What is Gestalt Therapy?
Gestalt therapy is a humanistic and experiential approach to psychotherapy that is centered on increasing a person's awareness, freedom, and self-direction. The term "gestalt" originates from a German word signifying "shape" or "configuration".
At its core, Gestalt therapy believes that individuals are most accurately perceived as holistic entities encompassing body, mind, and emotions. It advocates understanding individuals from their own perspectives, emphasizing a comprehensive view of their experiences.
Gestalt Therapy originated in 1930s Germany by psychoanalysts Frederick (Fritz) and Laura Perls. In 1933, the Perls settled in South Africa, where they opened a psychoanalytic training institute. It was here that they started working on developing the main principles of Gestalt therapy, but after World War II, the couple moved to New York, to further continue their research.
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself, just as I am, then I can change.”
Carl Rogers.
Becoming self-aware
One of the main objectives of Gestalt Therapy is to increase self-awareness.
The more tuned in we are to our own experiences in the here and now, the more we can orient ourselves properly to others and the world in which we live. Only through self-awareness, can one truly begin the process of change.
Gestalt Therapy aims to guide clients so that they can better understand themselves and their own circumstances. Part of this process includes working to detect and un-do various self-limiting beliefs, values and fears.
Within this framework, the client is seen as personally responsible for all their life decisions. The therapist’s role is to hold space, facilitate a dialogue and enable the healing process.
"I see my life as an unfolding set of opportunities to awaken."
Ram Dass
Authentic relationships
Gestalt Therapists are committed to forming genuine relationships with their clients.
Both the Therapist and the Client are encouraged to embrace their own authenticity, to be spontaneous and receptive when engaging with one another.
Together they co-create a safe, constructive and interactive environment for understanding our patterns of behavior, our beliefs and our relationship with the environment around us.
By embracing our authenticity, we become stronger and more centered within ourselves and with those who we connect with in the outside world.
Embracing creativity
One of the distinctive features of Gestalt therapy is its use of creativity and interactivity as therapeutic tools.
Gestalt therapy can incorporate creative methods such as role-playing, guided imagery, and expressive arts to help individuals build awareness and access deeper layers of themselves.
This approach enables clients to explore their immediate sensations and reactions, fostering a deeper understanding of their emotional responses.
It also enables a non-verbal means of expression, allowing clients to access and detect emotions and insights that may be challenging to express verbally.
Through these methods, individuals can gain insights into their patterns of behavior with others, enhance their understanding of themselves, and work towards positive personal growth.
The humanistic approach
Gestalt Therapy is interested in understanding the subjective experience of individuals, including their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and the context of their experiences.
The Gestalt approach explores the interconnectedness of various aspects of an individual's experience. It offers a nuanced understanding which avoids pathologizing and oversimplifying complex human experiences.
Gestalt Therapy is a form of ‘person-centered’ therapy in which the client’s individual experience is at the forefront of the therapeutic process. The client leads the direction of the therapy, while the therapist plays a supporting and guiding role.
This approach is grounded in the idea that people are inherently motivated toward achieving positive psychological functioning.
