The Istituto di Gestalt was founded in July 1979. It was the first School of Gestalt Therapy Training in Italy. It has made a significant contribution to the development of this psychotherapeutic method in Italy and internationally; it has been recognized for its original theoretical development of the principles of Gestalt therapy, especially in hermeneutic terms, i.e. in terms of ongoing dialog with the demands of the society in which we live. Its model of psychopathology is well known.

From the beginning the Institute was in constant exchange with the founders of Gestalt Therapy, in particular with Isadore From and Jim Simkin, who were then still alive. Meaningful exchanges have also been established with the most distinguished of the second-generation Gestalt therapists, Joseph Zinker, Erving Polster, Miriam Polster, Sonia March Nevis, Ed Nevis, Richard Kitzler, Michael Vincent Miller, Ed Lynch and others.

From 1982 to 2016 the Institute has trained around 1000 students, running 40 four-years Training Programs (in Siracuse, Palermo, Milan, Venice, Rome, Naples), as well as various two-years specialization programs (for therapy with seriously disturbed patients, with couples and families; trainings for trainers).

• F.I.S.I.G. (Federazione Italiana Scuole e Istituti Gestalt).
• S.I.P.G. (Società Italiana Psicoterapia Gestalt).
• F.I.A.P. (Federazione Italiana delle Associazioni di Psicoterapia).
• E.A.G.T. (European Association for Gestalt Therapy).
• E.A.P. (European Association for Psychotherapy).
• A.A.G.T. (Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy).
• NYIGT (New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy).
• Hellenic Association for Gestalt Therapy.

Exchanges in the teaching and scientific fields are also maintained with the following Centers and Institutes:

• New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy, New York, U.S.A.
• A.A.G.T. (Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy)
• Institut Français Gestalt-Therapie, Bordeaux, Francia (dir. Jean Marie Robine)
• Institut für Gestalttherapie, Düsseldorf, Germania (dir. Bertram Müller)
• Gestalt Training Center, San Diego, U.S.A. (dir. Proff. Erving e Miriam Polster)
• Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.
• Institute for Gestalt Therapy, Boston (dir. Michael Vincent Miller)
• I.G.T.A. (International Gestalt Therapy Association)
• E.A.P. (European Association for Psychotherapy)