Lesson 7, Introduction to Counseling - Gestalt Therapy PDF

# Introduction to Counseling (PSY 4112) ## Gestalt Therapy **Gestalt Therapy is a form of psychotherapy developed by Frederick S. Perls and Laura Posner Perls in the mid-20th century. It focuses on increasing a person's awareness of the present moment and emphasizes personal responsibility, encour...

# Introduction to Counseling (PSY 4112) ## Gestalt Therapy **Gestalt Therapy is a form of psychotherapy developed by Frederick S. Perls and Laura Posner Perls in the mid-20th century. It focuses on increasing a person's awareness of the present moment and emphasizes personal responsibility, encouraging individuals to focus on their current thoughts, emotions, and behaviors rather than dwelling on the past.** ### Frederick S. Perls **Frederick "Fritz" Perls, a German-born psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, co-founded Gestalt therapy with his wife. He believed that humans have an innate capacity for growth and self-regulation, but this is often blocked by unresolved issues and unhealthy behavioral patterns. His work emphasized the importance of awareness and the integration of thoughts, feelings, and actions.** ### Laura Posner Perls **Laura Posner Perls, also a psychoanalyst, played a crucial role in the development of Gestalt therapy. She brought a strong intellectual and theoretical foundation to the practice, incorporating existential and phenomenological influences. Her emphasis was on the relational aspects of therapy, focusing on the interaction between the therapist and the client.** ## Key Concepts in Gestalt Therapy ### View of Human Nature **Gestalt therapy views humans as inherently capable of self-regulation and growth. It assumes that individuals strive for balance and wholeness in their lives but may become stuck due to unfinished business or maladaptive coping mechanisms. The goal is to restore this balance by bringing awareness to the present moment and facilitating personal responsibility.** ## Principles of Gestalt Therapy Theory ### Holism **Holism in Gestalt therapy refers to the idea that a person must be viewed as a whole entity, integrating thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Rather than focusing on individual symptoms, Gestalt therapy looks at how the mind and body function together in the context of the person's environment.** **Example: In a Philippine setting, a client experiencing stress may exhibit both physical symptoms (such as headaches) and emotional symptoms (such as irritability). Gestalt therapy would consider both these aspects as interconnected rather than treating them separately.** ### Figure and Ground * **Figure** - whatever stands out or becomes the focus of attention in a given moment. It represents the aspect of experience that is most salient or important. * **Ground** - everything else that forms the background of awareness, which may include less pressing thoughts, emotions, or environmental factors. ### Field **The field refers to the whole context in which an individual exists, including their physical, emotional, social, and environmental surroundings. The individual's behavior is understood in relation to this field.** ### Figure-Formation Process **The figure-formation process is the way people perceive and organize their experiences, moving between what is in the foreground (figure) and what is in the background (ground). This process allows individuals to focus on what is most important in the present moment.** ### Organismic Self-Regulation **Organismic self-regulation is the natural process by which individuals respond to their needs and desires in an attempt to maintain balance. When people become aware of their unmet needs, they can take steps to address them.** ### The Now **Gestalt therapy emphasizes the importance of the here and now. Rather than analyzing past experiences or future concerns, therapy focuses on the client's current experience. The goal is to bring full awareness to the present moment.** ### Phenomenological Inquiry **Phenomenological inquiry involves exploring the client's subjective experience without imposing judgments or interpretations. The therapist helps the client become aware of their present experiences and feelings.** ### Unfinished Business **Unfinished business refers to unresolved emotional issues from the past that continue to affect a person's present behavior. These unresolved feelings may manifest as anxiety, resentment, or other negative emotions.** ### Impasse **An impasse occurs when individuals feel stuck, unable to move forward or make decisions. This often happens when people avoid confronting their unfinished business or rely on outdated coping mechanisms.** ### Contact and Resistance to Contact * **Contact** - the process of interacting with the environment and others while maintaining one's sense of self. Healthy contact allows individuals to engage meaningfully with their surroundings. * **Introjection** - occurs when individuals uncritically accept the beliefs, values, or standards of others without questioning them. In a Filipino context, a person might accept societal expectations (such as career choices imposed by family) without considering their own desires. * **Projection** - involves attributing one's own feelings or impulses to others. A person might project their own insecurities onto someone else, assuming that others think negatively of them. * **Retroflection** - occurs when people turn their emotions or actions inward rather than expressing them outwardly. For example, a Filipino individual might suppress anger or sadness because of cultural expectations to maintain harmony and avoid confrontation. * **Deflection** - the avoidance of direct contact with the present situation. Individuals might use humor or distraction to avoid dealing with uncomfortable emotions or topics. * **Confluence** - occurs when individuals blur the boundaries between themselves and others, losing their sense of individuality. In a collectivist culture like the Philippines, confluence can manifest in the strong identification with family or community at the expense of personal identity. ### Energy and Blocks To Energy **Energy in Gestalt therapy refers to the natural vitality of a person. Blocks to energy occur when unresolved emotions or unmet needs prevent the free flow of energy. These blocks can manifest as tension, fatigue, or a sense of being stuck.** ## The Therapeutic Process: Gestalt Therapy ### Therapeutic Goals **The primary goal of Gestalt therapy is to increase self-awareness and help individuals live more fully in the present. This involves resolving unfinished business, integrating fragmented parts of the self, and facilitating personal growth.** * **"It" Talk** - Clients who use "it" talk tend to distance themselves from their emotions by speaking in vague or impersonal terms. The therapist helps the client shift to using more direct language that expresses their feelings. * **"You" Talk** - Clients may avoid taking responsibility for their feelings or actions by using "you" statements. The therapist encourages clients to use "I" statements to promote ownership of their experiences. * **Questions** - Asking questions can sometimes deflect from present experience. In Gestalt therapy, the therapist encourages clients to make declarative statements instead, to stay more connected to their feelings. * **Language That Denies Power** - Clients may use language that diminishes their personal power, such as "I can't" or "I should not". The therapist helps clients recognize these patterns and reframe them in ways that empower them to take action. * **Listening to Clients' Metaphors** - Clients often use metaphors to describe their experiences. The therapist listens closely to these metaphors as a way to understand the client's emotional state and explore deeper feelings. * **Listening for Language That Uncovers A Story** - The therapist listens for language that hints at unresolved issues or past experiences, encouraging the client to explore these underlying stories more fully. ### Therapist's Function and Role **The therapist's role in Gestalt therapy is to facilitate awareness by helping clients explore their present experiences and emotions. The therapist challenges clients to confront unresolved issues and experiment with new ways of behaving.** ### Client's Experience in Therapy **Clients in Gestalt therapy are active participants in their own healing process. They are encouraged to focus on their present experiences and feelings, taking responsibility for their actions and decisions.** ### Relationship Between Therapist and Client **The therapeutic relationship in Gestalt therapy is collaborative, with the therapist acting as a guide rather than an expert. The therapist and client work together to increase the client's self-awareness and resolve unfinished business.** ## Application of Gestalt Therapy: Therapeutic Techniques and Procedures ### The Experiment in Gestalt Therapy * **Exercises** - structured activities used to bring awareness to specific issues or behaviors. These exercises are designed to help clients experience their emotions more fully. * **Experiments** - unstructured activities that arise spontaneously during therapy. They allow clients to try out new behaviors or explore emotions in a safe, therapeutic setting. ### Preparing Clients for Gestalt Experiments **The therapist prepares clients for experiments by explaining their purpose and ensuring that the client feels safe and supported throughout the process.** ### The Role of Confrontation **Confrontation in Gestalt therapy involves challenging clients to face their unfinished business, avoidances, or incongruences in a direct yet supportive manner.** ### Gestalt Therapy Interventions * **The Internal Dialogue Exercise** - This technique involves having clients engage in a dialogue between conflicting parts of themselves, such as the "critical parent" and the "vulnerable child." * **Empty-Chair Technique** - In the empty-chair technique, clients speak to an empty chair as if a person or part of themselves is sitting in it. This allows them to express unresolved feelings or conflicts. * **Example**: A Filipino client might use the empty-chair technique to address unresolved feelings toward a family member they have a cultural obligation to respect but also harbor anger toward. * **Making The Rounds** - In this exercise, clients go around a group, sharing thoughts or feelings with each person. It helps clients practice direct communication and awareness of interpersonal dynamics. * **The Reversal Exercise** - The reversal exercise involves having clients act out the opposite of their typical behavior, helping them explore parts of themselves they usually avoid. * **The Rehearsal Exercise** - In the rehearsal exercise, clients rehearse situations they find anxiety-provoking, such as asserting themselves in a difficult conversation. * **The Exaggeration Exercise** - Clients are asked to exaggerate a particular behavior or emotion to heighten their awareness of it. For example, a client might exaggerate a nervous tic to better understand its emotional roots. * **Staying With The Feeling** - Clients are encouraged to stay with a difficult emotion rather than avoid it, allowing them to fully experience and understand it. * **The Gestalt Approach to Dream Work** - In Gestalt dream work, clients act out different parts of a dream to explore their hidden meanings and unresolved emotions. ### Application to Group Counseling **In group settings, Gestalt therapy encourages participants to explore their interactions with others and become more aware of their behaviors in social contexts.** ## Gestalt Therapy From a Multicultural Perspective **Gestalt therapy's focus on individual experience can be adapted to different cultural contexts. In the Philippines, where community and family are central, therapists must be sensitive to these values. Techniques such as the empty-chair or internal dialogue exercise can be adapted to explore familial obligations or societal expectations that influence the client's behavior.** **Gestalt therapy's emphasis on the present moment and personal responsibility can help Filipino clients explore how cultural values impact their sense of self and relationships, providing a framework for balancing individual needs with communal responsibilities.**