Counseling Theories – Week 7: June 27, 2023

(Gestalt Therapy (Fritz Perls, Laura Perls & Paul Goodman)

Gestalt therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the present moment and emphasizes
the integration of mind, body, and emotions. It emphasizes personal responsibility and self-
awareness, aiming to help individuals gain insight into their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors by
exploring their immediate experiences and patterns of relating to others. This therapeutic
approach encourages clients to become more aware of their internal processes and to take
ownership of their choices and actions, ultimately fostering personal growth and self-acceptance.

Gestalt therapy focuses on the present moment, combining the mind, body, and emotions for
self-understanding. It emphasizes personal responsibility and self-awareness. By exploring
immediate experiences and relationships, it helps clients gain insight into their thoughts, feelings,
and behaviors.

The aim is to become more aware of internal processes and take control of decisions, leading to
personal growth and self-acceptance.

Principles of Gestalt Therapy

1. Holism – Gestalt therapy emphasizes wholeness and interconnectedness. It views nature

and individuals as unified wholes, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In
therapy, all aspects of a person, including thoughts, feelings, behaviors, body, memories,
and dreams, are considered important and interconnected.

Gestalt therapy focuses on the idea that everything within us is connected and forms a complete
picture. It sees nature and individuals as unified entities where the whole is more valuable than
the individual parts. In therapy, all aspects of a person, such as thoughts, emotions, behaviors,
body sensations, memories, and dreams, are seen as significant and interconnected. This means
that understanding and addressing all these aspects is important for personal growth and well-
being.

2. Field Theory – Gestalt therapy is rooted in field theory, which states that the individual
must be understood within their environment or context, as part of an ever-changing field.
Gestalt therapists focus on and explore what happens at the boundary between the person
and their surroundings. They may emphasize the "figure," which represents the most
prominent aspects of the individual's experience in a given moment, or the "ground,"
which refers to the aspects of the client's presentation that may be outside of their
awareness. These background cues can be observed through physical gestures, tone of
voice, demeanor, and other nonverbal expressions. Gestalt counselors refer to this as
"attending to the obvious," while also paying attention to how the various parts come
together, how the individual connects with their environment, and the process of
integration.
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Field Theory in Gestalt therapy means that individuals are understood in relation to their
environment and the context they are in. Gestalt therapists focus on the interaction between the
person and their surroundings, paying attention to what happens at the boundary between the
two.

They may emphasize the most prominent aspects of the person's experience, called the "figure,"
or the aspects that are not fully conscious, called the "ground." Nonverbal cues like gestures,
tone of voice, and demeanor provide clues about the background. Gestalt therapists observe these
cues while also considering how different parts fit together, how the person connects with their
environment, and the process of integration.

3. Figure-Formation Process – The concept of the figure-formation process in Gestalt

therapy is derived from the study of visual perception conducted by Gestalt
psychologists. It explores how individuals organize their experiences as certain aspects of
their environment emerge from the background and capture their attention and interest.
Imagine observing a woman on a distant hill. Initially, you may not see her clearly, but
you perceive an overall impression or "Gestalt" of her presence. As you approach her,
your awareness of her increases, and you begin to notice more details, such as her face
and how she buttons her blouse. In contemporary Gestalt therapy, therapists help clients
navigate their movement towards or away from these figures of interest. This process is
influenced by the individual's dominant needs in a given moment.

The figure-formation process in Gestalt therapy is based on how we perceive and organize our
experiences. It comes from the study of visual perception. It explores how certain things in our
environment catch our attention and interest. For example, imagine seeing a woman on a hill
from a distance. You might not see her clearly, but you have an overall sense of her presence. As
you get closer, you start noticing more details, like her face and how she buttons her blouse. In
therapy, Gestalt therapists help clients navigate their focus on these important aspects. The
process is influenced by what the individual needs at that moment.

4. Organismic Self-Regulation – The figure-formation process in Gestalt therapy is

closely connected to the principle of organismic self-regulation, which involves the
maintenance of balance being disrupted by the emergence of a need, sensation, or
interest. Organisms naturally strive to regulate themselves using their own capabilities
and the resources available in their environment. In order to restore equilibrium or foster
growth and change, individuals can take actions and establish connections. In therapy, the
focus is on what is of interest to the client or what they need to regain balance or initiate
transformation. Gestalt counselors direct the client's attention to the figures that arise
from the background during a therapy session and use the figure-formation process as a
guide for the therapeutic work's focus.

In Gestalt therapy, the figure-formation process is closely linked to how our bodies naturally
strive to maintain balance. When a need, sensation, or interest emerges, it disrupts this balance.
Organisms, including humans, have an inherent drive to regulate themselves using their own
 Counseling Theories – Week 7: June 27, 2023

abilities and the resources around them. To restore balance or promote personal growth,
individuals can take action and form connections.

During therapy, the therapist pays attention to what is important to the client and what they need
to find balance or make positive changes. They guide the client's focus towards the prominent
aspects that arise during the session. This process, called figure-formation, helps to direct the
therapeutic work and address the client's specific concerns.

FOR EXAMPLE
Imagine a person feeling overwhelmed and stressed at work. They may notice a need for
relaxation and self-care to restore balance. This need disrupts their current state of balance. In
response, they decide to take action by scheduling regular breaks, engaging in relaxation
techniques, and seeking social support. By addressing their need for relaxation and self-care,
they regain a sense of balance and well-being in their work life. In Gestalt therapy, the therapist
would help the client explore and understand these needs, guiding them towards finding effective
ways to restore balance and promote personal growth.

Contact and Resistances to Contact

Contact – In Gestalt therapy, contact is vital for personal growth and involves actively
engaging with the world through our senses and movement (seeing, hearing, smelling,
touching, and moving). It requires awareness, energy, and expression. The therapist-client
connection is important. Contact helps us adapt and be creative, and there are different levels
of it. Gestalt counselors address obstacles to contact, which can prevent genuine experiences.
These obstacles, called "contact boundary phenomena," have positive and negative aspects.
Polster and Polster identified five types of such obstacles: introjection, projection,
retroflection, deflection, and confluence. You will see that these concepts are the same or
closely resembles the EGOs defense mechanisms posited by Freud.

Gestalt therapy emphasizes the importance of contact, which involves actively engaging with
the world through our senses and movement. It requires awareness, energy, and expression.
The therapist-client connection is significant in this process. Contact helps us adapt, be
creative, and experience genuine interactions. However, there can be obstacles known as
"contact boundary phenomena," which have both positive and negative aspects. Gestalt
therapists address these obstacles to promote authentic contact and meaningful experiences.
Some of these OBSTACLES are:

1. Introjection – is the tendency to uncritically accept others’ beliefs and standards

without assimilating them to make them congruent with who we are. These introjects
remain alien to us because we have not analyzed and restructured them. When we
introject, we passively incorporate what the environment provides rather than clearly
 Counseling Theories – Week 7: June 27, 2023

identifying what we want or need. If we remain in this stage, our energy is bound up
in taking things as we find them and believing that authorities know what is best for
us rather than working for things ourselves.
Introjection refers to the tendency of accepting other people's beliefs and standards
without critically examining them or integrating them into our own sense of self.

By introjecting, we rely on external sources to dictate what is best for us instead of

asserting our own independence and actively working towards our goals. This can
result in a loss of personal energy as we accept things as they are without questioning
or pursuing our own desires.

EXAMPLE
Imagine a person named Alex who has always been told by his friends that they are
not good enough to pursue their dreams of becoming a musician. Without questioning
these beliefs, Alex internalizes them and never explores his musical talents or pursues
a career in music. His energy becomes consumed by accepting others' views instead
of working towards his own aspirations.

2. Projection – is the reverse of introjection. In projection we disown certain aspects of

ourselves by assigning them to the environment. Those attributes of our personality
that are inconsistent with our self-image are disowned and put onto, assigned to, and
seen in other people; thus, blaming others for lots of our problems. By seeing in
others, the very qualities that we refuse to acknowledge in ourselves, we avoid taking
responsibility for our own feelings and the person who we are, and this keeps us
powerless to initiate change. People who use projection as a pattern tend to feel that
they are victims of circumstances, and they believe that people have hidden meanings
behind what they say.

Remember we did this before right? So, what this is saying is – Projection is when we
attribute certain qualities or traits that we don't accept in ourselves to other people or
the environment. Instead of acknowledging these aspects within ourselves, we
"project" them onto others. For example, if someone is constantly accusing others of
being dishonest, it may be because they struggle to accept their own tendency to be
dishonest.

By projecting onto others, we avoid taking responsibility for our own feelings and
behaviors. This can make us feel powerless and prevent us from making positive
changes in our lives. People who frequently use projection may see themselves as
victims of circumstances and believe that others have hidden intentions or meanings
behind their words.

Simply put, projection is like blaming others for the things we don't like about
ourselves. Instead of facing and addressing those qualities, we push them away and
see them in others. This keeps us from taking control of our own lives and making
meaningful changes.
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3. Retroflection – consists of turning back onto ourselves, what we would like to do to

someone else or doing to ourselves, what we would like someone else to do to or for
us. This process is principally an interruption of the action phase in the cycle of
experience and typically involves a fair amount of anxiety. People who rely on
retroflection tend to inhibit themselves from taking action out of fear of
embarrassment, guilt, and resentment. People who self-mutilate or who injure
themselves, for example, are often directing aggression inward out of fear of directing
it toward others. Depression and psychosomatic complaints are often created by
retroflecting. Typically, these maladaptive styles of functioning are adopted outside of
our awareness; part of the process of Gestalt therapy is to help us discover a self-
regulatory system so that we can deal realistically with the world.

Retroflection in Gestalt therapy refers to turning back our actions or intentions onto
ourselves. It can involve holding back from expressing our desires towards others or
doing things to ourselves that we would want someone else to do for us. This process
interrupts the natural flow of experiencing and often generates anxiety.

For example, imagine a person who has a strong desire to confront their friend about
an issue but instead keeps the frustration to themselves. They retroflect by
suppressing their feelings and not expressing their needs directly to their friend. This
can lead to feelings of resentment, guilt, and inhibition.

In extreme cases, retroflection can manifest as self-harm or self-destructive behaviors,

where individuals direct their aggression inward to avoid directing it towards others.
This can contribute to conditions like depression and psychosomatic complaints.

Gestalt therapy aims to bring awareness to these maladaptive patterns and help
individuals develop a self-regulatory system. By understanding and addressing
retroflection, individuals can engage more realistically with the world and express
their needs and desires in a healthier manner.

4. Deflection – is the process of distraction or veering off, so that it is difficult to

maintain a sustained sense of contact. We attempt to diffuse or defuse contact through
the overuse of humor, abstract generalizations, and questions rather than statements
(Frew, 1986). When we deflect, we speak through and for others, beating around the
bush rather than being direct and engaging the environment in an inconsistent and
inconsequential basis, which results in emotional depletion.

Deflection in Gestalt therapy refers to the act of avoiding or diverting meaningful

contact. It occurs when we use humor, vague statements, or questions instead of
direct communication. For example, if someone asks us about our feelings, and
instead of expressing them honestly, we make a joke or give a general response.
Deflection prevents us from fully engaging with others and the environment, leading
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to emotional exhaustion.

An example of deflection could be when a person is asked about their opinion on a

serious matter, and they respond with a lighthearted joke to avoid expressing their
true thoughts and feelings. By deflecting, they avoid genuine contact and fail to
engage in meaningful communication. This can hinder the development of deeper
connections and hinder personal growth.

5. Confluence – involves blurring the differentiation between the self and the
environment. As we strive to blend in and get along with everyone, there is no clear
demarcation between internal experience and outer reality. Confluence in
relationships involves the absence of conflicts, slowness to anger, and a belief that all
parties experience the same feelings and thoughts we do. This style of contact is
characteristic of clients who have a high need to be accepted and liked, thus finding
enmeshment comfortable. This condition makes genuine contact extremely difficult.

Confluence in Gestalt therapy refers to a blurring of boundaries between oneself and

the environment. It involves a tendency to merge with others, seeking acceptance and
avoiding conflicts. This can make it challenging to establish genuine connections.
Here's a simple example:

Imagine a person who always agrees with others to avoid disagreements or

confrontations. They constantly try to please everyone and rarely express their own
opinions or desires. They may believe that everyone feels the same way they do,
assuming that others share their thoughts and emotions. This person finds comfort in
blending in and being liked by others, but it can hinder their ability to establish
authentic connections and express their true selves.

A counselor might assist clients who use this channel of resistance by asking
questions such as:
 “What are you doing now?”
 “What are you experiencing at this moment?”
 “What do you want right now?”
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Unfinished Business

When things emerge from the background but remain unresolved, individuals experience
unfinished business, which can manifest as unexpressed emotions such as resentment, rage, pain,
anxiety, and guilt. These unacknowledged feelings create emotional clutter that hampers present
awareness. Since these feelings are not fully processed, they persist in the background and
interfere with effective connections with oneself and others. This can lead to preoccupation,
compulsive behavior, and self-defeating actions. To address unfinished business, individuals
must confront and deal with their unexpressed emotions. Unresolved issues often manifest as
physical blockages, and Gestalt counselors focus on exploring these bodily expressions,
believing that unexpressed feelings can manifest as physical sensations or problems.

A stuck point occurs when external support is unavailable or usual approaches are ineffective.
The therapist's role is to accompany clients through the “stuck point” without rescuing or
frustrating them. The counselor creates situations that allow clients to fully experience their state
of being stuck. By fully embracing and accepting their impasse, clients can connect with their
frustrations and accept their circumstances instead of wishing for things to be different. Gestalt
therapy is founded on the belief that individuals have an inherent drive for self-actualization and
growth. By accepting all aspects of themselves without judgment, they can begin to think, feel,
and act in new and transformative ways.

In a nutshell, Unresolved issues and unexpressed emotions can lead to unfinished business,
causing emotional disorder and hindering present awareness. Note that these feelings persist in
the background, interfering with connections to oneself and others. Gestalt therapy addresses this
by confronting and processing unexpressed emotions, which may manifest as physical
blockages.

This is where you come in to help clients navigate "stuck points" without rescuing them,
allowing them to fully experience their challenges. By accepting their circumstances and
embracing frustration, clients can foster personal growth and self-actualization. Gestalt therapy
believes in accepting all aspects of oneself to promote transformative change.

Empty Chair Technique

This is a method for the technique of role reversal, which is useful in bringing into consciousness
the fantasies of what the “other” might be thinking or feeling. Essentially, this is a role-playing
technique in which all the parts are played by the client. In this way the introjects can surface,
and the client can experience the conflict more fully. There are many applications for this
technique. One of the more important uses is to explore what another person in one’s social
network might be feeling, and what that person’s more realistic predicament might be.
 Counseling Theories – Week 7: June 27, 2023

Using two chairs, the therapist asks the client to sit in one chair and be fully the top dog and then
shift to the other chair and become the underdog. The dialogue can continue between both sides
of the client. The conflict can be resolved by the client’s acceptance and integration of both sides.
This exercise helps clients get in touch with a feeling or a side of themselves that they may be
denying; rather than merely talking about a conflicted feeling, they intensify the feeling and
experience it fully.

Further, by helping clients realize that the feeling is a very real part of themselves, the
intervention discourages clients from disassociating the feeling. The goal of this exercise is to
promote a higher level of integration between the divisions and conflicts that exist in everyone.
The aim is not to rid oneself of certain traits but to learn to accept and live with the divisions.

Role reversal is a technique used in Gestalt therapy to bring to light the thoughts and feelings of
others by having the client play all the roles. It helps surface internalized beliefs and allows the
client to experience conflicts more fully. This technique is particularly useful for exploring the
perspectives and predicaments of people in the client's social network.

The therapist guides the client to switch between chairs, embodying different roles and engaging
in dialogue. By accepting and integrating both sides of the conflict, the client can resolve it. Role
reversal intensifies emotions and encourages clients to fully experience them, promoting self-
awareness and integration. The goal is not to eliminate certain traits but to learn to accept and
live with internal divisions and conflicts.

Example of

empty chair technique

SCENARIO

Let’s imagine this scenario with Varsha. In the empty chair therapy session with Varsha, the
therapist asks her to imagine an empty chair representing her parents, specifically addressing the
issue of spanking during her childhood. Varsha is encouraged to speak directly to her parents,
expressing her thoughts, feelings, and fears related to her experiences of being spanked.

Therapist: Varsha, I'd like you to imagine that your parents are sitting in this empty chair. Take a
moment to visualize them there. Now, imagine that you can speak to them openly and honestly
about your feelings regarding the spanking you received as a child. What would you like to say
to them?

Varsha: (addressing the empty chair) Mommy, Daddy, I want you to know how much those
spankings affected me. I felt scared and helpless as a child. It made me question my worth and
 Counseling Theories – Week 7: June 27, 2023

constantly fear making mistakes. It has left me with lingering fears and insecurities as an adult. I
needed love, understanding, and guidance instead of physical punishment.

Therapist: Thank you for sharing that, Varsha. Now, let's imagine your parents responding to
what you've expressed. How do you imagine they might respond?

Varsha: (role-playing her parents) We didn't realize the impact it had on you, Varsha. We thought
we were disciplining you and teaching you right from wrong. We never wanted to harm you or
make you feel unworthy. We were following the methods we knew from our own upbringing.

Therapist: Thank you, Varsha. Now, I invite you to respond to your parents, expressing any
further thoughts or emotions that arise from their response.

Varsha: (addressing the empty chair) I understand that you did what you thought was right, but I
wish there had been a different way to teach me without resorting to physical punishment. It's
been hard for me to overcome the fear and anxiety that developed as a result. I want you to know
that I still love you, but I needed more support and understanding during those times.

Throughout the session, the therapist guides Varsha in exploring her emotions, encouraging her
to express herself fully and process her feelings related to the spanking she experienced. The
empty chair technique provides a safe space for Varsha to voice her concerns and have an
imaginary dialogue with her parents, allowing her to gain insight, release pent-up emotions, and
potentially find healing and resolution in her relationship with her parents and her own self-
perception.

Take-away: Gestalt Therapy is best used for:

1. Increasing self-awareness
2. Enhancing emotional expression
3. Developing better relationships
4. Exploring and resolving inner conflicts
5. Promoting personal growth and self-actualization

And The Technique “Empty Chair” is best used for:

1. Resolving unresolved past experiences

4 Essay questions
 Counseling Theories – Week 7: June 27, 2023

TOPICS

1. Qualities of a good counsellor

Steps in counselling (welcome, rapport etc.)

2. Psychoanalytic Therapy
Techniques: Projection, free association etc.

3. Existential Therapy
CBT etc.

4. Adler Therapy