When Ursula Fausett, the founder of the Gestalt Centre, became seriously ill, Peggy Sherno and Judith Leary-Tanner who were trainers in the programme took over. Both were inexperienced but with courageous determination kept the Centre running. This was the hallmark of Peggy, loyalty and commitment with a willingness to take on challenges she believed in. She was quiet and self-effacing in her manner believing in the good of others and seeing their potential while being modest about her own achievements.
I joined the Gestalt Centre in those early days to support Peggy and Judith then took over as Managing Director when Judith stepped back. Peggy was my close friend and colleague for 12 years building GCL together through the many daunting difficulties we faced together.
As I read of Peggy’s death a part of me is not surprised that she had a quiet family, unfussy funeral service as she was such an unassuming and private person. And then there is another part of me that wants Peggy to be recognised and acknowledged for being very central to the foundation of the Gestalt Centre, London, and for her very solid and immense contribution over so many years to both the Gestalt Centre and the wider Gestalt therapy community in the UK.
Like many who have either gone before me or been my peers, I would ask Peggy to write about her many experiences that enriched her thinking as she guided so many of us either as trainees, clients or supervisees. I remember how, at the thought of writing, she would shake her head, and then with her smile lighting up the room would say something about being there at the beginning of Gestalt in the UK, and her integration of Gestalt therapy and Buddhist psychology.
Peggy is, and always will be, important to me in my own development both as a therapist and the person I am today. I remember first meeting her in 1995 and my first impression of her was of a very vibrant and alive woman who guided a group through their first introduction to Gestalt with immense skill. At the 5-day residential, I remember her well, her inciteful process comments and her rigour, as well as her humanity and compassion. How holding she was of me and our group.
I met with her weekly as my supervisor and throughout that time she nurtured me, and held/contained me throughout the years in my anxiety of ‘will I be good enough?’ I remember how she stood alongside me with compassion and care until I heard my results and we both laughed and cried together as we celebrated. Our work together continued until she retired from the Gestalt Centre with some health problems.
Throughout my years as a Gestalt psychotherapist and then supervisor I have held Peggy in mind. She is still often ‘on my shoulder’ as I work with clients to be more present based and to use my own phenomenology. And of course, she was ever with me when I taught on/facilitated a Certificate Course at the Gestalt Centre for so many years.
On a more personal note, I have treasured being in touch with Peggy over the years. Peggy, I first met you in 1995 and it feels as though I have known you for a lifetime. I will treasure forever your generosity of spirit, your warmth, your huge compassion and your inner strength. And your huge commitment to the Gestalt Centre. Your passing is a huge loss to the Gestalt community.
I first met Peggy in 1983 and in the very early days of the Gestalt Centre. She was my trainer for a time and then later a colleague at the Centre. I remember many residentials working together and along with colleagues playing together as well. I always appreciated her quiet clarity when reflecting on work particularly remaining very gestalt in her work and thinking. Later she became a friend and at times she has been really helpful for me in tackling difficult issues. For a long time she has been an important quiet presence in my life and I will miss her greatly.
I am so very sad to hear of Peggy’s death. I felt very close to Peggy. I met her first in February 1995 – exactly thirty years ago, in Bournemouth, at the 5-days “residential” organised annually by the Gestalt Centre, London for all its faculty and trainees. I had also a good luck of having her as my year tutor during the psychotherapy training at the Centre. After my graduation, Peggy was my individual supervisor for over 14 years until 2021, when her health deteriorated. Her unending quiet and untroubled support was pivotal in making me, who I am now as a therapist and as a person. Last time I heard from her was just over a month ago when she sent me a lovely note congratulating my husband and I on buying a new house and moving to Bedford. I was delighted and touched by her need to share in our joy despite being very frail and evidently suffering at that point. I will cherish her generosity for ever.
Thoughtful and kind, rigorous and challenging, sometimes funny, always compassionate, Peggy was never fluffy but authentic, and most of all constant; she loved nature and outdoors.
Peggy was an unassuming and private person, and I don't want her significant contribution to go unacknowledged, even if as I imagine she could cringe at the thought of being celebrated. Over the years, I have begged her to put down on paper her rich experience and thinking, her unique integration of gestalt therapy and Buddhist psychology and practice, or publishing her own memoirs, especially as she was there at the very beginning of Gestalt therapy in the UK. I wasn’t the only one who wanted her to write, but she resisted all the pleas and encouragement and so it’s left now to us, her friends and colleagues, and people she taught and supervised to acknowledge Peggy’s vital role and contribution to gestalt therapy, our profession and personally. RIP
I learned so much from you, dearest Peggy, about everything. Your kindness, compassion and ability to smell bullshit (especially mine) helped me to find myself and become who I truly am. You made a real difference to the world. It was such a better place for having you in it. Go well, dear Peggy,
Peggy was my therapist in 2007 when my son died. She was a great support to me and held me during a time of unbearable sadness. I’m so sorry. Peggy was a bright light in a dark world.
"What a shock - Peggy was so much part of the Centre, my last memory of her was at Old Street and her limping awaiting hip replacement. I can identify with that as I've had both hips replaced. She impacted on my training in many ways, helped with my growth as a Gestaltist and at times we were in conflict as being with a feisty black woman I was not always prepared for how I responded to her privileged perception or omission of black people. .... And she grew and changed so conversations with her became fruitful, more trusting and with much awareness of our differences and similarities. I am so sorry for your loss and that of the Gestalt centre - as a founding member I and many others have much to be thankful for.
I was privileged to train under Peggy Sherno at the Gestalt centre back in 1999. Peggy helped shape my career and my life and made me the therapist I am today. She will be deeply missed but her legacy will live on through all the lives she has touched. Thank you!
I was so sorry to hear of Peggy’s death. I have such fond memories of Peggy and will always be grateful to have had her as one of my tutors, I truly valued her knowledge and support. Thank you, Peggy!
Peggy Sherno was the first tutor at The Gestalt Centre that I met – year or so before I started the counselling foundation course there. Peggy was giving a gracious graduation speech in the basement at Bunhill Row – I think in honour of Clare Crombie who was gaining her licence to practice psychotherapy. Peggy’s warmth, intelligence and wit were captivating – and filled me with a desire to train at GCL with the prospect of learning from her. I hardly saw or knew of her beyond the time of my training, save for her presence at some of our residentials. She was indeed unassuming and modest though I had the sense of her delight in authentic communication. As a trainer she seemed to work with a light touch whilst remaining both compassionate and a realist. So sad to learn of her passing.
Peggy was a Founder of the Gestalt Centre, shaping and leading it with John and Judith to become such a well-respected organisation. So many trainees will have passed through her hands either as tutor, therapist or supervisor. She was a beautiful soul, kind, insightful and utterly committed to her roles within the Gestalt Centre. Her modesty would sometimes prevent her from seeing how much she was loved by those who came into her orbit. Her health deteriorated rather rapidly which meant her retirement was somewhat secluded from others. I will remember much about her especially the times when we laughed like rebellious adolescents till we cried.
Peggy interviewed me for the psychotherapy training, and I learned from her firm but fair policy. She was also my supervisor for over 15 years until her retirement from practice in 2021. Clearly, she had great patience and faith in the process. My enduring memories are the cups of tea, admiring her garden and the roaring log fire on those winter days which echoed Peggy’s welcome and human touch.
I was aware of Peggy’s presence in the local community, and she was the co-founder of Hitchin counselling service (HCS), which offers a free service, open to all, and in fact some of our students have benefited from placements there. I joined HCS as a Gestalt supervisor. Thanks, Peggy, for the recommendation, your time and energy.
I first met Peggy in late 2000 when I was employed by the Gestalt Centre as the Centre Coordinator. She was very supportive of me, taking time to give me much helpful guidance in her calm way, alleviating the anxiety of the “new girl”.
I continued to use the words of wisdom she gave me throughout the next 22 years of working at the Centre, and indeed still do so now that I have moved on. It was she who, when I was struggling to explain to a new enquirer that psychotherapy training cannot be “fast-tracked”, gave me the invaluable phrase, “We are not teaching people how to do something, we are teaching them how to be something”. So simple and yet the most effective explanation that always gave potential students a very real understanding of what they would be embarking on more readily than all the detailed information about the training that was provided. Peggy imparted a sense of calm to her students and colleagues alike and was hugely valued by all. I witnessed so many of those lucky enough to be her supervisees grow and develop a confidence in their practise because of her straightforward, uncomplicated support and supervision.
She was sorely missed after her retirement and her passing has left an unfillable hole for all who knew her. I cherish her generosity of spirit and, for me, particularly the help and support she gave me when I first started working for the Gestalt Centre. I have carried her words of wisdom with me ever since. I doubt she ever truly realized what an inspiration she was to so many. With my love at this time of sadness and grief
