Gestalt Therapy PDF

Gestalt Therapy Contents:  Definition of Gestalt  Introduction: Gestalt according to Fritz Perls / Laura Perls  Relational Gestalt Therapy  The main goal  Key concepts Gestalt is a German word meaning a whole or completion, or a form that cannot be separated into parts without losing its e...

Gestalt Therapy Contents:  Definition of Gestalt  Introduction: Gestalt according to Fritz Perls / Laura Perls  Relational Gestalt Therapy  The main goal  Key concepts Gestalt is a German word meaning a whole or completion, or a form that cannot be separated into parts without losing its essence. Gestalt – a structure, configuration, or pattern of physical, biological, or psychological phenomena, to constitute a functional unit that is non-derivable by summation of its parts.  According to Frederick S. “Fritz” Perls. MD, PhD Gestalt therapy is an existential, phenomenological, and process based approach. FREUD’S POINT OF PERLS’ POINT OF VIEW VIEW 1. He view human 1. He took a holistic beings as mechanistic. approach to 2. He focused on personality. repressed intrapsychic 2. He focused on conflicts from early examining the childhood. present situation/conflict. The Gestalt approach focuses much more on process than on content: Perls asserted that how individuals behave in the present moment is far more crucial to self-understanding than why they behave as they do. The main goal of Gestalt therapy is to enhance and or provide self- acceptance, knowledge of the environment, responsibility for choices, and the ability to make contact with their field ( a dynamic system of interrelationships) and the people in it, all of which are based on a here-and-now experience that is always changing.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHpIzqcxAVM Key Concepts View of Human Nature Some Principles of Gestalt Therapy Theory (Holism, Field theory, and The Figure Formation Process.) Organismic Self-regulation The gestalt view of human nature is rooted in existential philosophy, phenomenology, and field theory. The therapy aims not at analysis or introspection but at awareness and contact with the environment. Is consists of both the external and internal worlds. External world refers to the quality of contact from other people and or places and situations. Internal world refers to the part of the self; including the “Disowned part.” The re-owning of parts of oneself that have been disowned and the unification process proceed step by step until client’s become strong enough to carry on with their own personal growth. By becoming aware, the clients become able to make informed choices and thus to live more meaningful existence. A basic assumption of Gestalt therapy is that individuals have the capacity to self-regulate when they are aware of what is happening in and around them. Therefore, therapy provides the setting and opportunity for that awareness to be supported and restored. “The more we work at becoming who or what we are not, the more we remain the same.” - Fritz Perls “Authentic change occurs more from being who we are than from trying to be who we are not.” - Arnie Beisser Holism: “ a form that cannot be separated into parts without losing its essence.” because Gestalt therapists are interested in the whole person, they place no superior value on a particular aspect/part of the individual. ( thoughts, feelings, behaviors, body, memories and dreams.) Field Theory Gestalt therapy is based on field theory; the organism must be seen in its environment, or in its context, as part of the constantly changing field. Its principle: everything is relational, in flux, interrelated, and in process. “The field is the entire situation of the therapist, the client, and all that goes on between them. The field is made and constantly remade.” – Parlett (2005) The figure formation process in Gestalt therapy is a way of understanding how people become aware of their needs, desires, or experiences in the present moment. This process involves the dynamic interaction between the "figure" (what stands out in awareness) and the "ground" (the background of experience). Is intertwined with the principle of figure formation process, a process by which equilibrium is “disturbed” by the emergence of a need, sensation, or an interest. Organisms will do their best to regulate themselves, given their own capabilities and the resources of their environment. EXAMPLE OF FIGURE FORMATION PROCESS: Imagine you're sitting in a café, sipping coffee, and reading a book. At first, the words in the book are your primary focus (the figure), while the sounds in the café and the taste of the coffee are in the background (the ground). Suddenly, you become aware of a loud conversation at a nearby table. The conversation now becomes the figure, drawing your attention away from the book. The book, which was the figure, recedes into the background. As you listen to the conversation, you might start to feel irritated because it's disturbing your reading. This irritation becomes the new figure, bringing to your awareness an unmet need for quiet or concentration. You might then decide to move to a quieter spot in the café, resolving the tension between your need (quiet) and the environment (the noisy café). In this example, the figure formation process illustrates how your awareness shifts between different aspects of your experience, allowing you to identify and address your needs in the present moment. Gestalt therapy helps individuals become more aware of these shifting figures and grounds, empowering them to respond more effectively to their changing internal and external environments. EXAMPLE OF FIGURE FORMATION PROCESS: Imagine a university student named Alex who is sitting in a lecture. Initially, Alex is focused on taking notes and following the professor’s explanation of a complex concept. The lecture and note-taking are the figure—what Alex is actively engaged with—while everything else, such as thoughts about other assignments, the presence of classmates, and the ambient noise in the room, is in the background (the ground). As the lecture progresses, Alex suddenly starts to feel anxious about an upcoming exam. The anxiety begins to dominate their awareness, becoming the new figure, while the lecture content fades into the background. The shift in figure brings to the forefront an awareness of the underlying worry about academic performance. Alex’s anxiety may then trigger thoughts about not being adequately prepared for the exam, which could prompt him to make a decision, like planning extra study sessions or seeking help from a tutor. In this way, the figure formation process allows Alex to become aware of his immediate concerns and needs, guiding his actions toward resolving the tension between his current state and desired outcome (doing well on the exam). Through this process, Gestalt therapy would help Alex explore these shifting figures, such as the anxiety or the need for preparation, and how they impact his overall well-being and academic life. By becoming more aware of these figures, Alex can make more conscious decisions and take steps that align with his needs and goals as a student. Therapeutic work is associated with what is of interest to or what the client needs to be able to regain a sense of equilibrium. The goal is to help the client to obtain closure of unfinished situations, destroy fixed gestalts, and incorporate more satisfying gestalts.  Edwin Nevis described Gestalt therapy as "a conceptual and methodological base from which helping professionals can craft their practice".  Move toward increased awareness of themselves.  Gradually assume ownership of their experience  Develop skills and acquire values that will allow them to satisfy their needs  Perls, Hefferline and Goodman stated that the therapist’s job is to invite clients into an active partnership where they can learn about themselves by adopting an experimental attitude toward life in which they try out new behaviors and notice what happens.  THE THERAPISTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR:  The Quality of their Presence  For Knowing Themselves and the Client  Remaining Open to the Client  Establishing and Maintaining a Therapeutic Atmosphere Gestalt Therapy is an experiential approach that stresses present awareness and the guilty of contact between the individual and the environment. Another therapeutic aim is to assist clients in exploring how they make contact with elements of their environment. Change occurs through the heightened awareness of “what is”. The therapist works with the client to identify the figures, or most salient aspects of the individual- environmental field, as they emerge from the background.  One contribution of Gestalt therapy is the exciting way in which the past is dealt with in a lively manner by bringing relevant aspects into the present. Limitations and Criticisms of Gestalt Therapy Most of criticisms of Gestalt therapy pertain to the older version, or the style of Fritz Perls, which emphasized confrontation and de-emphasized the cognitive factors of personality.  In Gestalt therapy clients clarify their thinking, explore beliefs, and put meaning to experiences they are relieving in therapy. Gestalt practice places a high value on the contact and dialogue between therapist and client. Gestalt therapists are highly active, and if they do not have the characteristics their experiments can easily boomerang mentioned by Zinker (1978).  Ethical practice depends on adequate training and supervision of therapists, and the most immediate limitation of Gestalt or any other therapy is the skill, training, experience, and judgment of the therapist. Thank You 