Gestalt’s GPCC Certification: Steps Above the Basics, *by Gail Froelicher
The GPCC (Gestalt Professional Certified Coach) certification, granted by the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland (GIC), represents far more than simply completing ICF PCC-level training and practice. The GPCC adds an advanced layer of knowledge, skills, and methodologies that elevate a coach’s ability to work deeply and effectively with clients. Below are just a few of the distinctive approaches and competencies that set the GPCC apart.
For several years, coaches have emphasized the importance of being present; a key tenet of the ICF core competencies. For many, this means paying attention to the client and being fully available during the session. Gestalt, however, takes presence much further. Gestalt coaches cultivate embodied presence and develop expertise in physical process skills.
An embodied Gestalt coach is not only attentive and available but also deeply aware of the subtle dynamics that emerge in the field: the relational and felt space between and around the coach and client, as well as the larger context shaping their work. This heightened presence enables richer dialogue and more meaningful, sustainable results, often more quickly than traditional approaches.
Gestalt coaching also brings a unique perspective to time and tense in the coaching conversation. Clients often speak about the past or what they hope to achieve in the future and these reflections are valuable. However, Gestalt emphasizes bringing those past or future experiences into the present moment, here and now in the session. When clients are invited to experience their past feelings or future aspirations in real time — rather than merely talking about them — they gain deeper awareness and clearer insight into “what is” and “what now?”
In this present centered experiential space, Gestalt coaches draw from a rich array of methodologies, selecting the one that best fits what the client feels will help them fully understand their situation and discover not just any way forward, but the right way forward for their specific dilemma, transformation, or way of being.
This kind of presence which is rooted in experience, awareness, and skill creates powerful opportunities for transformation. The GPCC certification equips coaches to foster that transformation with confidence and artistry, truly stepping above and beyond the basics of coaching.
*Gail A. Froelicher Chair, Gestalt Coaching Certification Program and Executive Coach & Founder, Kinetic Insights
Gail Froelicher is a transformational executive coach with over 20 years of coaching experience and 20 years of executive level experience in corporate and nonprofit sectors. As Chair of the Gestalt Coaching Certification Program, she blends humanistic principles with deep behavioral insight to train coaches who can thrive in today’s ever-shifting world.