Gestalt Therapy

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This semester, one of the courses I am taking is Theories of Counseling & Psychology. The requirements of this course include learning about several theories and reflecting upon my thoughts about them. Reflections include a discussion of which components I personally identify with, and which I expect to incorporate into my own theoretical orientation as a counselor.


In reading about Gestalt Therapy, I really liked the idea of a holistic approach, viewing “humans as a whole rather than as a sum of discretely functioning parts”, however I did not find the Gestalt approach to be very holistic. In my opinion, a holistic approach would take into account someone’s past experiences, present experience as well as future goals and dreams.

I did not like that the Gestalt approach focused wholly on the present. I can imagine that Fritz Perl’s may have made it this way in reaction to Freud’s very past oriented theory. I appreciate the idea that “individuals must be understood in context of their ongoing relationship with the environment”. I feel that past experiences must be taken into account as they play a role in shaping current behavior.

I think that a holistic approach would promote a balanced focus on both process and content, however I found that the Gestalt approach focuses more on process than content. The Gestalt approach focuses on “direct experience” rather than talking about situations. I am in no way undermining the use of focusing on process in therapy, however I do think that content is also important.

One of Fritz Perls biggest criticisms was that people viewed him as “harshly confrontive, and meeting his own needs through showmanship”. In regards to addressing process in counseling, I think it is important to approach it in a nonjudgmental accepting way, as clients may be quick to become defensive. Clients may feel that they are being judged for their nonverbal communication. I have seen the use of focusing on process as very effective in group therapy. Clients are less likely to feel judged or abnormal when they are able to see and hear others having similar experiences.

One example of a technique I may use in the future, as a counselor is to encourage clients to transform their stories of the past into present experiences through the use of role-play. I feel that this would be helpful to clients because while telling a poignant story from the past, one may tell it in a detached manor, while bringing it to the present through the use of role-play forces clients to deal with the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with it. Simply making stories of the past into present experiences can help clients to work through issues.

I greatly identified with the idea that unfinished business may manifest into body experiences. An example of this from my own life is that I get very painful headaches when I am extremely stressed out and do not deal with it.

I did not identify with the notion that the way clients behave is more important than the reasons behind their behavior. I don’t understand how this is holistic. I believe that both the behavior and the underlying reasons behind the behavior are equally important. I find fostering awareness to be a very important component of therapy. I also feel that knowing the underlying reasons (the prize the client is getting- or the needs that are met by behaving in a certain way) behind behavior can help the therapist and client collaboratively find ways to meet those same needs without the price, or negative effects.

I did not like the aspect of the Gestalt approach that emphasizes a transformation from environmental support to social support, or interdependence to complete independence. When I read this part of the chapter, a big alarm went off in my head regarding cultural implications. This is a VERY Western ideal that does not generalize to clients of all cultures. For example, collectivist cultures do not value independence but hold a great value on community. I personally have a hard time understanding what is wrong with environmental support and interdependence. In fact, I believe that social support is an essential component to mental health.

I do not like the directiveness of this approach, as I feel that the client should choose what to work on in counseling. I feel that directive therapies have a potential for abuse of power. I like to consider clients as the expert of their own lives, including that they know what they most need to deal with in counseling. I do not like the idea of the therapist deciding the direction of counseling, because it creates a power differential, and could also promote viewing the client as a pathology rather than as a person who needs help developing coping skills.

My favorite parts of this approach were the specific techniques of empty chair, making the rounds, reversal, rehearsal and exaggeration. I also loved the idea of accepting responsibility through reframing questions into statements, “I can’t” into “I won’t”, and turning general statements into “I” statements. I think there is a lot of power in having a client switch the worlds “can’t” to “won’t”. “I can’t advocate for myself” “I won’t advocate for myself”. It shows the client that he or she has a choice and gives him or her responsibility.

In my future as a therapist, I will borrow and adapt techniques from the Gestalt approach, but this will not be my foundational theoretical orientation. I will use the strengths of this approach such as techniques to foster awareness.

Humanistic & Exisental Theories

This semester, one of the courses I am taking is Theories of Counseling & Psychology. The requirements of this course include learning about several theories and reflecting upon my thoughts about them. Reflections include a discussion of which components I personally identify with, and which I expect to incorporate into my own theoretical orientation as a counselor.

In reading the chapters on existential and humanistic theories, I appreciated the idea of people having choices in every situation. I do not think that we are exempt from being victims to our circumstances, but we definitely have a choice as to how we interpret and respond to circumstances. I appreciate that once clients accept responsibility they will know that they personally have the power to change. I think that this could be potentially empowering to a client especially if he or she comes from a place of feeling stuck.

I love how philosophical this theory is, the way it deals with a search for value and meaning. I found it really interesting reading the part about anxiety and how some avoid facing the unknown in order to feel secure. Some people are intimidated by my ability to change. If I do no feel fulfilled, I seek it elsewhere. I have for example changed schools, jobs, grad programs, and ended romantic relationships when I did not feel fulfilled. A lot of these changes have lead to anxiety about the unknown, but have also lead to great fulfillment.

I really hope that I can be empathetic and sensitive to clients who are fearful to change. I have experienced the anxiety that goes along with fear of the unknown, but have always lived by the idea that the chance of a more meaningful life is worth the risk.

I appreciate that this theory is person centered and not problem centered. I think it is very important to view people as people first, that are going through struggles, not to see them as diseased. I think this is a healthier way of viewing clients that can help them to see themselves as having potential to change.

These theories discussed identity as anchored in someone else’s definition of you. This brought me back to an exercise from last week in another class. We were exploring the “yardsticks” or expectations other people have for us, and how this impacted us. I wrote about my childhood and the expectations of others that I do things perfectly the first time.

I wrote about how that has contributed to my strong drive to be a perfectionist. I remember the first time I got an A- in college and how disappointed I felt in myself. I wrote about how I reevaluated my values, and have realized that I highly value relationships over achievement. I am working on being less of a perfectionist. I have a choice of whether or not to listen to the expectations other people have for me.

The whole idea of people “doing to avoid being” reminds me of the idea that life is a journey and not a destination. I used to treat life as though it was the opposite. I have the choice to change this.

I appreciated Frankl’s thought that the reality of death could motivate people to live more meaningful lives. I definitely agree with this. I faced a serious case of meningitis in high school and have since changed my outlook on life. I want everything I do to be fulfilling. I want to help people and make a difference. I also want to have meaningful relationships. I feel that this theory fits my life experiences and outlook on life very well. I feel that this will help me to inspire clients to consider what parts of their lives are meaningful and what they may like to change.

The idea that the way one views the world affects how they respond to it and can change the future outcome also his home. This reminds me of a book I read as a child called Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day, and how the character Alexander noticed the bad things in the beginning of the day and focusing on them made him agitated and more noticing of the negative.

I have at times kept a gratitude journal and wrote about all of the things I am grateful for. Having this sort of focus changes the way one views the world dramatically. For example, I started to become more aware of things I am thankful for throughout the day. I started to have a more positive outlook and changed the course of my day. This type of gratitude exercise can probably have a similar affect on future clients.

I LOVED the Humanistic and Existential Theories chapters and feel that these theories will greatly influence my theoretical orientation as a future therapist. My only concern however is the lack of direction/techniques as criticized by others. I am not too worried about that though as evidence suggests that the therapeutic relationship is the most important part in facilitating change and helping clients, and theses approaches strongly value and emphasize the therapeutic relationship.



I want to read this book now :)