinical and biological effectiveness of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC). ALC has been investigated for treatment in cognitive deficits of elderly people. The efficacy of ALC in treating major depression has been reported in more recent ALC studies. In this double-blind study the antidepressant activity of ALC versus placebo was evaluated. We have selected 28 aged depressed subjects, meeting DSM III R criteria for Major Depression. Cortisol mean levels, cortisol rhythms and depressive symptoms have been evaluated in patients before and after ALC or placebo treatment. The results of the trial showed significantly higher clinical and biological efficacy for ALC as compared to placebo.
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": This article presents an approach to obsessive–compulsive disorder based on Gestalt therapy theory, Gestalt psychology, and psychiatric phenomenology. After establishing a diagnostic framework, the experiences of clients are... more
": This article presents an approach to obsessive–compulsive disorder based on Gestalt therapy theory, Gestalt psychology, and psychiatric phenomenology. After establishing a diagnostic framework, the experiences of clients are explored, starting from the experience of space and time, of the relationship between details and the whole, of boundaries, and of materiality. In the light of the Gestalt theory of perception, the obsessive– compulsive symptom is framed as a creative adjustment able to protect the client from much worse suffering, in a situation in which the bodily sensorial ground is permeated with terror. After describing how the obsessive–compulsive field is aesthetically actualised in therapy, a number of issues and passages are highlighted that can help therapists in their journey with the sufferers. Keywords: obsessive–compulsive disorder, Gestalt therapy, phenomenology, Gestalt psychology, perception, psychopathology, psychopathological field, language, aesthetics."
Research Interests:
: This paper describes a three-year research project with CORE-OM (Clinical Outcome Routine Evaluation – Outcome Measure) and illustrates the results of the evaluation of the clinical outcome of psychotherapy in clients undergoing... more
: This paper describes a three-year research project with CORE-OM (Clinical Outcome Routine Evaluation – Outcome Measure) and illustrates the results of the evaluation of the clinical outcome of psychotherapy in clients undergoing psychotherapeutic process with the Gestalt method within the National Organisation of Gestalt Therapy (NOGT), and the Italian Society of Gestalt Psychotherapy (SIPG). The data was gathered using CORE-OM. The study is an example of a practice-oriented research in Gestalt therapy because it introduces a widely used quantitative method to evaluate the clinical outcome of psychotherapy (CORE-OM) as an integral part of clinical work in a relational approach. The authors have repeated within the Italian Gestalt community a similar study conducted in the UK in 2011 and compared both findings. Results indicate that Gestalt therapy has been effective in improving the condition of clients, with an effect size comparable to those that were observed in similar studies conducted in other countries and with different modalities. Keywords: Gestalt therapy, treatment effectiveness, outcome research, CORE-OM, long- term psychotherapy.
Research Interests:
The movement towards the conceptualization, description and evaluation of psychotherapists’ competencies has been widely developed in the last years and has relevant implications for psychotherapy, training, and continuous education. In... more
The movement towards the conceptualization, description and evaluation of psychotherapists’ competencies has been widely developed in the last years and has relevant implications for psychotherapy, training, and continuous education. In Italy, this movement has been supported by the Committee for Psychotherapists’ Competencies established in 2010 by FIAP (Italian Federation of Psychotherapy’s Associations) and CNSP (National Association of Psychotherapy’s Training Institutes) and has involved more than 1000 psychotherapists from different approaches, by means of conferences, expert meetings, workshops, and focus groups. One of the outcomes of this process has been the development of a new self-assessment tool for core competencies (i.e., those that are shared by therapists from all modalities): the QACP (Questionario per l’Autovalutazione delle Competenze dello Psicoterapeuta). The present study aims to present the process of development and the preliminary proofs of the validity of...
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Research Interests:
Subjective estimation of time varies according to age, to physical state and to the activity we are occupied with. The relationship between time and major depression can be considered from two different point of view. From a... more
Subjective estimation of time varies according to age, to physical state and to the activity we are occupied with. The relationship between time and major depression can be considered from two different point of view. From a clinical-psychological point of view normal subjects with major depression estimate time intervals differently. Future, past and present change their meaning in major depression. These alterations cause important consequences in the cognitive structure of subjects with major depression and therefore influence depressive symptoms. On the other hand also the "biological time" is altered in major depression. Subjects with major depression suffer from many chronobiological alterations. The relationship between these two aspects are considered in the present report.
Research Interests: Psychology, Depression, Cognition, Time Perception, Medicine, and 3 moreHumans, Circadian Rhythm, and Pubmed
At the IV Gestalt Research Conference, held in Santiago, Chile (29 May–1 June 2019), participants shared information about Gestalt therapy and research from their respective countries. We thought it was so interesting to hear about the... more
At the IV Gestalt Research Conference, held in Santiago, Chile (29 May–1 June 2019), participants shared information about Gestalt therapy and research from their respective countries. We thought it was so interesting to hear about the practice of Gestalt and the state of Gestalt therapy research around the world that we have published some of these contributions in this issue and hope to include more in forthcoming issues. The reports are arranged in alphabetical order by country and each represents the informed, personal perspective of the writer.
The relationship between psychological features and coronary heart disease (CHD) have long been investigated. Type A behaviour consists of psychological, behavioral and cognitive features and represents an important risk factor for CHD.... more
The relationship between psychological features and coronary heart disease (CHD) have long been investigated. Type A behaviour consists of psychological, behavioral and cognitive features and represents an important risk factor for CHD. The present report is a review of the international literature on the subject. In particular we have taken into account the relationships among type A and other risk factors and the possible biological mechanisms through which type A behaviour may promote CHD.
Research Interests:
Numerous observations have evidenced the high prevalence of psychosomatic disturbances in the third age, so much so that this type of pathology is second in order of frequency in the elderly. In the light of these data a study has been... more
Numerous observations have evidenced the high prevalence of psychosomatic disturbances in the third age, so much so that this type of pathology is second in order of frequency in the elderly. In the light of these data a study has been carried out on functional disturbances in the third age related to certain psychological and sociobiological variables. The purpose of the research was to assess the effective influence of these "extrinsic" variables in the psychosomatic disturbance observed through the psychophysiological test carried out in the different groups examined. The results of the study are discussed and some keys for interpreting the data observed are put forward.
Research Interests: Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Medicine, Italy, Humans, and 7 moreFemale, Male, Aged, Middle Aged, Institutionalization, Adult, and Age Factors
The paper stresses the importance of the dexamethasone suppression test in the diagnosis of severe depression (major psychiatric disorders). For some decades researchers have been aware of the importance of the... more
The paper stresses the importance of the dexamethasone suppression test in the diagnosis of severe depression (major psychiatric disorders). For some decades researchers have been aware of the importance of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland axis in the physiological response to stress, and likewise the importance of possible correlations between emotional and biological factors in psychiatric disorders. Several studies have sustained that in major psychiatric disorders, and in particular in depression, not only is there a hypersecretion of cortisol, but also a resistance to the suppression of cortisol secretion which normally follows the injection of an exogenous steroid, for example dexamethasone. This laboratory test is therefore of value both for diagnostic purposes and for identifying severe depression from other morbid conditions; it may also be usefully employed for prognostic and therapeutic purposes.
Research Interests:
In this paper the Authors report on the immunologic alterations in two psychiatric disease: schizophrenia and infantile autism. While a lot of researches have been concluded on the immunologic alterations in schizophrenia, only a few data... more
In this paper the Authors report on the immunologic alterations in two psychiatric disease: schizophrenia and infantile autism. While a lot of researches have been concluded on the immunologic alterations in schizophrenia, only a few data on infantile autism are available. Based on data from international literature the Authors advance some hypotheses on the role possibly played by the immune system in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and infantile autism.
Research Interests:
Recently a lot of studies have pointed to the relationships between the major homeostatic systems of the human body: the neuroendocrine system and the immune system. There is considerable evidence that they make up a psychoneuroendocrine... more
Recently a lot of studies have pointed to the relationships between the major homeostatic systems of the human body: the neuroendocrine system and the immune system. There is considerable evidence that they make up a psychoneuroendocrine immunologic network. In the present review the most interesting data concerning the relationships between the neuroendocrine system and the immune system are taken into account.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The paper reports on the emergency psychiatric Unit (EPU) that has been instituted in Turin. A period of transformation in the philosophy of psychiatric departments, has led, among other things, to the approval of a regional law that can... more
The paper reports on the emergency psychiatric Unit (EPU) that has been instituted in Turin. A period of transformation in the philosophy of psychiatric departments, has led, among other things, to the approval of a regional law that can be considered as a local interpretation, of national legislation. The EPU is an experimental model that codifies the emergency level of intervention to stand alongside existing emergency medical facilities, including first-aid stations. The purpose of this first investigation is to examine the number and type of calls studying the data obtained so far is a fundamental stage in our understanding of the "emergency" phenomenon and in the construction of other levels of intervention aimed to optimise available resources.
Research Interests:
Subjective estimation of time varies according to age, to physical state and to the activity we are occupied with. The relationship between time and major depression can be considered from two different point of view. From a... more
Subjective estimation of time varies according to age, to physical state and to the activity we are occupied with. The relationship between time and major depression can be considered from two different point of view. From a clinical-psychological point of view normal subjects with major depression estimate time intervals differently. Future, past and present change their meaning in major depression. These alterations cause important consequences in the cognitive structure of subjects with major depression and therefore influence depressive symptoms. On the other hand also the "biological time" is altered in major depression. Subjects with major depression suffer from many chronobiological alterations. The relationship between these two aspects are considered in the present report.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
: This article presents an approach to obsessive–compulsive disorder based on Gestalt therapy theory, Gestalt psychology, and psychiatric phenomenology. After establishing a diagnostic framework, the experiences of clients are explored,... more
: This article presents an approach to obsessive–compulsive disorder based on Gestalt therapy theory, Gestalt psychology, and psychiatric phenomenology. After establishing a diagnostic framework, the experiences of clients are explored, starting from the experience of space and time, of the relationship between details and the whole, of boundaries, and of materiality. In the light of the Gestalt theory of perception, the obsessive– compulsive symptom is framed as a creative adjustment able to protect the client from much worse suffering, in a situation in which the bodily sensorial ground is permeated with terror. After describing how the obsessive–compulsive field is aesthetically actualised in therapy, a number of issues and passages are highlighted that can help therapists in their journey with the sufferers. Keywords: obsessive–compulsive disorder, Gestalt therapy, phenomenology, Gestalt psychology, perception, psychopathology, psychopathological field, language, aesthetics.
Research Interests:
Drawing from field theory, Gestalt therapy conceives psychological suffering and psychotherapy as two intentional field phenomena, where unprocessed and chaotic experiences seek the opportunity to emerge and be assimilated through the... more
Drawing from field theory, Gestalt therapy conceives psychological suffering and psychotherapy as two intentional field phenomena, where unprocessed and chaotic experiences seek the opportunity to emerge and be assimilated through the contact between the patient and the therapist (i.e., the intentionality of contacting). This therapeutic approach is based on the therapist’s aesthetic experience of his/her embodied presence in the flow of the healing process because (1) the perception of beauty can provide the therapist with feedback on the assimilation of unprocessed experiences; (2) the therapist’s attentional focus on intrinsic aesthetic diagnostic criteria can facilitate the modification of rigid psychopathological fields by supporting the openness to novel experiences. The aim of the present manuscript is to review recent evidence from psychophysiology, neuroaesthetic research, and neurocomputational models of cognition, such as the free energy principle (FEP), which support the...
The diagnostic process in psychotherapy using the aesthetic evaluation is described in this article. Unlike the classical diagnostic process, which presents a result of comparing clinicians´ observations with a diagnostic system (DSM,... more
The diagnostic process in psychotherapy using the aesthetic evaluation is described in this article. Unlike the classical diagnostic process, which presents a result of comparing clinicians´ observations with a diagnostic system (DSM, ICD, etc.), the aesthetic evaluation is a pre-reflexive, embodied, and preverbal process. A Gestalt Therapy theoretical frame is used to introduce a concept of the aesthetic diagnostic process. During this process, the clinicians use their own here-and-now presence, which takes part in the co-creation of the shared relational field during the therapeutic session. A specific procedure of the aesthetic evaluation is introduced. The clinical work with depressed clients is presented to illustrate this perspective.