Gestalt Therapy Overview
Definition:
Gestalt Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that emphasizes self-awareness and the
present moment. It is rooted in humanistic psychology, focusing on personal
responsibility and the individual's experience in the "here and now."
Founders:
Gestalt Therapy was developed by Fritz Perls, Laura Perls, and Paul Goodman in
the 1940s. It integrates theories from existentialism, phenomenology, and Gestalt
psychology.
Core Principles:
1. Awareness: Central to Gestalt Therapy, awareness involves recognizing one's
thoughts, feelings, and actions in the present moment.
2. Holism:
- This approach views individuals as integrated wholes, where thoughts, feelings,
and behaviors are interconnected.
- Gestalt Therapy is rooted in holistically understanding the individual; firstly, at
the level of unification of the mind, of thought, of emotion, and of action, and
secondly, of that of the individual and the environment.
- Gestalt is a humanistic psychology that does not follow any reductionism in terms
of isolating the individual’s experiences from their environment, or of the duality
of body and mind.
3. Responsibility: Gestalt Therapy encourages clients to take ownership of their
experiences and actions, promoting self-responsibility.
4. Here and Now Focus: It emphasizes experiencing the present moment fully,
rather than focusing on past or future concerns. The idea is to accept all parts of
yourself, whether you see them as good or bad, and to work through things that
might be blocking your personal growth. By paying attention to what you feel and
think right now, you can better understand yourself and make positive changes.
- If it is in the present, it can be dealt with and gives us choices, rather than leaving
us helpless.
5. “I” is used, to take responsibility for emotions, feelings, thoughts, actions, etc.
This technique helps you focus on your own actions and feelings and take
responsibility for them, rather than blaming others.
Core Concepts of Gestalt Therapy
1. Phenomenological Approach:
- Gestalt Therapy is based on a phenomenological approach that focuses on the
client's subjective experience rather than interpreting it from an outside
perspective. The therapist helps clients become more aware of their sensory
experiences, emotions, and thoughts as they occur.
2. Figure-Ground:
This concept suggests that awareness shifts between what is in the foreground
(figure) and what is in the background (ground) of one’s awareness. Understanding
this shifting dynamic can help clients see which aspects of their experiences they
prioritize and which they may ignore or suppress.
The figure is whatever we are paying attention to, while the ground is whatever is
happening in the background. Healthy functioning is the ability to attend flexibly
to the figure that is most important at the time (O’Leary, 2013).
3. Contact and Withdrawal: (contact boundaries)
Contact refers to the process of connecting with self, others, and the
environment. Withdrawal is stepping back or disconnecting. A healthy balance
between contact and withdrawal is necessary for psychological well-being.
4. Unfinished Business:
Unprocessed emotions, such as grief, anger, or shame, can create unresolved
internal conflicts. These emotions can impact present-day behavior, as they often
linger in the background until addressed.
5. Polarities:
Polarities refer to the conflicting aspects within a person, such as independence
versus dependence or assertiveness versus passivity. Gestalt Therapy aims to
integrate these polarities to achieve inner harmony.
6. Being True to Yourself: (paradoxical theory of change)
- Gestalt Therapy holds a "paradoxical" view of change, meaning that you can only
truly change when you are fully yourself. The more you try to be someone you're
not, the more you stay stuck. Embracing who you are, instead of aiming for some
ideal, is what brings real change.
- This is rooted in the essential purpose for which many people come to
therapy; to bridge the disconnect between divergent parts of the self. When
an individual is shuttling between what they should be and what they think,
the ‘intra-psychic war’ will not let them be at ease.
- Gestalt Therapy’s approach to change allows the client to be who they are
without trying to change, and the belief is that in doing so, they become the
change they want to be from within.
Techniques in Gestalt Therapy
1. Empty Chair Technique:
Clients sit facing an empty chair and imagine someone or a part of themselves in
that chair. They then engage in a dialogue, expressing thoughts and feelings as if
they were talking directly to the person or part of themselves. This technique helps
clients explore and resolve internal conflicts.
2. Exaggeration Exercise:
Clients are encouraged to exaggerate specific behaviors or gestures to increase
their awareness of how they express themselves. For example, if a client habitually
taps their foot, they may be asked to exaggerate this action to explore underlying
emotions.
3. Role-Playing:
In role-playing, clients take on roles to explore different perspectives or practice
behaviors. This technique is useful for working through relationship issues or
rehearsing assertiveness.
4. Top Dog/Underdog Technique:
This exercise involves identifying and engaging with the "top dog" (critical or
demanding part of self) and the "underdog" (passive or resistant part). The
interaction between these two parts helps uncover internal conflicts and promotes
self-acceptance.
5. Staying with the Feeling:
Instead of avoiding uncomfortable emotions, clients are encouraged to stay with
the feeling and fully experience it. This technique helps clients process and release
suppressed emotions.
6. Body Awareness:
Gestalt Therapy emphasizes awareness of body language and physical
sensations. Therapists may ask clients to pay attention to their posture, breathing,
or physical sensations during sessions. This focus on bodily experience helps
clients become more aware of how they carry emotional tension in their bodies.
Conclusion
Gestalt Therapy is a powerful therapeutic approach that emphasizes self-
awareness, personal responsibility, and the importance of living in the present
moment. By focusing on the "here and now" and exploring unfinished business,
clients can develop greater self-understanding and resolve internal conflicts.
• Therapists should focus on the “what” & “how” of a person without asking the
“why” questions. This is to promote an awareness of the moment Questions such
as “What is happening now?” or “What are you feeling in this moment?” are used
to intensify the experience of the present & create awareness “Why” questions lead
only toward rationalizations and “self-deception” away from the immediacy of the
moment
