It also involves taking responsibility rather than placing blame.
There is an emphasis onperceptionin this particular theory of counseling.
Gestalt therapy gives attention to how we place meaning and make sense of our world and our experiences.
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Both Fritz and Laura were trained in psychoanalysis and gestalt psychology.
In other words, the approach focused on the person and the uniqueness of their experience.
Find out which option is the best for you.
What Are the Pillars of Gestalt Therapy?
There are a number of principle ideas that come into play with gestalt therapy, from perception toself-awareness.
Context Matters
When in session, gestalt therapists want to learn about the experience of their clients.
There is no forced work or technique, just holding space for client awareness is key in this approach.
The Present
The main hallmark of gestalt therapy is the focus on the present.
In the session, the client and therapist rapport is critical in building trust and safety.
What is an example of gestalt therapy?
This isn’t to suggest that things will come up quickly, but they don’t have to.
Experiential exercise refers to therapeutic activities done in therapy that can help toincrease awarenessand help with processing.
At the heart of gestalt therapy is awareness.
As Frederick Salomon Perls put it, “Awareness in itself is healing.”
Gestalt therapists understand that these exercises help to increase awareness.
Techniques
Some therapy approaches tend to focus on the therapist as an expert on distress and symptoms.
Within gestalt therapy, the client has space to safely explore their experiences without fear of judgment.
The therapist may guide you using several techniques.
What is the main goal of gestalt therapy?
Words and Language
Attention to language and tone is important in gestalt therapy.
The use of “I” statements is important in gestalt therapy.
In this, it is recognized that a client has different parts of self.
Locating Emotion
During a session, it is common for people to talk about emotion.
Talking about emotion is different than experiencing an emotion.
Gestalt therapists do not have a goal of changing their clients.
The collaborative relationship between therapist and client is fundamental to the healing process in gestalt therapy.
The very techniques we once used to help ourselves become blocks to self-awareness and growth.
Gestalt therapy encourages clients to challenge those old ways of how we may have created meaning about an experience.
Some of these techniques feel helpful in the short term because they can help minimize our pain or distress.
Our distress might look like physical illness, emotional reactivity, isolation, and more.
Things to Consider
Gestalt therapy has both some pluses and minuses.
Why is gestalt therapy controversial?
For some people, the focus on the present can feel limiting.
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