Gestalt Therapy Essay

All great therapies start out with one person or group of people who become discontent with the status quo, and avidly work to prove that what is widely accepted as the only way to accomplish things, may not at all be what is necessary in all circumstances. In the early 1930’s and 1940’s psychoanalysis was the rage, anyone in the field of psychology who did not ascribe to this style of psychology was a deviant, and in all likelihood would be shun from the psychological community. Additionally, this

"What is Gestalt Therapy"? Gestalt therapy (GT) is a psychotherapeutic approach mostly identified and developed by Frederick S. (Fritz) Perls (1893–1970 and Laura Perls (1905-1990). Its orginators were influenced by Freud's psychoanalytic approaches, however moving toward existentialism in contrast to the typical Freudian technique. Gestalt theory, is concerned with the whole person, encouraging a balance between body, feeling, intellect and imagination. The Gestalt approach in psychotherapy understands

Gestalt Therapy Gestalt therapy was largely developed by Fritz Perls and his wife, Laura. Together they created a theory that is based on the premise that individuals must be understood in the context of their ongoing relationship with the environment. To better understand that, one must review the key concepts, therapeutic process, and the techniques of application. The first key concept of Gestalt therapy is its view of human nature. Perls believed that genuine knowledge is the product of

three different types of therapy sessions presented in each tape. The three types of sessions were Person Centered Therapy represented by Carl Rogers, Rational Therapy also known as Rational Emotional Behavior Therapy represented by Albert Ellis, and Gestalt Therapy represented by Fritz Perls. The sessions were given to the same women named Gloria that presented a different problem each time. The goal of experiencing each type of therapy session was to figure out what therapy style out of the three

Integrative Perspective is an effective way to help shape your personality into your psychological method of therapy. This type of approach helps bring together all personality aspects into one form of cognitive and behavioral functioning. Integrating this perspective makes it possible for people facing obstacles to do it more openly and much more freely as they don’t have a pre-formed opinion or expectation to the given situation. The aim of integrative perspective is to facilitate their wholeness

For what it’s worth, this has been my first time ever really delving into and learning about the Gestalt Theory of Counseling. From my understanding, I view Gestalt therapy as focusing on and being self-aware of the here and now, but also being able to bring up past events (or as the text refers to it “baggage”) and projecting them into the present moment. It feels like instead of just talking about past experiences that still bother us, or that are “unfinished”, we are attempting to resolve them

Gestalt is a fascinating approach to therapy with many unique techniques, interventions and goals that set it apart from other approaches. "Self-acceptance, knowledge of the environment, responsibility for choices, and the ability to make contact...are important awareness processes and goals, all of which are based on a here-and-now experiencing that is always changing" (Corey, 2009, p. 200). Fritz Perls demonstrates his Gestalt therapy style in Three Approaches to Psychotherapy: A Film Series (1975)

1. The basic tenants of gestalt therapy focus on the phenomenological method of awareness. This means that feelings and perceptions are distinguished from interpretations of previous experiences and attitudes. What is currently being perceived and felt is more important than anything that could be interpreted. Because of this, gestalt therapy focuses more on process rather than content. It is more important to emphasize what is happening with current thoughts and feelings than what has happened in

The Gestalt experiential family therapy focuses on the immediate conversation and current challenge (Becvar & Becvar, 2012). The emphasis is on how individuals within the family speak to each other. . Conflicts are utilized for the purpose of confrontation for the purpose of understanding of the family situation (White, 2008). These conflicts can support the family therapy processes, three such examples are negotiation, consensus, and resources. When viewed in a Gestalt format, during a session

Gestalt therapy is a type of therapy used to deepen our awareness of ourselves. According to O’Connor and Braverman, (2009) “Gestalt" implies wholeness. Gestalt can also be considered as the essence, or shape of a complete form. A theoretical opposite of structuralism, the entity constitutes more than the sum of its parts. Gestalt therapy is comprised of a complex psychological system that stresses the development of client self-awareness and personal responsibility through a process-oriented