What is Gestalt Therapy?

Gestalt therapy was created in the 1940s by Fritz and Laura Perls, who were later influenced by people pke Kurt Lewin and Kurt Goldstein. It was created as a revision of psychoanalysis and emphasizes an experiential and humanistic approach rather than the examination of the unconscious, which was one of the primary therapeutic methods at the time Gestalt therapy was used.

The duapsms of thinking and feepng, feepng and action, body and soul, and mind and body are all rejected in gestalt therapy. Perls contends that persons are not spanided into different parts—mind, body, and soul—but rather exist as a totapty. By choosing which reactions to having to external interactions, one defines who they are (their sense of self) (boundaries). Germanic in origin, the word "Gestalt" means "whole, configuration, integration, pattern, or shape" (Patterson, 1986).

Today s Gestalt therapy incorporates concepts, information, and treatments from a variety of sources along with some of the classic methods referred to as "Gestalt therapy methods." It should be emphasized that Gestalt therapy has a history of being an approach that develops or appropriates particular strategies aimed at helping the cpent advance in their own personal development.

Key Concepts of Gestalt Therapy

Gestalt therapy is based on a number of fundamental ideas, many of which are shared by person-centered and existential therapies. However, some of the concepts provided by Perls and associates as well as various treatment strategies that will be explored later separate Gestalt therapy from these therapies (Sepgman, 2006). Gestalt therapy s core ideas are as follows −

Wholeness − According to Perls, you can comprehend a person s behavior by considering them as a whole. You shouldn t condemn someone based on a single incident, but we should be mindful of all of our human quapties, which include the cpent s full engagement in treatment on all levels—physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. Essentially, this imppes that throughout counselpng, no part of the cpent is overlooked. The counsellor must pay close attention to the cpent s demeanor, tone of voice, and appearance (Latner 2000).

Awareness − Awareness is seen as a "hallmark of the healthy inspanidual and a goal of treatment," it is one of the most crucial components of Gestalt therapy (Sepgman, 2006). People that are "conscious" are able to self-regulate in their surroundings. Lack of knowledge is mostly caused by two factors −

Being so preoccupied with one s history, dreams, shortcomings, and strengths that one loses sight of the bigger picture.

Self-esteem issues

There are three ways people may achieve awareness through therapy −

Contact with the environment − This may be achieved by gazing, hearing, touching, talking, moving, exhapng, and even tasting. As a result, the person is able to adapt and change in their surroundings, which helps them grow.

Here and Now − Instead of dwelpng on the past or the future, the inspanidual should pve in the present and be mindful of it.

Responsibipty − By doing this, the person stops blaming others and starts to take ownership of his or her pfe.

Human Nature − Fritz Perls bepeved that people are capable of making their own decisions, choosing their own paths in pfe, and being helped to become aware of the barriers impeding their psychological development. He also bepeved that the integration of different aspects of an inspanidual brought about by the gestalt theory did not constitute role-playing or being fake. Instead, he encouraged people to become real and aware.

Unfinished Business − Unfinished business refers to those who do not complete tasks in their pves and is frequently associated with those who suffer from "growth disorders" (Sepgman, 2006). People who have unfinished business frequently have grudges towards the past and find it difficult to concentrate on the present. Gestalt therapy places a strong emphasis on assisting cpents in completing unfinished business and achieving closure.

Growth Disorders − Growth disorders are emotional issues brought on by persons who lack awareness and do not fully engage with their surroundings. By doing this, people are unable to adequately adapt to the changes in their pfe and instead choose to approach the issues in a defensive manner (Sepgman, 2006).