Psychology Lab Berlin #2 — Grenzen in Beziehungen

Wird ins Deutsche übersetzt…

**Boundaries in Relationships: Where Do I End and You Begin?** For our second Psychology Lab, we’ll explore **boundaries in close relationships** through two therapeutic perspectives: **Gestalt Therapy** and **Bowen Family Systems Theory**. At the center of the discussion is the tension between: **Autonomy ←————→ Connection** **Gestalt asks:** *How do I meet you while remaining aware that you are not me?* **Bowen asks:** *How do I stay emotionally connected to you without losing my differentiated self — or cutting myself off to preserve it?* We’ll also explore how boundaries relate to our needs: **Needs = what is happening inside me.** **Boundaries = how I manage the meeting point between my needs and yours.** What happens when our needs conflict? When does closeness become enmeshment? When does autonomy become emotional distance? And are our ideas about “healthy boundaries” universal, or partly shaped by culture? ### 📚 Before the meeting Please read these two papers beforehand — **both are publicly available**: **Gestalt:** Nana Burduli — *Contact Boundaries in Love Relationships* **Bowen Family Systems:** Lampis et al. — *Differentiation of Self and Dyadic Adjustment in Couple Relationships* We’ll use them as the starting point for our discussion, so please read both. ### 🧠 Agenda 1. **Participant introductions** 2. **10–15 min introduction to the topic** — Gestalt, Bowen & boundaries in relationships 3. **Group discussion** ### About Psychology Lab Berlin Psychology Lab Berlin is a **discussion club for people interested in psychology and psychotherapy**. This is **not a self-help workshop, therapy group, or support group**. We meet to explore psychological ideas, research and different therapeutic perspectives together. You don't need to be a psychologist or therapist — just come curious, read the materials beforehand, and be ready to discuss, question and disagree. **📍 Location:** **Café Milagro** Bergmannstraße 12, Kreuzberg We’ll have our Psychology Lab discussion there in a cozy café setting. There’s no entrance/venue fee — the café asks that everyone orders at least one drink (tea, coffee, etc.) during the meetup. ☕️ 💶 Please bring some cash with you just in case, as card payment may not be available for smaller amounts.