In 2012, Sommers-Flanagan and Sommers-Flanagan discussed how theorists Fritz Perls was a controversial and yet charismatic individual who developed the Gestalt theoretical modality. The Gestalt theory integrates an array of historical and intellectual modalities which consists of the psychoanalysis, existential philosophy, and field theory of a person's psychopathology to reference a few (194). According to Sommers-Flanagan and Sommers-Flanagan (2012), the Gestalt theoretical orientation embodies Fritz Perls personality and historical development rather than supported by empirical evidence and peer-reviewed sources, which can create inconsistencies and limitations in the psychopathology of an individual seeking professional counseling (194). …show more content…
She is a thirty-one-year-old woman who’s presenting issue is having challenges with differentiating fear from avoidance. During this session, theorist Fritz Perls allows the individual to perceive herself in control of the session. Fritz Perls permits this to take place in the effort to assist her with recognizing how she avoids feelings and emotions by masking them with smiles and confidence when in fact she frightened. As the session progressed, Fritz Perl elicited fantasies from Gloria which would consist of her hiding in the corner as that is considered to her to be a safe place where she withdraws when experiencing the so-called fear emotion. Fritz Perls then evokes primary and secondary emotions from Gloria via crying and emotional reasoning which is an illustration of her blocking as she demands to be respected by Fritz Perls. Gloria makes it evident that she wishes he was at her level, so she can make him feel belittled and disregarded; however, she becomes upset and unsatisfied, as he is not bothered by her demeaning choice of words. Fritz Perls notes that she projected many explicit projections on to him, which manifest in the forms of mutual respect, uncertainty and her being cornered with nowhere to go and he immediately ends the session when she begins to tear up. Fritz Perls noticed many inconsistencies in non-verbal and verbal behaviors which manifest when she would smile, and report being scared; however, he explained that she was being a phony, simply because when people are scared they do not smile, which appeared to be provoking her. Gloria took immense offense to that comment, and she would become embarrassed, which would translate into anger and rage. Afterward, she began playing the role of a child that wanted to be comforted and coddled as if she was an infant to avoid displaying her actual feelings and emotions. In a similar manner, the development
Though, acceptance of trauma can allow hindered development, eventually allowing full self-acceptance. Bernice, a once strong woman has been verbally, emotionally and physically abused since her childhood. Resulting in a loss of her sense of being. Within the beginning of the novel, when she is reflecting on her past memories, it becomes clear to the reader that in order for her to be able to accept herself, she needs to surface her past traumas. Bernice explains that, “In the tendrils, Bernice realizes there is remorse in her body and she is trying to kick it out. Her shell rejects remorse. Shame. Feeling bad over feeling good” (49). This mindset is negative and expresses her inability to share her emotions due to previous emotional abuse from her family and the many men that have taken advantage of her. This idea of disallowing happiness hinders her ability to accept herself and her past actions. However, through more time of self-reflection (over 200 hundred pages of her lying in bed with the author switching perspectives, confusing the hell out of me lol) Bernice realizes that she must learn to cope with these traumas and attempt to have a positive outlook on life. As Bernice is accepting the damaged part of herself, she comes to the realization that, “She can feel her body now, its loose and stiff at the same time. Her head, though will be the hard part. Part of her lost for so long that it is hard to enunciate what, exactly, she has found” (228). In comparison to when Bernice was unable to acknowledge her feelings and thoughts, it is now clear that she is slowly learning to manage her issues. By Bernice discovering that she is beginning to acknowledge her thoughts, this is the first step to being able to accept one’s self. In Total, It is shown that Bernice is deeply affected by the trauma within her life, however she is able to
The rapport and friendship built throughout this movie is vital to the success of the therapy exhibited here. This is a great example of Gestalt therapeutic approach and helps to identify most of the techniques incorporated. The techniques and ways of gently confronting but pushing a client all the way through are very beneficial to each viewer of this film.
Sharf, R. S. (2008). Theories of Psychotherapy and Counseling: Counseling and Cases (5thed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole
She continues in this sequel to talk about the abuse she faced and the dysfunction that surrounded her life as a child and as a teen, and the ‘empty space’ in which she lived in as a result. She talks about the multiple personalities she was exhibiting, the rebellious “Willie” and the kind “Carol”; as well as hearing noises and her sensory problems. In this book, the author puts more emphasis on the “consciousness” and “awareness” and how important that was for her therapeutic process. She could not just be on “auto-pilot” and act normal; the road to recovery was filled with self-awareness and the need to process all the pieces of the puzzle—often with the guidance and assistance of her therapist. She had a need to analyze the abstract concept of emotions as well as feelings and thoughts. Connecting with others who go through what she did was also integral to her
...e that what he is doing is frightening. He starts to harass her and practically torment her until “ [she] [starts] to cry holding [her] sides and sobbing. (290). What this shows about Yo is that even though she is a collected, poised woman, there seems to be a an innocent girl inside of her who is still fearful of the world around her.
Freud, Jung, and Adler each contributed essential concepts in accordance to one’s personality and environment. Focusing on one’s personality, each theorist assisted in the understanding of personality and each theory is still being used today throughout many therapy sessions. Throughout one’s education, one will go through personal development, seeking to find who he/she is and along the way react to life’s events accordingly. Academic success and developmental are hand in hand, allowing persons to set goals and develop plans to reach each goal. Each theory provides a different aspect in one’s personality which leads to the behaviors of that individual. According to Richard E. Watts, “Adlerian counseling theory affirms that humans are characterized by unity across the broad spectrum of personality-cognitions, affect, and behavior. Style of life, the Adlerian term for personality, is a cognitive blueprint
In short the heroine’s development in the film from a naive, weak little girl into a powerful, knowledgeable wife is mirrored by this symbolic transition from a negative Oedipal stage to an Electra stage to a father-daughter incestuous relationship. The heroine’s actions are not given explicit justification in the film, but the typical behavior of Freud’s proverbial girl matches her behavior perfectly. The heroine tries to become like the woman who she believes Maxim loves, fails, and tries then to compete with her. The twist on the Oedipal/Electra complex comes about when the girl’s feminine rivalry turns to aligned opposition with the father against the mother leading to an incestuous relationship, precisely the outcome Freud’s theory sought to avoid. Because the film’s development of the heroine diverges from normal sexual development in this way, Rebecca’s development attains Hitchcock’s sought after unheimlich effect.
"Know Thyself!" This oracle at Delphi which was Socrates' motto inspires many philosophers but also psychologists and even psychotherapists. Each of them has good reasons for insisting that this is his domain. Several questions could be raised: Was Socrates a philosopher or a 'psychologist'? What kind of knowledge is this self-knowledge? How do these domains differ and do they have something in common? How are they related to spirituality? And many others. My interest, however, is more narrow. Although we can suppose there is an overlap between philosophy, psychology and psychotherapy, in this paper I will focus on the overlap between teaching philosophy and psychotherapy. More precisely: how can Gestalt principles and techniques help in the teaching of the topic of selfhood. I will outline some theoretical background of the importance of Gestalt in relation to didactics of philosophy and describe some possible applications.
Freud, Sigmund. “Fragment of an Analysis of a Case of Hysteria (“Dora”).” The Freud Reader. Ed. Peter Gay. Trans. James Strachey. New York: Norton, 1995. 172-239.
As a conclusion, many of the psychologist and theorist that contribute to the development of Psychology do leave a significant impact behind which will be carried forward to in the future in any school of thought. This discipline can be used to measure and describe why we perceive such things in a way which can be explained by the concept of perceptual organization. Gestalt psychologists believed that one’s behaviours and perceptions is shaped by the past phenomena’s or antecedents that one has previously encountered at some point in his or her life.
The female protagonists’ subservient behavior in each of the narratives seems almost too perfect for the experiences they are subjected to. Not only do they not retaliate, they also do not show any negative attitude towards their stepmothers. Instead, they are diligent to the tasks assigned to them, and extend their extreme kindness to everyone within the household. This resembles the usage of the defense mechanism of reaction formation. According to the theories of ego psychology, reaction formations occur when individuals’ anxiety or conflict-driven intended behaviors are masked by exaggeration of opposite behaviors. Children relate to how the female protagonists suppress their conflicted emotions because the children themselves may using similar defense mechanisms to regulate their affect towards their
Sigmund Freud and Albert Ellis are widely recognized as two of the most influential psychotherapists of the twentieth century. “It is argued that the striking differences in their therapeutic systems, Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) and psychoanalysis, respectively, are rooted in more fundamental theoretical differences concerning the essential nature of client personality” (Ziegler 75). This paper will discuss in detail, both Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytical Therapy and Albert Ellis’ Rational Emotive Therapy, as well as compare and contrast both theories.
A severe economic depression, as well as the beginning of psychology as a social science, marked the 1890’s. Paranoia is known to be a thought process, heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid beliefs can also be associated with the feelings of powerlessness and victimization. When Christian von Ehrenfels founded gestalt psychology, William James also published “Principles of Psychology”, which introduces readers to four methods of psychology: analysis, introspection, experiment, and statistical studies. This period experienced a tremendous amount of growth within the scientific studies of the psychological mind, and can be known as the experimental stage of social sciences.
The first theory Psychodynamic theory presented by Sigmund Freud, is based on how a person’s self-awareness and understanding of the past on present behavior. Psychody...
Fritz and Laura Perls are responsible for the founding of gestalt therapy in the 1940’s. From there on, Gestalt has contributed significantly to the field of psychotherapy, counseling, and personal development. When therapist uses this method, his or her ultimate aim is to ensure the client achieves personal growth and development. To achieve this outcome, gestalt utilizes existential philosophy and phenomenology. In summary, this form of therapy aims to empower the patient to use his internal and external senses for the purposes of developing personal responsibility and a self-supportive system (Franzke 1999; Corcoran & Daly 2008).