Miriam Polster (July 7, 1924–December 19, 2001) was a clinical psychologist who was raised in Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.
Both children had poor health as Adam had cerebral palsy and Sarah died from colon cancer in July 2001.
[1][4] Her husband, Erving Polster, was among the founding faculty members, and his involvement in workshops that trained individuals in new Gestalt therapeutic techniques piqued her interest in psychology.
[1] Polster went back to school and received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Case Western Reserve University in 1967.
[2] Gestalt therapy is an experiential and humanistic approach that aims to develop self-knowledge, acceptance, and growth.
[5] One aspect of therapy is establishing contact with the environment and self through our sensory organs which is essential to healthy development.
[1] The novel emphasizes women's abilities to be heroes in a world that views heroism as a male dominated role.
The novel points out that in a sense, Eve leads a wave of women making their own decisions on how they live; because of her choice to not follow an unrationalized command.
[8] From the Radical Center: The Heart of Gestalt Therapy is a collection of essays written by Miriam and Erving Polster.
It is a collection of their selected writings that covers the history of psychotherapy touching on theoretical and practical applications.
The novel first sets the stage by describing the principles of Gestalt therapy, illustrating the application and transformation of the theories.
[10] Miriam and Erving Polster founded the Gestalt Training Centre in San Diego, California.