Gunther Schmidt

Gunther Schmidt is a physician, an economist (Dipl.-rer.-pol.) and a specialist in psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy. He co-founded the Heidelberg Institute for Systemic Research and Consulting, the International Society for Systemic Therapy (IGST), the Helm Stierlin Institute in Heidelberg and the German Federal Association for Coaching (DBVC). His professional roles included serving as medical director of the sysTelios private clinic for psychotherapy and psychosomatic health development and heading the Milton Erickson Institute in Heidelberg. Schmidt developed the hypnosystemic approach, which combines systemic models with concepts from Ericksonian hypnotherapy. In 2011, he received the Life Achievement Award of the German continuing-education sector.