Substance Use + Gestalt = Harm Reduction:

Relational Gestalt Therapy: From Theory to Practice Substance Use + Gestalt = Harm Reduction: Applying the Paradoxical Theory of Change and Evidence Based Practices to Our Relationships with Substances
(Online Format)
Nina Herzog, MUP, MFA, LP

Sunday, April 13, 2025
10:30 am – 4:30 pm (ET)
(with one-hour lunch break)
5 CE hours
$150
(50% discount for all students, not only GCPT students. Some scholarships available. For code email: [email protected])

The paradoxical theory of change underlies both Gestalt and harm reduction practice and theory. A truly Gestalt approach to human beings’ relationships to substances is naturally aligned with the principles and practice of harm reduction. In this workshop, we’ll explore the natural alignment between these two practices, learn how to apply harm reduction principles to our work with clients from intake to later phases, including how to create an environment that will allow clients to be honest and promote trust in the therapeutic alliance regarding substances. We all use various substances and always have. How can we best support our clients’ own goals regarding substances? How can we create and maintain a space devoid of shame and judgment where open and curious explorations of these relationships, their benefits and costs, can occur? Specific tools and practices will be presented.

Objectives:

1. Learn to apply the paradoxical theory of change to our relationships with substances.
2. Learn the principles of harm reduction.
3. Learn to create an open and non-judgmental stance toward substance use that will foster trust in your clients to be honest about their substance use.
4. Learn practical tools and practices for integrating harm reduction techniques into your work.

Nina is a certified Gestalt psychotherapist and writer. Before her career shift, she provided harm reduction training and supervision to organizations and individuals for over 30 years, serving as Housing Works’ first Vice President of Harm Reduction and Prevention Programs, where she opened one of the city’s first five legal syringe exchange programs in the early 1990s. She has worked with foundations, nonprofits, universities and coalitions to develop curricula, best practices manuals and other tools to increase awareness of harm reduction and other best practices in supportive housing.

Host or Publisher Gestalt Center for Psychotherapy and Training