Gestalt Therapy Vs. Person-Centered Therapy

Gestalt Therapy vs. Person-Centered Therapy
Person centered and Gestalt Therapy
The Gestalt approach to therapy emerged during the 1950's and was developed by Frederick Perls
(1893–1970). The aim of Gestalt therapy is to increase awareness, so that the client comes to
resolution of unfinished business and the integration of the thinking, feeling and sensing processes.
In Gestalt therapy the emphasis is placed on the present experience, the perception of the individual
as a whole and the direct awareness of emotions and action. Gestalt therapists believe that the
emotional problems and frustrations that are experienced by individuals are attributed to the lack of
recognition and understanding of their own feelings. In addition to this Gestaltist believe that many
individuals lose ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Person–centred therapy came about through Roger's theory on human personality. He argued that
human experiences were valuable whether they were positive or negative so long as they maintained
their self actualising tendency. Through one's experiences and interactions with others Roger
believed that a self–concept/regard was developed. Carl Rogers believed that a truly therapeutic
relationship between client and counsellor depends on the existence, of three core conditions. The
core conditions are important because they represent the key concepts and principles of person–
centred therapy. These core conditions are referred to as congruence, unconditional positive regard
and empathy. Congruence is when the therapist has the ability to be real and honest with the client.
This also means that the therapist has to be aware of their own feelings by owning up to them and
not hiding behind a professional role. For example, a therapist may say 'I understand where you are
coming from'' to the client. However the therapist has expressed a confused facial expression while
saying this. The clients can be become aware of this and may feel uncomfortable in expressing their
feelings, which might impact their trust and openness towards the therapist. Therefore the major role
of the therapist is to acknowledge their body language and what they say and if confusion happens
the therapist needs to be able to
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Gestalt Therapy with Children and a Comparative Therapy
Introduction
Gestalt therapy, which was founded by Fritz and Laura Perls in the 1940s, teaches the therapists and
their clients the phenomenological awareness method, where feeling, perceiving and acting are
differentiated from interpreting and rearranging the pre–existing attitudes. Gestalt therapists and
clients' dialogue, thus communicating their phenomenological perspectives, and their differences in
perceptions form the basis and focus of experimentation and continued dialogue. The desired
outcome of the therapy process is for the client to become aware of their actions, how they are
acting, and the ways they can change their actions and learn to accept and appreciate themselves.
Here, the emphasis is mainly on the process rather ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Different schools of thought within the humanistic tradition have built on and also separated from
the previous theories and conceptualization of child development (Oaklander, 2014). Worth noting is
the transactional analysis theoretical understanding of the development of a child (Tudor, 1998),
which views a child's development in terms of ego states, script formation among other concepts
like protection and therapeutic potency and permission that are of practical use in working with the
children.
Oaklander (2007) recognizes the need for children to make good use of the contact functions
labelled as looking, listening, smelling, tasting, expressing feelings, thoughts, ideas, curiosity,
touching, moving, among others. These contact functions are the same modalities that make up one's
self, as the children who get emotionally disturbed tend to isolate themselves in some way,
restricting the body, anaesthetizing their senses, closing down their minds and blocking their
emotions (Oaklander, 2007). When this happens, a child's healthful development is adversely
affected, and their problems get further exacerbated. Their self gets inhibited, and they cannot make
good contact.
The Gestalt developmental theory offers a structural basis for psychotherapy with children through
provision of guidance for the physiotherapy with the therapists to understanding the child'
experience, how a

Essay about Application Assignment: Gestalt Therapy
Week 2 Application Assignment: Gestalt Therapy
7.1 Defining the Core Constructs of Gestalt Therapy.
When Helen reclaims her seat as Helen in the experiment, the therapist asks her to respond to her
mother. What evidence do you see that would indicate that Helen has polarized thinking around her
mother's expectations of her?
Helen feel anger, pain, fear, or hurt but never show it, she internalize her pain and kept it inside. The
therapist asks her to respond to her mother Sara, the anger she feels for her mom. Helen respond to
her mother by saying to her mother that she can't stop being there for her Helen feels disconnected
from her mother. When she goes back to her seat she tells her mother she wanted her to feel please
about ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
I think Helen is more made at her father and is taking this out on her mother, maybe she feels like
the mother should have demand her father be there for the family. I think Helen is reflecting anger
towards her mother but she is really upset with her father, it seems like she is upset that her father
has a good relationship with her siblings and the grandchildren when he wasn't there for her and her
siblings she feels he doesn't deserve to have the good relationship with everyone when he wasn't
there when they was coming up in their childhood. Helen she feels the mother was there for her and
her sibling but everyone thinks the mother is the one with the issues but she was the one that was
there for them and the father wasn't. I think she is having problems with the choice she chose to be
angry with the mother but I think she is angry with the mother because she feels the mother should
of made a better choice to make her father be in their lives more coming up but she seems like she is
placing blame on her mother for her past when she is really is upset with her father.
7.2 Conceptualizing A Case using From a Gestalt Perspective (note that this is under Building Skills,
not Assignments and Activities)
What need is not being met in Helen's world?
Helen has a need to find out what happen in her past with her relationship with her mother. Helen
feels she

Strengths Of Gestalt Therapy
After these strong arguments to emphasize the strengths of Gestalt therapy, it is important to note
some limitations of this approach as well.
A point often overlooked is that Gestalt therapy lacks a clearly articulated theory. Although Perls
revised his book Ego, Hunger and Aggression (1942/1992) and renamed it, there is little description
of what Perls understood by Gestalt therapy (Wagner–Moore, 2004). According to Wagner–Moore
(2004), Gestalt therapy is "without a clear set of binding theoretical principles" and without a rich
basis of literature that could help to further develop the approach. Wagner–Moore (2004) also states
that the Gestalt therapy by Perls focuses more on his history and personality rather than on a specific
"scientific, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Although the goal of the techniques and experiments is to elicit emotion (Corey, 2012), neither the
therapist nor the client knows what comes up during the therapy session (Wagner–Moore, 2004).
The elicited emotions can be very powerful and deeply painful (Fagan et al., 1974). It is essential
that Gestalt therapists build a strong therapeutic alliance with their clients, in order for the necessary
trust to be established. Only then clients can learn from the Gestalt experiments (Corey, 2012).
Given the power of the Gestalt techniques, a misuse of those might be harmful and dangerous
(Wagner–Moore, 2004; Lilienfeld, 2007). It is suggested that therapists should only use the
technique if they have had personal experience with it in the role of the client (Fagan et al., 1974;
Corey, 2012) and, most importantly, if they know their client well enough to be able to provide
follow–up support (Fagan et al., 1974). Abandoning clients after an emotional break down is
considered abuse of power and this equalizes for unethical practice (Corey,

The Theory Of Gestalt Therapy
HAT Paper
Gestalt therapy is an organized category of therapy that is founded upon the Gestalt ideology.
Conceptualized by Frtiz Perls, it is facilitated through the basic principle of relational theory which
deems every individual as whole. This means that they are made up completely of body, mind and
spirit. Subsequently, they can be clearly understood in conjunction with their present situation
through the eyes of their own experiences. Considering these factors, this approach is an infusion of
the concept of relational theory with the current state (Arnheim, 1945). It provides essential insight
that focuses intensely on self–awareness as well as what is going on in the present moment. The root
of concern, in regards to the present moment, is the events of what will happen from one juncture of
time until the next. My major theoretical orientation, now, is rooted in the Gestalt Theory and form
of practice.
The measure of self–awareness regarding this approach is one of the key catalyst in making progress
in personal improvement and increasing progressive efforts to address potential areas that warrant
growth. One of the conditions that this approach brings to the forefront is the ability of negative
thinking to become a hindrance that develops into thoughts and behavior (Botha, 2009). Therefore,
these behaviors leave people in a discontented and hopeless state. The primary goal of a therapist,
specifically a Gestalt therapist, is to supports the individual in an

The Gestalt, Behavioral, Cognitive Behavior And Reality...
The purpose of this paper is to identify how the Gestalt, Behavior, Cognitive Behavior and Reality
therapies will be applicable to the future population we want to work with. The differences and
similarities teach us the uniqueness of each as well as how their information correlates to one
another. PTSD is probably going to be a major disorder I will come across when working with
veterans and the cognitive behavioral approach was the most influential, but also most empirically
researched approach dealing with this disorder. This paper provided a wealth of information on the
applicability to future use and also get a reference as to which approaches seem most suitable to our
own counseling style.
These past two weeks we have covered some great theories based on psychotherapy, and the many
approaches to each. The theorist that will be discussed in this paper include, Gestalt, Behavioral,
Cognitive Behavior and Reality Therapy. These approaches to counseling have offered us very
similar and contrasting perspectives on the various concepts of psychotherapy. What I found very
interesting was that some of these focused on the present/future and have little regard to the person
's past. Many of these theories also have concepts which have similar techniques as others we have
covered but some are more specific to certain disorders, which makes things very interesting.
Applications My future goal is to work with veterans and be able to help them cope with issues

Gestalt Therapy : The Phenomenological Method Of Awareness
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 past or what could happen in the future. In gestalt therapy the relationship between
the therapist and client is the most important aspect of the therapy. This is because "dialogue" is an
important tenant to the therapeutic process. This dialogue is based on experiencing the other person
as he or she really is and showing the true self. This way, the patient isn't being manipulated towards
a certain goal. In doing this, the patient is in charge of their own growth and self–support. Personal
responsibility is very important in gestalt therapy.
2. A gestalt therapist may understand pathology as someone who is unable to move forward in life
because something happened that has discouraged his or her ability to move on. They tend not to
make decisions and are stunted in their progress through life. However, this person is considered
healthy when they can focus on the present. They don't think of previous experiences and "what
was," but rather they focus on what is right now and

The Psychology Of Gestalt Therapy Essay
Psychology is not only fascinating or extraordinary, it has opened concepts greater than human
understanding. Beginning in 1897, the human mind has been under heavy study, and through the
invention of Gestalt therapy, it has helped tremendously. Fritz Perls, the founder of Gestalt therapy,
although deceased his presents is felt everyday through Gestalt therapy. Gestalt therapy has training
for anyone who might be interested into going into its practice.
There are many facilities around the world that specialize in the training of the practice of Gestalt
therapy. Among these facilities are The Gestalt Therapy Institute of Philadelphia, The Gestalt
Therapy Institute of New Zealand, and The Irish Gestalt Center. Some universities offer post–
graduate programs for Gestalt therapy, and usually take about two years, or 130 hours. Psychologist
and advanced practice along with other fields of study receive training in Gestalt therapy.
An Irish Gestalt therapist by the name of Sean Gaffney explored the concepts of Gestalt therapy
through groups. He classified three dimension groups through his research. These dimensions were
individualism, familyism, and collectivism. Individualism is self–defined, and is generally seen in
countries such as the United States, Great Britain, and Europe. Familyism focused on the concept of
family, it is commonly seen through the Jewish and Arab cultures. Last but not least is collectivism.
Japan and Korea are areas were collectivism is often found, and

Treatment Of Therapy And Gestalt Therapy
Therapy is the treatment of people who are suffering from the psychological problem and that
situation, the therapist works in collaboration with the patient, to determine the cause. This paper
seeks to explore the two types of therapy which person–centered therapy and gestalt therapy. The
paper will also go into details by comparing and contrasting the two therapies and how they work.
Person Centered Therapy (PCT)–it is also known us client–centered approach is a way or an
approach of understanding the individuals' perception. This is where a therapist has to understand
the consciousness of the client in relation with their ability. It states that everybody has got the
ability to do great things but as time goes by, we lose that belief because of being affected
psychologically. This theory was discovered by one American Carl Rodgers (1902–1987). The
counselor in this scenario has to understand the client 's experience so as to know the background of
the problem. On the other hand, Gestalt therapy is the where a client is suffering from the present
events and how they affect him or her environment. This approach was discovered by Frederick
Perls in the 1950s. The two approaches work in different ways because they are dealing with
different problems and so we want to see how they work.
In person–centered therapy, the client is normally disturbed or affected by the past events. An
individual who had the ability to do or perform great things is eventually demoralized, and he or

Gestalt Therapy Summary
The purpose of the Gestalt Therapy is for the therapist to increase the client's awareness (Murdock,
2013). It helps the clients to focus on the "here and now" of what they are experiencing and doing
(Jones & Butman, 2011). Distress would be alleviated if the client can accept and trust in their
feelings and experiences. In the matter of Helen, the chair technique was to use to bring unexpressed
feelings that are associated with the past that has influenced her present and stimulated her thinking.
During the chair dialogue Helen places her parents in the empty chair, serving as an intervention for
unfinished business. The therapist acted as a guide as Helen shares her experiences and feelings of
her life in the past. Helen's earlier experiences of being a middle child and the pain associated with
the unfilled need of being noticed from her mother and father have become active in Helen's life as
she expresses the need to be supported by her husband. Helen shares with the professor about
floating in the river and how she wanted to be noticed, then is conflicted with not wanting to be
noticed because being noticed is hard for her. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
She denies needing attention and support from her husband as a defense mechanism that is learned
from her childhood. It has become easy for Helen to deny that part of her life when she felt noticed
because it brought about awareness from the past. Jones and states that defense mechanisms are
used widely to distort reality, causing one to lose any real sense of who one is or who one can
become (Jones & Butman,

What Is Gestalt Therapy?
The Gestalt theory emerged in the 19th century and had a basic idea that the brain works holistically,
processing thousands of stimuli instantaneously in a moment. Gestalt states that we were made as a
whole, rather than by piece (Gehart, 2016). The theory suggests two major ideas, one being that
there is a correlation between external stimuli and cerebral response and second being that there is
continuousness in collective reality (Sharf, 2000). Meaning that we can perceive objects as a whole
instead of fundamental parts.
Gestalt therapy has been a successful method in circumstances of brief crisis intervention, post–
traumatic stress disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, depression, or anxiety disorders (Gestalt therapy,
2016). One may wonder ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This method helps me with external communication and helps me to work through in becoming
aware of my emotional and cognitive feeling that are suppressed. This also allows for insight in how
to not allow the event to affect my present life and environment, by thinking what Alex would say if
he were to actually speak to me and accept my apology. Through exploring Gestalts theory I have
learned that I must be present in the moment I am in, I cannot turn back time and fight against
reality. I take personal responsibility in the fallout in our relationship, I must really feel the pain of
the situation, and eventually, it will pass with time. I cannot just ignore my memories as if they
never happened, instead, I must try and learn the lesson that it is trying to teach me about future
relationships.
The goal of Gestalt therapy is to raise client awareness in regards to how they function in their
environment with family, friends, co–workers and strangers. The focus of therapy is more the
moment–to–moment process and what can be learned from the situation. I must focus on what is
occurring in the present and resolve these existing conflicts in order to elicit emotion in self–
confidence and produce action to achieve specific goals in the

The Emergence Of Gestalt Therapy In The 1940's
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 was a time period globally where many Jews in Europe were seeking to escape
from the hands of Hitler, and the Second World War was being fought. Precisely from this
background comes the birth of Gestalt Therapy. This paper will explore the emergence, ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Some of the principles of this theory involved holism, field theory, figure formation process,
organismic self–regulation, the now, unfinished business, contact and resistances to contact, and
energy and blocks to energy. Additionally, this therapy introduced novel therapeutic interventions
such internal dialogue exercises like the empty chair technique that aims at getting the individual to
externalize what they have introjected, making the rounds that allows individuals in a group setting
to go around and speak to different people, the reversal exercise which asks the person to act in a
way that is contrary to their usual style of behaving, the rehearsal exercise, exaggeration exercise,
and staying with the feeling, as well as its approach to dreams. The majority of Gestalt therapy
interventions are derived from the performance arts (Corey,

Gestalt Therapy Paper
1. There are several components and principles of Gestalt therapy that aims at allowing the client to
live and experience their lives. One of these principles is the idea of living in the now. Gestalt
therapy places a large emphasis on assisting the client to appreciate and experience completely the
moment they are in now rather than living in the past or in the future. They are guided to experience
completely their feelings and emotions in the present and to stay away from dwelling in the past or
the future. It is a view of Gestalt therapy that by the client placing their focus on the past or the
future, they are avoiding coming to terms with what they are experiencing in the present. This
hinders what they can experience, and hinders any growth they may be able to accomplish (Corey,
2013).
It is a common human tendency to place a large amount of energy into dwelling on their past
mistakes and what they could have done differently to make their lives better. Instead of seeing the
changes that they could make now, they are stuck on what they should have done in the past that
would change where they are now. Another common tendency is to live in the future, constantly
making plans and resolutions for where they want their life to be someday. The problem with this
tendency is that someday is never the present and they are not taking actions to get them to these
goals; they are only making plans to act on someday (Corey, 2013).
One of the methods used in Gestalt

Gestalt Therapy And Postmodern Approaches
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 in all aspects and to maximize their own personal limits and outer constraints. As you can
see integrative perspective takes part in many views of human functioning, taking all these aspects
into consideration the two theories I believe match my personality the most are gestalt therapy and
postmodern approaches.
The first theory I believe matches my personality the most is Gestalt Therapy. According to Corey
(2013), "Gestalt Therapy is a existential, phenomenological, and process–based approach created on
the premises that individuals must be understood in the context of their ongoing relationship with
the environment" (p.212). As you can see, the relationship between yourself and the environment go
hand in hand and this theory highlights the type of wholeness in correlation to the things around you
(Corey, 2013, p.214). The theory places no superior value on a particular aspect of the individual
(Corey, 2013, p.214). I myself; give everything around me an equal weight of

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. Along with that, I can say that this theory resonated well with me, and aligned with
my view of human development, because I feel that you cannot just talk about past experiences you
have to resolve them to be able to move forward. And bringing that

Gestalt Therapy Essay
Gestalt therapy is a therapeutic approach in psychology that helped foster the humanistic theories of
the 1950s and 1960s and that was, in turn, influenced by them. In Gestalt philosophy, the patient is
seen as having better insight into himself or herself than the therapist does. Thus, the therapist
guides the person on a self–directed path to awareness and refrains from interpreting the patient's
behaviors. Awareness comprises recognition of one's responsibility for choices, self–knowledge, and
ability to solve problems.
Its originators, Frederick S. (Fritz) Perls (1893–1970) and Laura Perls (born Lore Posner, 1905–
1990), were born in Germany and studied psychology there. They fled Germany during the Nazi
regime, moving to South Africa ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In the evolution of their therapy, Laura and Fritz Perls differed in some of their approaches. Laura
emphasized more direct, physical contact and movement than Fritz did, and the contact favored by
Fritz Perls was more symbolic than physical.
Gestalt therapy took its name from the school of academic psychology called Gestalt psychology.
Perls asserted that Gestalt psychology had influenced the development of his ideas, but the
Gestaltists claimed that there was no connection between the two. Later scholars suggested a
common substrate linking the academic Gestalt psychology of Max Wertheimer (1880–1943),
Wolfgang Köhler (1887–1967), and Kurt Koffka (1886–1941) and the Gestalt therapy of the Perls
and their collaborators Ralph Hefferline (1910–1974) and Paul Goodman (1911–1972). This
commonality involved appreciation of the whole rather than a reductionistic approach to
understanding psychological phenomena and behavior.
Gestalt therapy took form in the 1950s and 1960s, when humanism first flourished. The optimistic
theory promulgated by the Perls was quite compatible with the ideas of other humanistically
oriented psychologists such as Carl Rogers (1902–1987). Its influence has waned since the 1980s,
although current therapies have been influenced by the humanistic and optimistic outlook of the
theory and by some of the interactive techniques developed by the Perls and their followers.
Gestalt theory, a major school of

Gestalt Therapy
The Gestalt theory of change posits that "The more we attempt to be who or what we are not, the
more we remain the same" (Corey, 2000)
Gestalt Therapy is an experiential and humanistic approach which was founded by Frederick and
Laura Perls and Paul Goodman in the 1950's. Gestalt is a German word that means "patterns" and
the key idea in this model is the capacity of the person to experience the world in terms of wholes,
or overall patterns, and more specifically, to have a tendency to complete unfinished patterns. The
gestalt therapist is interested in studying human perception and thoughts (McLeod, 2011).
According to G.Yontef and L. Jacobs (2011), the goal of Gestalt therapy is to heighten the clients'
awareness regarding how they work ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Open, undirected awareness...attempts to hold hypothesis formation in abeyance for a longer period
of time... Open, undirected awareness is an attempt to reduce bias and remain as naïve as possible
while engaged in diagnosis" (Nevis,

Essay On Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt Therapy 101.
You and a partner will take turns playing the therapist and the patient, using Gestalt Therapy.
As the therapist, you will be using Gestalt Theory to try pull the person out of their "safety zone",
and into a confrontational zone. Although there are many things one can do in Gestalt Theory, the
first roleplay will focus mainly on getting a reaction out of the patient.
Here are some tips of what you can do to get this reaction:
Focus on the Now:
If conversation turns to "past or future events", bring patients back to the present by asking them
questions.
– Express past or future events as present:
– When I was a child...
– Are you a child now?
– Yesterday....
– I want to know about today
– Making a reference to what they are doing with their body
– Changes in body posture, foot moving, body and facial changes
– "I see that you are moving your foot."
– "Are you covering ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Below are a few of these theories, and some explanation for who each of these principles would be
best suited for.
Awareness/Here and Now:
Some patients may be constantly reminiscing of moments in their past, maybe about certain events
that have bothered or traumatised them. Others may have their minds in the future, constantly
anxious of all possible futures that may be handed to them. Applying the principles of awareness, or
the here and now, will bring the patient's emotions into the present, where they are to be managed in
the now.

To deal with the present, the therapist should bring all words, and body actions into the present.
This tactic would be beneficial for patients with past traumatic stress and for people who generate
anxiety from imagining future moments.
This could be anything from patients with monetary problems, strains in their relationship with their
family and friends, dealing with physical pain and unwanted thoughts.

The Importance Of Gestalt Play Therapy
Child– centered play therapy sees development as flowing, fluid, and maturing process of becoming.
Within child–centered play therapy, personality structure is centered on three ideas: the person, the
phenomenal field, and the self. The person of a child is everything that they are; behaviors, feelings,
thoughts, and their physical beings. Simply stated that as a child goes through life they make
organized changes, as one part is changed based on an experience other parts are also altered.
Making a continuous dynamic intrapersonal interaction system within each child. A child's
phenomenal field is everything a child experiences; at the conscious or unconscious level. How a
child perceives their own reality is what must be known in order to know and understand their
behaviors. It is important to appreciate a child's behaviors via viewing it through their own eye's. It
is important for a therapist to not be judgmental or to evaluate a child's simple behaviors. The last
construct of personality structure with this theory is the self. The self is a child's total experiences or
a child recognizing themselves while interacting with their world. Being able to recognize
themselves is an important part of developing their own concepts of self, their environment and
about their own self in affiliation to their environment (O'Connor & Braverman, 2009).
Gestalt play therapy personality theory is based on organismic functioning in environmental
situations. The main components of

Gestalt Therapy
PSYU–501
February 13, 2012
Gestalt Therapy Gestalt therapy was founded by Frederick (Fritz) and Laura Perls in the 1940s. It
instructs the client on the phenomenological method which is the theory that says behavior is
determined by the way the person perceives reality rather than by objective external reality. This
therapy method is an influential preference compared to the two chief therapeutic methods,
psychoanalysis and behavioral therapy. This therapy combines the clients' thoughts, feelings, and
actions into one whole part; Gestalt, is the German word for "whole." Nancy Piotrowski (2003)
describes Gestalt therapy as coaching the client in awareness, perceiving, feeling, and acting to
determine the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One therapeutic technique used by Gestalt therapists brings the focus and exaggeration of nonverbal
behaviors. Basically saying that body language says more about clients' present feelings than the
words they are saying. Gestalt therapists assist their clients by helping them to become aware of the
nonverbal signals they are giving off in a therapeutic session. If the client states they are fine and
have no concerns for the day, yet they are tapping their fingers on the counter or seem to be
anxiously fidgeting, the therapist will ask them about the behavior. The therapist will then focus on
the emotions associated with the finger tapping or fidgeting the client is exhibiting. Dreamwork is
another technique of Gestalt therapy where clients recall a recent dream and instead of analyzing it
they look at it from a different perspective. The perspective is the present, talking about the dream as
if it is occurring in the moment. The therapist will encourage the client to talk about the dream in
present tense. The client will also talk about objects and people in their dream as if they are
themselves. For example in a dream the client may have seen a dolphin swimming in the ocean, but
in Dreamwork the question would be, what does it feel like to be that dolphin? How do you think
the dolphin feels right at this moment? The client then has to make present tense statements to bring
the dream forth

Gestalt Therapy: Annotated Bibliography
Gestalt therapy is derived from a combination of Psychoanalysis and Existentialism. This therapy
aims and fostering self–awareness in a client in order to offer enhanced control over their daily lives
by concentrating on the source of a person's feelings and actions (Lecture 4, 2016). The Gestalt
Therapy Page is sponsored by The Gestalt Journal Press and is constantly altered with more
resources added. This website provides materials that are copyrighted, but are able to be
downloaded for one's personal use and reference. However, if one desires to distribute, whether
electronically or printed, the resources and graphics, one must first acquire permission from The
Gestalt Therapy Page.
The webpage itself has a very simplistic layout that is not particularly aesthetically pleasing and
hints to its age. There is no menu bar on the top or side of the page to easily navigate to the content
the page has to offer. Instead, one must scroll down the page to discover what resources the page has
to offer. The top of the page offers a link to the very yellow colored New and Notes section so that
one can remain updated with the latest information in the world of Gestalt therapy via the Gestalt
community newsletter. Under that is an external link to the Gestalt Journal Press online bookstore.
Below that is an image of a compact disk that, if clicked, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Clicking it takes you to a list of links that have no specific reason to be ordered the way they are as
well as a short description of what each link is. The penultimate section, which should have been the
first of the page, is a quick welcoming to the website and a blurb of information such as who
sponsors the website and what the website has to offer. The final section is a link to the Gestalt
Therapy Network, a website where one will find a discussion board, a page where individuals and
institutes post links to their own sites, and

Gloria Clors And Gestalt Therapy
In the Gloria tapes, there were 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 best helped Gloria.
The first therapy style Gloria was introduced to was Person Centered Therapy and the therapist was
Carl Rogers. Viewing Rogers at my own viewpoint, for the time period, he seems unbelievable. ...
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The kind of therapy was very much less confrontational when compared to Gestalt Therapy as well
as a lot more talking. Ellis guided the conversation more and tended to ask questions that involve
her expressing herself less compared to the other two kinds of therapies. My first impression of this
kind of therapy was very negative, for some reason I believed that it was not quite beneficial for
Gloria, however, when I watched it a second time, I realized that my interpretation was different and
that this therapy and the advice from the therapist was actually benefit Gloria. The connection
between the two seemed to start off quick because Gloria was actually a fan of his book but really
seemed to firm was when Ellis brought up the mangled arm it really seemed like they were on the
same level. I believe that this session overall helped Gloria thinking more and caused her to take
more actions especially because of the homework assignment that Ellis said he would give her if she
was his client. What really shown me that the session was beneficial for Gloria was when Ellis said
"assume the worse". When Ellis said this, Gloria pulled out a cigarette which to me says that his
words are getting to her and making her think because I have noticed that she seems to smoke when
she feels nervous or pressured and needs to calm down. Thus, this means that she is trying to think
through Ellis's

Gestalt Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Gestalt Therapy Gestalt therapy falls under the umbrella of existential therapy which was founded
by Frederick (Fritz) Perls in the 1940s. The theory is where the counselor teaches clients awareness;
in which perception, emotion, and actions are distinguished from interpreting and reprocessing
existing attitudes. Explanations and interpretations are considered less reliable than what is directly
perceived and felt. The goal of this therapeutic approach is for clients to become aware of what they
are doing, how they are doing it, and how they can change themselves, but yet at the same time, to
learn to accept and value who they are. Gestalt therapy focuses more on what is happening (process)
than what is being discussed (content). The emphasis is put toward what is being done at the
moment rather than on the past or the unknown such as: what was, might be, could be, or should be
(Yontef, "Gestalt Therapy: An Introduction").
Person–Centered Therapy ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Carl Rogers a psychologist, developed this in the 1940s and 1950s. The goal of PCT is for clients to
develop a sense of self, where they realize how their attitudes, feelings and behavior are being
negatively affected. This technique catches criticisms by behaviorists and by psychoanalysts, but it
proves to be an effective and popular treatment. In this type of therapy the client is responsible for
improving his or her life, not the therapist, which differs from most other therapies. Rogers
developed his theory based on his work with emotionally troubled people and claimed that we have
a remarkable capacity for self–healing and personal growth leading towards self–actualization.
Roger says that reality is subjective, that no one can fully understand the experiences of

Case Study of Gestalt Play Therapy Essay
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, experiential and phenomenological modality that addresses the totality of an individual in
terms of senses, body, emotions and intellect." In an active process, suppressed feelings can be
explored in depth and through understanding of the how ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
According to Blom, (2006) "The integration of polarities is a prerequisite for a dynamic and healthy
life process." Therefore, all techniques and modalities from gestalt theory focus on direct experience
and experimentation. From this perspective, direct experience is the only way that learning can take
place. The therapist should avoid counseling and interpretation during therapy and focus on creating
an atmosphere where the client can discover what is important and they can react to the information
as it is important to them. The therapist is primarily a catalyst in the process of therapy. Oaklander
(1994) posits that any interpretation by the therapist must be verified with the child. The primary
aim of the gestalt play therapist is to help children become aware of their unique process. The focus
is on the experience of the process, what children do and how they do it, which they are, what they
feel and what they want. Acceptance of this leads to the realization that they can personally make
choices and experiment with new behavior. Gestalt play therapy focuses on children's direct
experience in the here and now. The therapist's goal is to facilitate the client's awareness of their
process. (Corey, 2000) In working through negative, the child can realize negative behavior patterns
that may have become ingrained deeply beneath their awareness and

Taking a Look at Gestalt Therapy
"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 people as being
inextricably linked with their environments, both affected by and affecting the context in which a
person lives. Here and Now, experiments, creativity and imagination are concepts linked with the
theory and practice of Gestalt.
Here are some philosphical assumptions in Gestalt therapy: It is a humanistic and existential
approach that conveys people are growth oriented and have holism. It also empasises on human
free–will and responsibilty. The term orgamism shows that it is impossible to separate the phsycical
and psychological.
It is the primacy of field theory (in which we include the concepts of holism and organisimic self–
regulation); phenomenology and dialogue – the three pillars supporting the standpoint of the
Gestalt–based approach– that is the basis for a comprehensive process model of growth (Resnick
1995) The core motivation of Humans is by drive to staisy biolical and psycohlogical needs. Strving
to regulate organism so it can grow. Self–

Compare and Contrast Gestalt Therapy and Person Centred...
estalt Therapy
Gestalt therapy is a form of psychotherapy that relates to the process of human perception and works
on a basic concept of the Gestalt approach «The whole is different from the sum of its parts.» This
approach in Gestalt psychotherapy describes the process of perception in addition to the psychic
equipment in general. The Gestalt approach originated from research that was initiated by
psychologists specializing in human perception which demonstrated that humans do not recognize
objects as separate elements and instead organize the objects into significant totalities via the
process of perception. The concept of Gestalt psychotherapy was then formally developed by Fritz
Perlsduring the 1950s, a well known psychiatrist and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
According to this theory, one of the primary objectives of Gestalt therapy is the ability to restore the
self–awareness which is lost when a psychological disorder becomes evident. This is accomplished
by restoring the individual's ability to differentiate, which helps the individual to identify what is
and what is not a true part of the self, what provides the individual with a sense of self–realization
and achievement and what leads to frustration. The person is guided towards a sense of integration,
in the search for an appropriate balance in terms of the limit between the self and the rest of the
world. The process of awareness is one of the primary methods used in this approach which focuses
on extending the individual's knowledge of self and their understanding of the externalenvironment
in every aspect. When this method is applied during Gestalt therapy, awareness is created by the
implementation of five principle questions: 1) What do you do? 2) What do you feel? 3) What do
you want? 4) What do you avoid? And, 5) What do you expect? During Gestalt therapy the
individual's awareness starts with multiple levels of examination which begins at the surface and
then works through layers to reach the emotions and eventually the cognitive and unstable
processes. This is accomplished through the five principle questions as well as non–verbal responses
or body language of the individual.
Client

Gestalt Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy And Flagging
The approaches that were used were Gestalt therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Reality Therapy,
Flagging The Mind Field, and the Empty Chair technique. For the Empty Chair technique, Christina
was asked to tell her mother what she desired to tell her. Christina got emotional and told her mother
how mean she is to her when her mother was "playing mom and dad". Christina reported how it was
not fair to turn down her mother when she needs to talk about her troubles. When Christina was
asked to be her mother, she told herself that her mother knew her to 28 years, how her father did not
want her to work, how grateful she was to see her grow up as a child, how close Christina and her
father were growing up, how she is scared of the future, and is always

Adlerian Therapy and Gestalt Therapy: A Compare and Contrast
Compare & contrast Adlerian Therapy and Gestalt Therapy Introduction This paper will carry out a
comparative analysis of the two most important psychological therapies, the Adlerian Therapy and
the Gestalt Therapy. Adlerian Therapy This therapy was named after Alfred Adler. Some of the main
components of a person that are taken into consideration by the therapy include concepts of
inferiority, superiority held by a person, social interests, likes and dislikes, lifestyles, priorities and
birth order. These are some of the components of an individual's personality that make him or her
unique. Views on Human Nature If the Adlerian therapy is summarized, it can be added here that the
therapy is more of a growth plan. One of the main facts that is stressed by the theory is that human
beings are in control of their own nature and that there should be a positive view towards the nature.
Views that an individual has towards his nature leads him in having a good or bad faith. Being a
child, a certain kind of lifestyle is adopted by an individual and this kind of lifestyle goes on in a
consistent manner throughout his life (Carlson, Watts, and Maniacci, 2006, p. 45). Key Concepts of
the Adlerian Therapy In accordance to the theory given by Adler, social interactions made by a
person make important contributions in the larger community that may be beneficial on a larger
scale. Level of the mental health of an individual is shown by the contributions that are made by an

Essay about Gestalt Play Therapy: Theory, Techniques,...
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 therapy is a process–
oriented, experiential therapy that is concerned with the integrated functioning of all aspects of the
person: senses, body, emotions and intellect." Gestalt therapy can help shed light on suppressed
feelings by helping us to focus our awareness on our feelings in the "here and now." Once
recognized, resolution of uncomfortable feelings, correction of habitual negative behavior patterns,
and recognizing and changing negative thought processes can become a part of the therapeutic
work. Through this form of therapeutic process, individuals ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Wertheimer posited the theoretical position that thinking proceeds from the whole to the parts.
(Miller, 1975) In treating a problem as a whole, the whole would dominate over parts, resulting in a
synthesis. In this theory, the concept of grouping understanding aspects of visual and other stimuli
which cause the subject to interpret a problem or perceptual event in a certain way is important to
understanding the therapeutic process. The inception of cognition starts with a problem. The
problem causes tension, the tension produces strain and the strain would prompt the individual to
attempt to ameliorate the situation. The Gestalt process of resolving a problem is to proceed from a
bad gestalt to a better one. In the selected case study, The mode of therapeutic intervention will take
the Gestalt Play Therapy focus. The interaction between Jacob and I will be an open dialogue with
straightforward caring, warmth, acceptance, and self–responsibility that specifically focuses on
inclusion, with me fully present in the experience of Jacob, where I will not judge, analyze, or
interpret what is observed. My presence refers to expressing observations, preferences, feelings,
personal experience, and thoughts to Jacob. Commitment to dialogue will present the opportunity to
encourage a sense of connection between Jacob and me. Our dialogue will be active and nonverbal
or verbal. It can be any modality that expresses and moves

Gestalt Therapy
The majority of the therapies covered throughout the semester seem to be greatly influenced by the
humanistic approach. Therapies such as Adlerian, Existential, and Person–Centered therapy all
generally have a positive view of humanity. These approaches are very positive and empowering
whereas Freud's theory was very deterministic. Furthermore, unlike Freud's psychoanalytic theory,
the present and future are emphasized way more than the past. Another general tenet is that the
client has control and the power to change the situation they are in. Another crucial difference is the
relationship between the client and counselor. Freud's style was very cold, and his relationship with
his clients was very distant. This is not seen ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Specifically, I saw two obvious similarities. First, the idea of resisting contact seemed very similar
to Freud and his ego defense mechanisms. Essentially, contact is being able to interact with one's
environment and people while still maintaining one's individuality. Resistance to contact occurs as a
means of coping. If the resistance becomes chronic, this can result in dysfunctional behavior. The
short–term coping that comes from resistance reminded me of how Freud's ego defense mechanisms
reduced anxiety. Similarly, ego–defense defense mechanisms become harmful to the individual if
used chronically. The second similarity I noticed between psychoanalysis and Gestalt therapy was
the idea of bringing certain things into awareness. In psychoanalysis, the goal is to bring underlying
issues to the surface. The same goal can be found in Gestalt therapy. Specifically, when dealing with
unfinished business. For instance, clients maybe avoiding certain feelings or be unaware of them. As
a result, these unresolved issues may begin to affect their present lives. Thus, both styles of therapy
believe it is crucial that clients are prompted to bring these issues into awareness to prevent further

The Importance Of Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt therapy utilizes a phenomenological perspective, which, as noted by Yontef (1993), focuses
on the present moment as experienced by the client and therapist. He states that the client's
subjective experience, as well as overt behaviors, are important in therapeutic sessions, and
therapists should focus on describing what they see rather than attempting to reach specific goals.
Gestalt theorists state that the goal is for the client to become aware of his/her "Gestalt;" the
complex interaction of a client's sensory stimuli, emotions, and physiological responses (Sabar,
2013; Schulz, 2013). They explain that a Gestalt is a "whole" distinct from its component parts. A
change in any component of this Gestalt leads to changes in every other part (i.e. embarrassment
causing a blush) (Sabar, 2013). Field theory argues that the various components of a client's
environment are perceived as wholes which form his/her "field" (Wagner–Moore, 2004). Because
humans can only attend to a small part of this field, his/her attention varies in focus as various
figures rise into awareness (Burley, 2012). A "figure" is a need at the forefront of the client's mind,
whereas the "ground" is the backdrop of his/her field from which the figure arises (Burley, 2012;
Macaluso, 2015; Sabar, 2013). If needs are not met, they remain in the foreground and demand
attention, interfering with the client's functioning until they come to his/her awareness and are met
(Wagner–Moore, 2004). Gestalt therapists (Sabar, 2013; Yontef, 1993) state that the client is viewed
within his/her field, in which each component cannot be understood without reference to the whole.
The client's field consists of all past experiences he/she has had, his/her current physiological and
emotional experiences, memories, meaning systems, thoughts available to his/her awareness, as well
as external variables (Burley, 2013; Macaluso, 2015). A client's past may have influence on the
present because it is the source of old habits and unfinished business which influence his/her
experience in the moment (Sabar, 2013). The client's current experiences are in interaction with
his/her past experiences, which are in interaction with the present therapeutic moment

Theory of Gestalt Therapy
Theory of Gestalt Therapy
"What is Gestalt Therapy?" This is a question that has divided therapists for decades. Although
Gestalt Therapy is based on a set of techniques, it is ultimately the therapist own defined style that
makes it unique – from the theatrical techniques of Fritz Perls to the one–on–one approach of Jim
Simken.
According to G.M. Yontef (Awareness, Dialogue and Process Pg 203), Gestalt Therapy is: 1. a
bringing about of awareness 2. it is based on the I and Thou contact withdrawal process 3. its world
view is based on holism and field theory
Each and every one of us seeks to make sense of life's events, and as such a considerable amount of
time is spent in trying to analyse and explain these events. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Premature closure feels better that leaving it open, but since the need is still unmet, it will continue
to demand attention. The result is a fixation on the part of the individual to resolve his 'unfinished
business'.
Another aspect of contact is that contact itself is but the highlight of a 'contact withdrawal cycle', i.e.
a cycle that occurs and reoccurs. Habitually, the therapist backs off and comes back again, listening
quietly without straining to figure everything out; information is given in a calm but impersonal
manner. It is important that the session itself develops a natural rhythm. Meaningful contact cannot
be attained or attempted every second. The client also needs to work hard to attain contact, and if
there is a pattern of inequality then it is best to change it. If the therapist is doing all the work, than
the client's needs may not be met or the therapist may be feeding into their desire to be spoon–fed. If
on the other hand the client is doing much more of the work, then the therapist may need to loosen
up and give more of himself. Sometimes, the therapist may need to have the client be still and quiet
so that he can do the work.
The client – therapist relationship is an important part of Gestalt Therapy. This "I – Thou"
relationship is a contact between two genuine people rather

Gestalt Therapy
I. Summary and Integration of Major Concepts
Founded by Frederick (Fritz) and Laura Perls in the 1940's, Gestalt therapy is a phenomenological
–– existential methodology which emphasizes experience and experimentation. Gestalt is a German
term that means a "complete pattern or configuration" (p. 112). Though there are many modalities
and styles in Gestalt therapy, it is holistic in its approach uniting mind, body, and feeling (p. 112).
Some concepts at the core of Gestalt therapy are "the organism as a whole", emphasis on the "here
and now", and "awareness" (pp. 223–225). Perls believed that "human beings are unified organisms"
(p.223) and that mind and body were not separate entities. It was ... Show more content on
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It is through this increased awareness that the health (or mental health) of the individual is restored.
II. Breakthroughs and Steps in Learning Practicing Client Centered therapy helped me get over most
of my fear and apprehension about performing as therapist and client in front of my classmates. So,
as we (the class) began our first session in Gestalt I initially felt less nervous about participating, in
fact, I volunteered to be the first client in my group during the first demonstration. Just like client
centered therapy, I had again been in a group that was assigned to Dr. Fiebert and I felt fortunate to
have him demonstrate because I knew that I would learn a great deal given his years of experience. I
had learned through the reading and class lecture that this was a therapy that called for the therapist
to be creative in getting the client to express emotions and feelings. I was anxious to see what
creative techniques Dr. Fiebert would employ. He began the session by asking me what I was aware
of and I told him that I was feeling some tension in my neck and shoulders. He then asked me to
describe the tension, rate the level of tension on a scale of 1–10, increase the tension and relate it to
and experience or incident in my life. I linked to a recent situation I had experienced with my
mother, whom he then brought in to the empty chair to begin the

Gestalt Therapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; The Treatment Of Richard
Faulty or maladaptive cognitions are negative thoughts and beliefs about ourselves, others or
situations that can reinvent themselves as a number of ways including depression, anxiety, self pity
and manifest outwardly as negative or faulty behavior such as violence, extreme mood swings,
eating disorders or substance misuse.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an action therapy that focuses on current behavior, Corey (2001).
CBT recognizes the connection between faulty cognitions and behaviors and through the use of a
structured therapy aims to help the client recognize and restructure their automatic thought
processes from negative to positive resulting in the desired behavioral ... Show more content on
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Clients are encouraged to keep a diary in which they note thoughts, feelings and behaviors at the
times when they feel anxiety, anger etc. This is brought into each session and allows the counselor
and client to discuss the rationality of thoughts and behaviors that have occurred since their last
meeting. It also helps monitor client progress and review goals and strategies if necessary.
Corey (2001) says goals should be within the limits, motivation and capacity of each client.
Counselors help clients identify plans to achieve their needs.
Psychodynamic Therapy; The Treatment Of Richard
To look at the case study from a psychodynamic perspective we would also take into account
Richards childhood memories because psychodynamic therapy focuses on the belief that the past,
particularly childhood events, influence us as adults. And in the case of painful experiences we must
revisit the past to resolve issues that have been repressed causing intrapsychic conflict in order to
understand current behavior and the need or desire to use substance abuse, in Richards case alcohol.
Completing a lifestyle assessment at the beginning of therapy can identify
Emotions and feelings that are uncomfortable or frightening caused

The Pros And Cons Of Gestalt Therapy
In one week from today, I will have my first psychotherapy session with Susan. She will be one of
the most unique clients that I will ever encounter with because unlike most of my previous
encounters, her life is almost perfect. Based on the information I received, Susan has it all – a decent
paying job, good friends, good family, and enough money to spend.
Thankfully, she also has not experienced no major traumas or changes in the last year.
However, there is a little problem which I think causes her to feel unmotivated to carry on with her
life. She has somewhat lost two people who used to be very close to her – a romantic relationship
that ended a few months ago and a close friend who has moved away, where both she used to hang
out with every single week without fail. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
She also thinks that once she has a bad past, her present and future will be bad as well. Going
through Gestalt therapy will enable Susan to be more aware of her surroundings and it gives her an
idea of how awareness can help change her attitudes and beliefs.
As much as Gestalt therapy is one of the appropriate treatments for Susan, there are also potential
limitations of the therapy. The approach can cause Susan to have an extremely high level of intense
feelings if she is the type who is conditioned to be emotionally introvert.
Also, Susan might think that being too honest in showing her feelings towards me is a sign of
weakness. On my side, a potential limitation of using Gestalt therapy is that I might push
Susan too much on showing her emotions, which in turn can either make her behavior worse
DEALING WITH EXTREME LONELINESS 5 or be more reluctant to participant in the therapy
experiments. As a whole, Gestalt therapy only deals with the here and now while the past and the
future are an avoidance.
At the end of each therapy session, I will do a mindfulness exercise with Susan.

Fritz Perls's Use of Gestalt Therapy: a Review
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). Though this film has made a significant impact in the field of psychological
education, many simply remember Fritz Perls as a brash and cocky showman. This is unfortunate as
he has left very meaningful contributions to the field of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
At yet another point, as he points out to Gloria, many of his statements have a neutral charge but are
given a negative charge through Gloria's transferential perception. For example, Perls asks Gloria
what her foot was doing and Gloria perceives it as a negative judgment on Perls's part and a demand
that she explain why she is wiggling her foot. As perls explains to Gloria "That is the Fritz of your
imagination" (1975). This interaction between the therapist and client led to a significant
intervention. When Perls asks Gloria what her foot is doing she laughs quite a bit and says that she's
afraid that he's going to notice everything that she does. Perls intervenes by pointing out that Gloria
is laughing (which is incongruent with what she is saying and feeling). These and many other
behaviors lead Perls to confront Gloria by calling her a phony. It is at this point that Gloria expresses
her feelings in a genuine way. She expresses verbally that she is angry and she behaves as though
she is angry. This is the first time during the session that her affect is congruent with her mood. This
is a perfect example of what Corey meant when he wrote "[Perls] was a master at intentionally
frustrating clients to enhance their awareness (2009, p. 200). This was Perls's way of reaching for
feelings. He is almost pushing Gloria into contact with her real feelings. He provokes her anger in
the here–and–now and as a result she has an opportunity to

Gestalt Therapy
Quotation GESTALT THERAPY Psychology 460 Counseling and Interviewing Sheila K. Grant,
Ph.D. "I am not in this world to live up to other people 's expectations, nor do I feel that the world
must live up to mine." ––Fritz Perls 1 2 Theory of Personality A person exists by differentiating self
from other & by connecting self & other These are the two functions of a boundary The boundary
between self & environment must be permeable to allow for exchanges, yet firm enough to enable
autonomous action When the boundary becomes unclear, lost, or impermeable, mental & emotional
disturbance results 3 Gestalt A gestalt, or whole, both includes & transcends the sum of its parts It
cannot be understood simply as a ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Now Therapist is seeking to help a person live their feelings rather than talk about them To live
the moment rather than describe it in a detached way 15 16 The Now The past is recognized as
having an important influence on a person's present attitudes and behavior – But what is in the past
is either brought into the here

Gestalt Therapy Summary
I enjoyed reading your application of Gestalt Therapy and techniques with clients who have
experienced Trauma. I especially was interested in reading about this therapeutic models when
dealing with victims of wide–spread trauma or natural disasters, due to the shared experience of the
event. Perera–Diltz, Laux, and Toman (2012) discussed the importance of focus on "unfinished
business" with Gestalt Therapy. While each person will have a different worldview or experience of
the shared traumatic event (i.e. flood, tsunami, mass shooting, etc.), there is a commonality within
the group that each person went through it. This is far different from individual experiences with
intimate trauma. Chang (as cited in Perera–Diltz, Laux, & Toman, 2012) described

Essay about Gestalt Therapy
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 what is
immediately evident in the experience of the perceiver. He believed that individuals have the
capacity to self regulate in their environment if they are fully aware of what is happening in and
around them. There are several basic ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Contact is made my seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, and moving and it is made effectively by
interacting with nature and other people without one losing their individuality. However, people
often resist contact. Resistances to contact are defenses we develop to prevent us from experiencing
the present. These defenses are called introjection, projection, retroflection, deflection, and
confluence. The concern of Gestalt therapists is helping the client to become aware of how they are
blocking their environment. The last key concept to talk about is energy and blocks to energy.
Blocked energy is another form of resistance and it can be manifested by tension in some parts of
the body such as posture, keeping one's body tight and closed, not breathing deeply, etc The
therapist aims to make their client aware of their blocked energy and bring the sensations to the
client's awareness. To further the understanding of Gestalt therapy, it is important to get a good idea
of the therapeutic process. The basic goal of therapy is attaining awareness and with it, greater
choice. Awareness emerges within the context of a genuine meeting between the client and therapist.
The therapist's function is to assist the client in developing their own awareness and experiencing
themselves how they are in the present. The therapists must also pay attention to their client's body
language. These nonverbal cues can provide a lot of useful information

Gestalt Therapy Vs. Person-Centered Therapy

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