Gestalt Therapy Intervention
Gestalt Therapy was founded by Frederick (Fritz) Perls and his wife, Laura Perls, back in the 1940s while living in Germany. Fritz was a psychoanalyst who was heavily influenced by psychology and philosophy. Laure Perls had a degree in psychology and a significant amount of the existential and phenomenological influences of Gestalt Therapy methods came from her knowledge. These particular studies helped to create the Gestalt Therapy framework and the underlying principles of the intervention approach. Gestalt Therapy became established in New York City as a work shop institute in the 1950s (Diedrich, 2002).
Although it is also known to be a form of psychotherapy, Gestalt therapy is a field theoretical approach
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This is accomplished by three levels of involvement. The first level is working. Working in Gestalt Therapy refers to engaging in exercises or experiments that are encouraged by the therapist. Working will generally reveal something about the existence of the client. The second level is sharing. Sharing occurs after the exercise or experiments has revealed awareness of the client’s problem. The therapist encourages the client to face or contact the problem in the here and now. The third level is exploring. Exploring may occur when the client is unable or unwilling to talk about a problem but is willing to engage with the therapist in dialog. Exploring is typically a stage where the therapist identifies the client’s specific behaviors in the moment and has the client exaggerate the behaviors by working to reveal the underlying feeling that exposes the problem. The goal of Gestalt Therapy is to create sufficient awareness that empowers the client to become the solution to their own problem by identifying how they are affecting themselves and the environment around them as a result of past problems or trauma (Harman, 1974; Ikehara, …show more content…
It should be noted that Gestalt Therapy techniques may not be suited for all types of clients or even therapists. Therapist should exhibit special caution when using Gestalt Therapy techniques on clients who are psychotic, suicidal or who are severely mentally ill and lack the ability to self-regulate their impulses. Therapists that are uncomfortable with clients that have emotional outbursts should avoid practicing Gestalt Therapy techniques (Harman,
In this chapter, Anderson, Lunnen, and Ogles (2010) discuss the interrelationship between theories of psychotherapy and the techniques used by those theories. They argue that the techniques used by therapists and the common change factors of all models of psychotherapy cannot be separated from the therapist’s underlying theory of psychotherapy. They unite these aspects into a contextual model. Anderson et al.’s contextual model and discussion of placebos will be evaluated and then applied to the author’s future therapeutic practice. Unfortunately, due to the pervasive influence of postmodern philosophy throughout the chapter, there is little that should be applied to one’s practice of psychotherapy.
Here the therapist would help X review her emotions, thoughts, early life experiences, and beliefs to acquire the necessary insight into their emotional life about their current emotional situation. The therapist can then draw an emotional pattern of X over time. Taking, for instance, her reaction to her failed marriage, her parents' deaths and lastly, her relationship breakdown with her half-siblings. Pin-pointing recurrent behavioral patterns establish a persons' way of responding to situations, these can be ways of avoiding distress or development of defense mechanisms. Strategies are then drawn to cope with these
Sechrest, L., & Smtih, B. (2012). Psychotherapy is the practice of psychology. In S.O. Lilienfeld & W.T. O’Donohue (Eds.), Great readings in clinical science: Essential selections for mental health professionals (pp. 148-155). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Burton, A. (1959). Case studies in counseling and psychotherapy (Prentice-Hall psychology series). Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall.
Gestalt therapy is an experiential and humanistic form of therapy that embraces awareness, freedom and self-direction. Gestalt therapy focus on the “here and now” and allow clients to be more self-aware and to accept their feelings in order to ease distress. Gestalt theory maintains that wellness encompasses taking responsibility for one’s self and being connected to others.
Sharf, R. S. (2008). Theories of Psychotherapy and Counseling: Counseling and Cases (5thed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole
The Psychodynamic Theory has not proven itself to be very effective. It helps people more when it is paired with other approaches, and is now the starting point, or basis, in other types of therapy (Comer, 2011).
Gestalt psychotherapy recognizes that no one can be purely objective including therapists whose experiences and perspectives are also influenced by their own contexts and counselors accept the validity and truth of their client’s experiences. Gestalt therapy also recognizes that forcing a person to change can result in further distress and irritation, rather than changing results from acceptance of what is. Therapy sessions focus on helping people learn to become more self-aware and to accept and trust in their feelings and experiences to alleviate
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.
The main goal (though this theory is not as goal-oriented as some other theories) of this theory is to expand a client’s awareness of their here and now. The attempt is to get the client to become more aware of what they are thinking, feeling, and doing. A big saying that is often said when thinking of gestalt therapy is that people are always
Gestalt will help Maria with her resentments and traumatic experiences. This therapy is an existential and processed based approach. Clients need to have awareness of their experience at this current moment. Gestalt therapy helps people experience growth and healing through interpersonal and insight contact. Also, this therapy focuses on the here and now the clients present. They are expected to do their own working in noticing their feelings, sensations and interpreting. Gestalt also looks at the unresolved business of the client’s
In the preparation phase, the therapist starts to teach the client some self-care techniques that could guide the client to control his/her emotions (Bartson, 2011). Self-care techniques are also very helpful in guiding the clients’ emotions during and between sessions (Bartson, 2011). In this stage of the therapy, the therapist is able to thoroughly explain the therapy to the patient in the aspect of the process, expectations during and after therapy (Bartson, 2011). Trust is usually developed in this phase of the therapy between the therapist and the client (Bartson,
Gestalt therapy is existential, phenomenological, and process-based approach created on the premise that individuals must be understood in the context of their ongoing relationship with the environment. Awareness, choice and responsibility are the cornerstone of practice (Corey, 2013).
Lets first understand the historical perceptive, from where its role started. While behaviorism was becoming the dominant psychological theory in the US, along with Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis, the Gestalt perspective gained influence ...
Gestalt and TA concept have been widely recognized for their role in psychotherapy. In this context, they provide the therapist with a framework which can be used to help their patients overcome mental problems and issues. As result, personal growth and development is likely to be attained. Their significance is illuminated by the fact that both of them encourage the patient’s ‘here and now’ awareness, which is fundamental in personal development (Brenner 2000).