14 Facts About Jim Simkin

James Solomon Simkin was an early seminal figure in the history of Gestalt Therapy.

Jim Simkin received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Michigan, and practiced in New Jersey.

Jim Simkin was Chief Psychologist at a large VA hospital.

Perls and Jim Simkin joined in leading training groups in gestalt therapy for professionals at the institute.

Later, when a 5-acre parcel on the coast just north of Esalen became available, Jim Simkin built a striking home on the property and started his own residential training institute there in 1969.

Jim Simkin's style was more methodical and less flashy than Perls' as could be inferred from his training program.

Jim Simkin brought in world-famous trainers for two-day stints during the training month, so as to expose his trainees to different styles of doing Gestalt Therapy, and hopefully prevent them from aping his own style.

Jim Simkin worked much in the manner of Perls in that little attention was paid to group process.

Jim Simkin was a master at observing and tracking behavior, and at contriving interventions that struck to the core of his patients' issues.

Jim Simkin had a remarkable ability to find and appreciate the authentic core of his patients' personalities, and he used confrontation very effectively.

Jim Simkin walked the walk with his relentless commitment to being his own person and enabling others to find out and respect their own personhood.

Jim Simkin is one of the early Gestalt therapists who took much from Martin Buber's emphasis on the I-thou relationship.

Much sought after as a trainer, Jim Simkin's program attracted trainees from all over the world.

Jim Simkin traveled to do trainings in Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, and throughout the United States.