PsyGames · Gestalt Games

CONTACT

a game about what gets in the way of being here and now

A board game that helps players recognise the mechanisms of contact interruption — the unconscious ways we avoid meeting reality, ourselves and each other. Grounded in Gestalt therapy.

18+ 4–6 players 90–120 minutes Learning or Dynamic mode
Online version in testing · free for a limited time

Ten mechanisms

Confluence
Merging — the boundary between “I” and “other” blurs.
Introjection
Swallowing without digesting — someone else’s rules taken in whole.
Projection
Attributing outward — what is mine appears to come from “them”.
Retroflection
Turning back on oneself — energy meant for the world returns inward.
Deflection
Going around direct contact — reaching the goal by a side road.
Proflexion
Doing for another what I want to receive myself.
Egotism
Overgrown control — the inner observer never lets go.
Devalidation
Devaluing — the experience happened but cannot be owned.

How to play

  1. 1Roll the die and move your token that many cells forward along the spiral of 60 cells.
  2. 2The colour of the cell chooses the deck. Cells 1–15: U1. Cells 16–30: U1 or U2. Cells 31–50: U2 or U3. Cells 51–60: scenarios for specialists.
  3. 3The active player carries out the task. Everyone then places a bet on the mechanism they think is at work.
  4. 4When all bets are placed, the answer card is revealed and points are awarded by the scoring table.
  5. 5The game ends when every player has travelled the whole spiral.
  6. 6The winner is the player with the most point tokens.

In the box

  • Game board — a spiral of 60 cells
  • Betting board
  • 70 U1 cards, 50 U2 cards, 30 U3 cards
  • 30 specialist scenario cards
  • Answer cards — a separate deck
  • 10 mechanism reference cards
  • Tokens — two per player: one to move, one to bet
  • Point tokens
  • One standard die

Before you begin

Confidentiality
Everything said stays in this room.
Your choice
A personal story (U3) can be skipped without explanation — it is always a choice.
No judgment
We do not interpret or judge each other’s personal stories.
Pause anytime
If something becomes too intense, anyone can take a pause.

Play it

In testing · free for a limited time
Online version

Play the digital version in your browser, solo or with the group — nothing to install.

Play online now
Pre-order
Printed box

For training groups, therapy students, practising specialists and anyone curious about how we meet — and avoid — each other.

[PRICE] GEL · [AVAILABILITY]

Order the box
Ordering for a team, a school or a training group? Write to us about group orders.
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