Training Programs

Becoming a Better Intervener: Organization & Systems Development Intensive (1 year intensive — 5 modules)

Overview

The faculty has extensive experience in many areas of business, education, government, and human service organizations. They use Gestalt theory concepts, and methodology in their roles as consultants and administrators. They have taught, trained, and consulted in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America.

This dynamic one-year, five-module training program is designed for people involved in organizational change and large-scale organizational transformation. The program provides an introduction to and practice in the body of knowledge developed in the Gestalt Center for Organization & Systems Development programs. In five intensive sessions, participants will explore our overall model and theory base as applied to individual, group, and organizational levels of system. The program’s emphasis on change methodology and complex system transformation is a powerful awareness-raising, skill-building, and integrative learning opportunity with the intent of becoming more effective interveners in organizational contexts.

Curriculum and Methodology

This program helps participants expand their alternatives in influencing multiple levels of systems. The core program provides opportunities for direct work in skill development in a range of areas. Participants will learn to:

• Discriminate among observations, interpretations, judgments, descriptions, and evaluations.
• Pay greater attention to and selectively share observations about what is happening in another person, group, or organization.
• Pay greater attention to one's own experience of feelings, sensations, and thoughts, and selectively share these, establishing one's presence in so doing.
• Identify, support, and mobilize energy in the client system as it relates to the emergence of themes or issues.
• Facilitate clear, meaningful, and heightened contact between members of the client system and between oneself and the client system.
• Recognize resistance and adopt a respectful attitude in working through it.
• Recognize when and how to heighten conflict and the expression of conflict, as well as when to diffuse conflict.
• Help the client complete units of work and achieve closure of unfinished business.
• Observe and attend to process on three levels of system, and identify choice points related to interventions at each level.
• Develop appropriate designs for interventions that consider the consequences for individuals, groups, and the organization.
• Cultivate one's openness to change and development as both a person and a change agent, including the ability to use failures and negative feedback constructively.
• Recognize and work with broad social issues as they apply, and appreciate, understand, and build upon one's beliefs and values concerning the process of change.

A variety of methods are used in this program, including demonstrations, readings, simulations, role-plays, fieldwork assignments, small group practice, and step-by-step skill building experiences. Participants will work with individuals, groups, and organizations in a laboratory setting, as well as with their own systems or clients, as part of the learning process. They will be required to develop learning projects outside the program, and they will receive consultation and feedback for these projects throughout the course of their work.

Admission Process

Admittance to the OSD Training Program requires attending an Introductory Gestalt Workshop or an Interpersonal Interaction workshop before or during the program, a written application, and a personal interview either in person or by telephone. There is a nonrefundable application fee of $500. Due to the nature of the program’s design and operation, tuition will not be refunded for early withdrawal. A penalty fee may be assessed for a participant’s withdrawal following his or her acknowledgement of acceptance into the program. Upon completion of the program and full payment of fees, participants will receive a Gestalt Approach to Organization & Systems Development Program Certificate. Early application is strongly advised

Program Schedule

Unless otherwise noted, sessions begin on Sundays at 2pm and end on Fridays at 2pm.
February 6–11, 2011
April 1–8, 2011 (begins Friday at 2pm and ends Friday at 2pm)
June 5–10, 2011
July 24–29, 2011
September 18–23, 2011

Fees (not including travel, lodging, or meals)

All fees are subject to yearly review

The non-refundable application fee must accompany the applicant’s completed application form. 75% of the tuition fee is due upon acceptance into the program. Full payment of the tuition is due by the program’s start date. Fees are subject to yearly review. Limited scholarships are available. Requests for special payment arrangements or available scholarships may be addressed to the OSD Center President in conjunction with the GIC OSD ISC Payments Officer. Refunds are not given for early withdrawal from the program due to the nature of its design and structure.

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Payment Options for OSD Workshops and Training Programs

1. We accept online payment via MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express, or Paypal account (*Paypal is the authorized payment processor for GICOSDISC).
2. Payment by personal check or bank money order paid in US dollars and drawn from a US bank. should be made payable to GICOSDISC, Inc. and mailed to: GICOSDISC, P.O. Box 1569, Mentor, OH 44061 USA. Please include with your payment: Home address, phone numbers, and email, as well as the name of the program to which you are applying.
3. Contact the Registrar regarding any problems with the application process at osdregistrar@gestaltosd.org.

Registering for an OSD Training Program

1. A non-refundable application fee of $500 (see “Payment Options” above) is required. (All fees and tuition are subject to yearly review.)
2. Complete the application form (PDF) and submit via email to the Registrar at osdregistrar@gestaltosd.org, or mail or fax your completed form to: GICOSDISC, Inc., P.O. Box 1569, Mentor, OH 44061 USA / (001) 440.205.8606.
3. After we receive your completed application, an OSD faculty member will contact you for a personal interview.
4. Once you have been accepted into the program, immediately submit 75% of the tuition along with a statement of commitment. At that point, you should initiate visa application, update your passport, purchase travel tickets, and make hotel reservations. (The balance of the tuition is due by the program's start date, unless otherwise stated.)
5. Contact the Registrar regarding any problems with the application process at osdregistrar@gestaltosd.org.

GICOSDISC reserves the right to change faculty, program dates, and fees as necessary. GICOSDISC assumes no liability for expenses incurred by participants due to any changes in program dates, including nonrefundable travel and/or lodging expenses.