Healing Addiction & Trauma Through a Compassionate Relational Lens

Gestalt Therapy Institute of Los Angeles (GTILA)

GTILA Presents: Integrating Somatic, Polyvagal, and Gestalt Approaches with Rafael Cortina

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Within Gestalt therapy, addiction and trauma are not seen as isolated pathologies but as expressions of the field—creative adjustments that emerge in response to disconnection, overwhelm, and unmet relational needs. In this Gestalt Salon, we will explore how a relational and field-sensitive perspective allows us to meet these experiences with compassion, curiosity, and embodied awareness.Rather than reducing addiction to a behavior or diagnosis, this conversation invites us to consider it as a movement toward restoration and contact—a spontaneous attempt by the organism–environment field to regain balance. Drawing from Field Theory, Relational Gestalt practice, and Polyvagal-informed awareness, we’ll reflect together on how therapeutic presence, co-regulation, and somatic attunement open possibilities for healing and integration.<h3>Together we will explore:</h3><ul><li>Addiction and trauma as field phenomena rather than intrapsychic dysfunctions.</li><li>How the relational stance of the therapist supports contact, co-regulation, and embodied safety.</li><li>How somatic and nervous system awareness enhances field sensitivity and deepens presence.</li><li>The application of the Compassionate Relational Gestalt Trauma Model (CRGTM) within the living field of therapy.</li></ul>

GTILA members are eligible for free admission to all salons. Members may find their discount code by logging into their gtila.org account and checking the Discount Codes page under GTILA Salons. If you have trouble locating your code, please reach out to us at <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gtila-presents-remembering-erv-polster-sneaky-genius-with-lynne-jacobs-tickets-1020158269847?utm-campaign=social&amp;utm-content=attendeeshare&amp;utm-medium=discovery&amp;utm-term=listing&amp;utm-source=cp&amp;aff=ebdsshcopyurl" title="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gtila-presents-remembering-erv-polster-sneaky-genius-with-lynne-jacobs-tickets-1020158269847?utm-campaign=social&amp;utm-content=attendeeshare&amp;utm-medium=discovery&amp;utm-term=listing&amp;utm-source=cp&amp;aff=ebdsshcopyurl" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">gtilaorg@gmail.com</a>.If you would like to make a donation to help GTILA continue its mission, please consider making a donation at our paypal at <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gtila-presents-remembering-erv-polster-sneaky-genius-with-lynne-jacobs-tickets-1020158269847?utm-campaign=social&amp;utm-content=attendeeshare&amp;utm-medium=discovery&amp;utm-term=listing&amp;utm-source=cp&amp;aff=ebdsshcopyurl" title="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gtila-presents-remembering-erv-polster-sneaky-genius-with-lynne-jacobs-tickets-1020158269847?utm-campaign=social&amp;utm-content=attendeeshare&amp;utm-medium=discovery&amp;utm-term=listing&amp;utm-source=cp&amp;aff=ebdsshcopyurl" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">gtilaorg@gmail.com</a> and type “Salon Donation”.If you are interested in receiving member benefits including free admission to this event and other GTILA salons as well as access to additional member benefits, please see <a href="http://gtila.org/membership" title="http://gtila.org/membership" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">gtila.org/membership</a> or sign up for our mailing list <a href="https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/zPsJQ3K?source_id=933bbf78-b053-4568-afe5-929f27ae8528&amp;source_type=em&amp;c=XCf-t9bulPWVj-NUkC5DyhyReoh1jZezWk0srbVqi0yCVTe9_lLsRg==" title="https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/zPsJQ3K?source_id=933bbf78-b053-4568-afe5-929f27ae8528&amp;source_type=em&amp;c=XCf-t9bulPWVj-NUkC5DyhyReoh1jZezWk0srbVqi0yCVTe9_lLsRg==" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</a>.GTILA is a non-profit membership organization based in Los Angeles. Our mission is to be a gathering space for Gestalt therapists, trainees and the Gestalt curious from the Los Angeles area, the United States and internationally. By offering training scholarships, affordable/accessible educational and experimental salons, workshops, newsletters and a therapist directory, we exist to provide an inclusive home for Gestalt therapists while promoting the advancement of contemporary, relational Gestalt therapy. We embrace and respect differences recognizing that our theory and practice must be responsive to the rapidly changing social and demographic field conditions to remain vital, ethical, and relevant.By registering for this event, you agree to receive marketing communications from Gestalt Institute of Los Angeles (GTILA).By registering for this event, you acknowledge that events may be recorded for training purposes, and may be made available for educational purposes.

About the presenter: Rafael J. Cortina, LMFT, MBA, MAC, CCTP-IIRafael Cortina is a bilingual Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #48209), Master Addiction Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP-II), and Certified Gestalt Therapist with over 25 years of clinical experience in the U.S. and Mexico. He is the developer of the Compassionate Relational Gestalt Trauma Model (CRGTM)—an integrative, trauma-informed framework bridging Gestalt therapy, somatic awareness, and polyvagal theory. Rafael serves as President of the International Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy (IAAGT) and is co-founder of In-Sight Transformative Therapy Group in San Diego. His international teaching and training focus on embodied presence, relational healing, and the restoration of wholeness through compassion and connection.

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