Gestalt Therapy is a form of experiential psychotherapy and was developed in the late 1940’s by Fritz Perls, and is all about helping a person to become aware of their emotions in the present moment.
Unlike other psychotherapy techniques, which focus on the past, Gestalt Therapy focuses on the present, the here and now. By using a holistic (whole) approach, and aims to increase a person’s awareness of their immediate situation by getting them to become fully mindful and understand all their thoughts, feelings, perceptions, sensations, and beliefs for their current situation, and more importantly, how these affect their reactions and behaviours to these situations and experiences.
This is not to say that the past is ignored completely, but a therapist will help a person to see how past experiences are affecting them in the present moment - so in theory, everything relates to the present moment.
As human beings, we are constantly evolving and transforming, and Gestalt Therapy can help a person become deeply aware of these changes. Role playing is a popular technique used in Gestalt Therapy, and the main aim is to get a person to become aware of how they function within different environments, whether it be a family environment, a work or school environment, and to take responsibility for it. When this happens, it is more important that the focus is on the process of events that are happening, and not the actual content or reason why it is taking place.
People who undergo Gestalt Therapy learn to accept themselves by becoming fully aware of what and how they are doing something. Crchealth.com describes Gestalt Therapy as 'real time' monitoring of thoughts and actions, which could help a person to react to situations in a much more healthier way.
It can be used for a variety of different problems, including mental illness, substance abuse, health issues, particularly those which are of a psychosomatic nature, such as migraines, gambling, grief and relationships with others.
Therapeutic Techniques:
Two popular methods used in gestalt therapy are the empty chair technique and the exaggeration exercise, but there are also a few more to make mention of.
The empty chair technique involves the person sitting across from an empty chair and then engaging in conversation with either themselves or someone else such as a partner or work colleague. The roles are then reversed and the person will then take the role of the person they were ‘talking’ to.
The exaggeration exercise is when the therapist asks the person to repeat or dramatize a particular behaviour, such as frowning.
This helps to make the person more mindful of what feelings the behaviour brings about.
The dialogue technique means a bit more than just talking in Gestalt Therapy. Dialogue could be dancing, singing or laughing.
The dream technique is when the therapist will ask the person to not interpret or analyze the dream, but rather relive it.
The confrontation or making the rounds technique is more effective when done in a group and gives a person the opportunity to say or do something different with a new person every time, which allows a person to explore different behaviours with different people.
Staying with the feeling is a technique that helps a person to face uncomfortable emotions, and of course the situations that bring the emotions on.
The reversal technique is when the therapist will get a person to take something that is causing them great upset or distress and act out the emotions and behaviors to this situation, but in the exact opposite manner.
If you feel that you may want to give gestalt therapy a try, please make sure you always find a reputable and qualified therapist!
Please log on here to find a therapist in the UK.
Unlike other psychotherapy techniques, which focus on the past, Gestalt Therapy focuses on the present, the here and now. By using a holistic (whole) approach, and aims to increase a person’s awareness of their immediate situation by getting them to become fully mindful and understand all their thoughts, feelings, perceptions, sensations, and beliefs for their current situation, and more importantly, how these affect their reactions and behaviours to these situations and experiences.
This is not to say that the past is ignored completely, but a therapist will help a person to see how past experiences are affecting them in the present moment - so in theory, everything relates to the present moment.
As human beings, we are constantly evolving and transforming, and Gestalt Therapy can help a person become deeply aware of these changes. Role playing is a popular technique used in Gestalt Therapy, and the main aim is to get a person to become aware of how they function within different environments, whether it be a family environment, a work or school environment, and to take responsibility for it. When this happens, it is more important that the focus is on the process of events that are happening, and not the actual content or reason why it is taking place.
People who undergo Gestalt Therapy learn to accept themselves by becoming fully aware of what and how they are doing something. Crchealth.com describes Gestalt Therapy as 'real time' monitoring of thoughts and actions, which could help a person to react to situations in a much more healthier way.
It can be used for a variety of different problems, including mental illness, substance abuse, health issues, particularly those which are of a psychosomatic nature, such as migraines, gambling, grief and relationships with others.
Therapeutic Techniques:
Two popular methods used in gestalt therapy are the empty chair technique and the exaggeration exercise, but there are also a few more to make mention of.
The empty chair technique involves the person sitting across from an empty chair and then engaging in conversation with either themselves or someone else such as a partner or work colleague. The roles are then reversed and the person will then take the role of the person they were ‘talking’ to.
The exaggeration exercise is when the therapist asks the person to repeat or dramatize a particular behaviour, such as frowning.
This helps to make the person more mindful of what feelings the behaviour brings about.
The dialogue technique means a bit more than just talking in Gestalt Therapy. Dialogue could be dancing, singing or laughing.
The dream technique is when the therapist will ask the person to not interpret or analyze the dream, but rather relive it.
The confrontation or making the rounds technique is more effective when done in a group and gives a person the opportunity to say or do something different with a new person every time, which allows a person to explore different behaviours with different people.
Staying with the feeling is a technique that helps a person to face uncomfortable emotions, and of course the situations that bring the emotions on.
The reversal technique is when the therapist will get a person to take something that is causing them great upset or distress and act out the emotions and behaviors to this situation, but in the exact opposite manner.
If you feel that you may want to give gestalt therapy a try, please make sure you always find a reputable and qualified therapist!
Please log on here to find a therapist in the UK.