Gestalt Therapy

Gestalt Therapy was Developed by:  Fritz Perls, Laura PerlsPaul Goodman

 

Overview of Gestalt Therapy: Gestalt Therapy focuses on here-and-now experience and personal responsibility.  The objective, in addition to overcoming symptoms, is to become more alive, creative, and free from the blocks of unfinished issues which may diminish optimum satisfaction, fulfillment, and growth.

 

"The theory of Gestalt therapy takes as its centerpiece two ideas. The first is that the proper focus of psychology is the experiential present moment.  In contrast to approaches which look at the unknown and even unknowable, our perspective is the here and now of living. The second idea is that we are inextricably caught in a web of relationship with all things. It is only possible to truly know ourselves as we exist in relation to other things. These twin lenses, here-and-now awareness and the interactive field, define the subject matter of Gestalt therapy.  Its theory provides a system of concepts describing the structure and organization of living in terms of aware relations.  Its methodology, techniques, and applications … link this outlook to the practice of Gestalt therapy. The result is a psychology and method with a rich and unique view of everyday life, the depths and difficulties which life encompasses, and "the high side of normal," the ennobling and most creative heights of which we are capable. Gestalt therapists believe their approach is uniquely capable of responding to the difficulties and challenges of living, both in its ability to relieve us of some measure of our misery and by showing the way to some of the best we can achieve. " ~ Excerpt from Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy

 

Resources Related to Gestalt Therapy:

 

Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy

Society for Gestalt Theory and its Applications

The Gestalt Therapy Network

The Gestalt Therapy Page

Wikipedia's Page about Gestalt Therapy

 

Books Related to Gestalt Therapy:

 

 

   


Gestalt Therapy Article Summaries

Gestalt Group Therapy: An Interactive Approach

Written by Bud Feder, Ph.D. Abstract
This paper describes a specific approach to group therapy that is carried out within the context of a Gestalt orientation. It begins with a brief history of how the particular approach described here evolved. Then come a description of elements to pay attention to in the composition such a group, followed by a brief statement of the orientation given to each new member. Then five ground rules for the group process are presented. A central distinguishing principle of this kind of group ... Read the rest of this entry »

Gestalt Therapy "Cycle of Experience"

By William "Sandy" Pryor, MA, LPC, MT-BC, When I tell colleagues that I am a Gestalt therapist, I generally hear “so you hit pillows” or “so you just talk to an empty chair.” The general lack of understanding of basic underlying theory and guiding philosophy is surprising given the approach's popularity and influence over that last 60 years. In this article I would like to describe and discuss a concept that is at the heart of Gestalt therapy. This concept is the Gestalt “cycle of experience.” In Gestalt Therapy, the self ... Read the rest of this entry »

Please add your comments about Gestalt Therapy - (click here to add a comment)

  • Therapist Co. Louth 2007-11-08 01:24:48

    Great article. I am sure it will help me with the groups i facilitate. A great reminder of the 'life and fluidity of a group' thank you love and peace Valya

  • Amanda Rowan 2010-02-02 13:48:33

    What a wonderful article on the how-to of Gestalt Group work. I am in the process of forming a process group from a Gestalt model and this has been extremely helpful. Please write more on the topic!

  • Bethany 2009-10-20 09:38:01

    I like the concept behind this that we as humans are ever changing, ever evolving, and hopefully, ever moving toward becoming a more positive and powerful being.

  • McCain 2009-10-20 10:12:23

    An interesting theory, to say the least. You have explained the concept very well, so much so even a fifth grader can understand the logic behind it.

  • Nate 2009-10-20 10:47:33

    We go through these elaborate procedures day in and day out and yet never reflect on their inner working. I guess thats the difference between an ordinary person and an expert dealing with psychological issues. Anyhow, if thought of these things as a procedure, yes, if there is an un-forseen obstruction to a procedure, there will be side-effects, even to a point me mal-functioning of the entire mechanism, and in this case, the mechanism is us, the humans...

  • Amanda Rowan 2010-02-02 13:31:45

    I like the gestalt view of self. It is much more flexible than other views and it allows for influence from the environment. It is a much more hopeful view.

  • Beth 2010-02-02 21:46:05

    This is a well written overview of Gestalt Therapy!

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