The inception and evolution of Gestalt Therapy in the Republic of North Macedonia have deep historical roots, tracing back to the latter half of the 20th century and into the 21st century. The initial strides in its development were marked by the pioneering educational groups led by Mr. Mladen Kostic.
These pioneering efforts paved the way for the first generation of Gestalt therapists in the region. Notably, this journey began within the framework of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, a constituent part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and continued as the independent Republic of Macedonia emerged.
One of the central figures in the establishment and propagation of Gestalt Therapy in the Republic of Macedonia is Biljana Koprova, a Clinical psychologist who received her education under the guidance of Mladen Kostic. She carried forward the tradition by organizing educational groups in 1985, within the auspices of the Counseling Facility for Humane Cooperation, under the banner of the Gestalt Training Institute –North Macedonia. The lineage of the training staff of the Gestalt Institute Sinergija can be traced back to the early educational groups led by Biljana Koprova, all within the framework of the Counseling Facility for Humane Cooperation – Gestalt Training Institute – North Macedonia.
Upon completing their training and meeting the necessary criteria, individuals such as Ana Poprizova, Karolina Kostadinoska, Andromahi Naumovska and Marijana Markovikj assumed active roles as Gestalt trainers and supervisors at the Counseling Facility for Humane Cooperation – Gestalt Training Institute – Skopje. This pivotal period of contribution extended from 2008 to 2013 when the Institute received accreditation from the European Association for Gestalt Therapy (EAGT).
In January 2014, Gestalt Institute Sinergija was officially established, thanks to the initiative of Karolina Kostadinoska, who assumed the role of General Manager. The Institute initiated its journey with a single educational group comprising psychologists. Since then, it has expanded to include two groups, encompassing more than 15 students, all of whom are either graduates or near the culmination of their university education.
In November 2014, members of the institute established a professional partnership with Petros Theodoru, a Gestalt trainer from Thessaloniki, Republic of Greece, who had completed his education at the Gestalt Foundation in Thessaloniki, Greece. This collaboration bore fruit in the form of a series of workshops held in 2014 under the theme “The Eyes in Which I Was Mirrored.”
Petros Theodoru subsequently became a trainer at Gestalt Institute Sinergija.
Starting in September 2015, Marija Sterjovska, Eli Grozdanovska, and Vasilka Dimovska joined the institute as Junior Trainers, contributing to the training of future Gestalt therapists. In 2021, Andrijana Pavlovska joined the team as a co therapist.
In 2018, the Institute achieved full membership accreditation with the EAGT, solidifying its commitment to the highest standards of education and practice. The institute has been operating under a comprehensive educational program since then.
The Institute has established a fruitful collaboration with Psihoterapika Association for Psychology and Psychotherapy since 2020. This collaboration expanded the institute’s educational team to include Radmila Zivanovic, Ana Blazeva, and Ivana Marinchek, all integral parts of the educational program.
In 2023, this collaboration reached new heights with the organization of the first International Program for Gestalt Therapy Training, employing a hybrid model and there are 3 educational groups with more than 20 students involved in educational programme.
In the present day, Sinergija has emerged as a modern institute, offering comprehensive education in the realms of Gestalt counseling and psychotherapy. The Institute has established an extensive network of collaboration with both local and international trainers, educators, and supervisors in the field of Gestalt and other therapeutic approaches. This fruitful cooperation is expected to endure into the future.
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