Maria Gomori
Encyclopedia
Maria Gomori, M.S.W., Dip.C., Ph.D., (born May 25, 1920) is a pioneer in the field of systems family therapy
. She has a long and disciplined background, and has made significant contributions to the fields of psychiatric and social work
training, having designed numerous successful training programs. She is the foremost living proponent of the Satir Method for Family Therapy in the world. In 2004, she was named "Woman of Distinction" for the field of Health and Wellness by the City of Winnipeg
. In the same year Winnipeg's Saint Boniface Hospital Research Centre established a lectureship in her name to honour her long and varied contributions to the health system and the people who use it.
, an Economics degree in her native Budapest
, an M.S.W. at the University of Manitoba
, Dip.C. from the Haven Institute
and Ph.D. from the Open International University. Dr. Gomori developed the family therapy training program for the residents in psychiatry at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, MB, and was the Coordinator and Director of the Social Work Department at this hospital for 14 years. Since her retirement, she has continued to lecture and offer seminars and workshops around the world, teaching annually in China
and Taiwan
and North America, even at the age of 88. She has collaborated with Bennet Wong
and Jock McKeen
for over thirty years, and is an Emeritus Faculty of the Haven Institute
.
Her life story is one of courage. After enduring the Nazi incursion into her native Budapest in the 1940s, she completed her education and rose quickly in the Hungarian government's department of Economics. She fled Hungary in 1956 in the midst of the Hungarian Revolution, and emerged in the free world without money or possessions with her husband and young son. They moved to Winnipeg
, Canada, where she studied social work. Her life focus has been on freedom. She has received numerous honours and citations.
Gomori is a family therapist in private practice, and a retired Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba
's Faculty of Medicine. Gomori also is a Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor with AAMFT, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. She worked intensively with Virginia Satir
for over 20 years and has been a faculty member and advanced trainer in Satir's Avanta International Training Organization since 1981. Dr. Gomori is also a certified practitioner and Master Programmer in Neuro-linguistic programming
.
's approach with her learnings from many other great teachers combined with her own experiences in living.
Family therapy
Family therapy, also referred to as couple and family therapy, family systems therapy, and family counseling, is a branch of psychotherapy that works with families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change and development. It tends to view change in terms of the systems of...
. She has a long and disciplined background, and has made significant contributions to the fields of psychiatric and social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
training, having designed numerous successful training programs. She is the foremost living proponent of the Satir Method for Family Therapy in the world. In 2004, she was named "Woman of Distinction" for the field of Health and Wellness by the City of Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. In the same year Winnipeg's Saint Boniface Hospital Research Centre established a lectureship in her name to honour her long and varied contributions to the health system and the people who use it.
Life and career
She earned a B.A. at the SorbonneSorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
, an Economics degree in her native Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, an M.S.W. at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
, Dip.C. from the Haven Institute
Haven Institute
The Haven Institute is a residential learning centre situated in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia on the west coast of Canada. Founded by Jock McKeen and Bennet Wong, the centre offers courses for personal and professional purposes, including a program for students aspiring to achieve a...
and Ph.D. from the Open International University. Dr. Gomori developed the family therapy training program for the residents in psychiatry at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, MB, and was the Coordinator and Director of the Social Work Department at this hospital for 14 years. Since her retirement, she has continued to lecture and offer seminars and workshops around the world, teaching annually in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and North America, even at the age of 88. She has collaborated with Bennet Wong
Bennet Wong
Bennet Randall Wong , is a Canadian psychiatrist, author and lecturer who co-founded the Haven Institute, a residential experiential learning centre on the west coast of Canada, with Jock McKeen. He has written on mental illness, group psychotherapy, humanistic psychology and personal growth.-...
and Jock McKeen
Jock McKeen
Jock McKeen , is a Canadian physician,acupuncturist, author and lecturer who co-founded the Haven Institute with Bennet Wong. He has written on East-West medicine, alternative medicine, holistic health, Asian studies and personal growth.-Education:McKeen received his M.D...
for over thirty years, and is an Emeritus Faculty of the Haven Institute
Haven Institute
The Haven Institute is a residential learning centre situated in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia on the west coast of Canada. Founded by Jock McKeen and Bennet Wong, the centre offers courses for personal and professional purposes, including a program for students aspiring to achieve a...
.
Her life story is one of courage. After enduring the Nazi incursion into her native Budapest in the 1940s, she completed her education and rose quickly in the Hungarian government's department of Economics. She fled Hungary in 1956 in the midst of the Hungarian Revolution, and emerged in the free world without money or possessions with her husband and young son. They moved to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Canada, where she studied social work. Her life focus has been on freedom. She has received numerous honours and citations.
Gomori is a family therapist in private practice, and a retired Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
's Faculty of Medicine. Gomori also is a Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor with AAMFT, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. She worked intensively with Virginia Satir
Virginia Satir
Virginia Satir was an American author and psychotherapist, known especially for her approach to family therapy and her work with Systemic Constellations...
for over 20 years and has been a faculty member and advanced trainer in Satir's Avanta International Training Organization since 1981. Dr. Gomori is also a certified practitioner and Master Programmer in Neuro-linguistic programming
Neuro-linguistic programming
Neuro-linguistic programming is an approach to psychotherapy, self-help and organizational change. Founders Richard Bandler and John Grinder say that NLP is a model of interpersonal communication and a system of alternative therapy which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective...
.
Contributions
Maria Gomori has established an international reputation as a workshop leader, teaching, demonstrating and applying her interpretation of the Satir model. She has conducted workshops throughout Canada, the United States, Europe, South America, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and Australia. She co-authored with Virginia Satir et al. The Satir Approach to Communication and The Satir Model: Family Therapy and Beyond; the latter book was chosen by the AAMFT Foundation for the 1994 Satir Education and Research Prize. Gomori has worked tirelessly in her international lectures and seminars; she been instrumental in establishing Satir Institutes in Winnipeg, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Australia, and is in great demand internationally for her workshops and training programs. She has a unique creative way of integrating Virginia SatirVirginia Satir
Virginia Satir was an American author and psychotherapist, known especially for her approach to family therapy and her work with Systemic Constellations...
's approach with her learnings from many other great teachers combined with her own experiences in living.
Publications
- Gomori, Maria and Adaskin, Eleanor. "Desperately Seeking French Fries: A Case Example of Satir's Family Sculpting", Issaquah, WA: Anchor Point,March 1993, pp. 11–16.
- Gomori, Maria, Baldwin, M., Gerber, J. and Schwab, J. (1990). The Satir Approach to Communication, Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books. ISBN
- Satir, Virginia; Banmen, John; Gerber, Jane; & Gomori, Maria. (1991). The Satir Model, Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books. ISBN 8314-0078-1
- Gomori, Maria. "Integrating Satir and PD Concepts", Gabriola Island, BC: Shen, Issue #22, Fall 1998.
- Gomori, Maria and Adaskin, Eleanor. (2000). "Finding Freedom, a chapter in Virginia Satir: Her Life and Circle of Influence,Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books. ISBN 8314-0078-0
- Gomori, Maria. (2001). Meeting the Self: A Family Reconstruction (5 Videos), Taipei, Taiwan: Shiuh Li Liuh Foundation.
- Gomori, Maria. (2002). Passion For Freedom, Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books. ISBN 0-8314-0090-0
- Gomori, Maria. (2004). Passion For Freedom (Chinese Translation), Taipei, Taiwan: Living Psychology Publishers. ISBN 957-693-581-4
- Gomori, Maria, with Adaskin, E. (2008). Personal Alchemy: The Art of Satir Family Reconstruction, Hong Kong: Satir Center for Human Development. ISBN 978-988-17869-1-3