Gestalt therapy is a present-centered, relationship-oriented clinical treatment approach that focuses on awareness and encourages participation in the process of lifelong growth. At the Gestalt Institute of Montana we understand the complexity of relationships and the difficulty of changing troubled patterns of behaviour.  We know that solutions to deep personal and interpersonal suffering must be rooted in "real life", and not just a quick fix or a prepackaged product.   Gestalt therapy, as it is practiced today, evolved from the seminal work of Frederick and Laura Perls, Paul Goodman, and Isadore From who were leaders in the humanistic revolution of the 1940's. Gestalt Therapy, an extension of Gestalt perceptual psychology, has its roots in existentialism, field theory and body-work.   Because of the therapeutic importance of the present-moment, the nature of the contact between therapist and patient is a critical element in enhancing awareness, understanding resistance, and creating change. The trained Gestalt therapist uses a therapeutic methodology to work toward the completion of a client's unresolved psychological issues, while encouraging the full acceptance of personal responsibility and self-support.   The Gestalt therapist approaches patients from the perspective that individuals and the systems they operate in are fundamentally able to adapt and grow. By discovering impediments to growth, the Gestalt therapist helps the patient develop new, creative solutions to issues.  Because of the emphasis on lifeling change, the Gestalt approach is one of the most highly respected working models for clinicians throughout the world.   At the GIM we believe the most effective solutions are those centered on the special needs of the patient. Through a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment, the GIM has the flexibility and resources to help create solutions for difficult situations.