Saturday Breakout 2

Option 1 

Chi-Chun Lin

Gestalt Therapy Working With Marginalized Populations

Presentation:

Gestalt therapy has existential, experiential, phenomenological, and systemic foundations (Zinker, 1994). Existential psychotherapy emphasizes the operations of an individual’s inner conflicts, which are thought to result from the facts of one’s existence and in response to such issues as death, isolation, freedom, responsibility, and meaninglessness. Experiential approaches involve examining the client’s activities to address hidden issues; this can take the form of play therapy, psychodrama, art therapy, or role-play rather than traditional talk therapies and also stress the process rather than merely the content. Phenomenological approaches emphasize describing rather than explaining and focus on increasing an individual’s observation and self-awareness to relieve pressure exerted by societal expectations and intrapsychic/interpersonal conflicts. Systemic perspectives include Kurt Lewin’s field theory and Von Bertalanffy’s system theory. In this presentation, the philosophical principles, core concepts, and interventions (e.g., use of language, empty chair, body as a vehicle of communication, and systemic exploration) of Gestalt therapy will be introduced. 2SLGBTQ+ and immigrant populations will be the main focuses when the presenter talks about the application of Gestalt therapy.

Bio: 

Chi-Chun Lin is an assistant professor in the Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program in the Faculty of Education at the University of Winnipeg. He holds a Doctorate of Psychology in Marital and Family Therapy (COAMFTE-accredited) and three master’s degrees in counselling psychology, marital and family therapy, and mental health (Johns Hopkins University). He is an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Approved Supervisor, a Registered Clinical Counsellor in British Columbia, Canada, and a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor in the Canadian Association for Couple and Family Therapy. His academic and clinical interests mainly focus on mental health and sexual health issues among marginalized groups (e.g., 2SLGBTQ+, immigrants, and people living with HIV). To date (January 2025), he has published 15 peer-reviewed journal articles.