Therapeutic Democracy: The Roots and Potential Fruits of a Gestalt-Assisted Collaborative Inquiry

Abstract

Gestalt therapy and Cooperative Inquiry (a method of action research) share significant roots: Martin Buber for one, and Kurt Lewin for another. They also share with Gestalt such categories as field theory, phenomenology, dialogue, and experimentation, among others. I write this paper partly as an invitation to Gestalt therapists to explore action methods such as cooperative inquiry, on the premise that when approached with intention the “between” can become the locus of a more relational spirituality. I propose that the principles of participatory or therapeutic democracy may be (as yet) underdeveloped in Gestalt practice and teaching, and tentatively suggest that Gestalt practitioners and trainees might “dip their toes” into collaborative waters as a useful training experience.