Gestalt Therapy

                               
                    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Perls                                        http://www.gestalt.org/laura.htm

                       Frederick (Fritz) Perls                                              Laura Posner Perls 
                             (1893-1970)                                                           (1905-1990)



Founders:

Frederick "Fritz" Perls was the main originator and developer of  Gestalt Therapy. He was born in Berlin, Germany to a lower middle class family. He earned his medical degree with a specialization in psychiatry. In 1916 he joined the German Army where he served as a medic during World War I. He had experience with solders whom were gassed on the front lines this gave him an interest in mental functioning. Which lead the way to the Gestalt psychology. He came to see the importance of viewing a human as a whole. Perls (and other colleagues) established the New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy in 1952. People wither responded well to Perls or saw him as harshly confrontational.

Wife of Fritz, Laura Posner Perls, had a rich psychological background when she met fritz in 1926. The couple married in 1930 and had two children. Laura came from well-to-do parents and was very talented with the ability to play the piano with professional skill at the age of 18. Music and dance became vital parts of her adult life. Laura made significant contributions to the development and maintenance of the gestalt therapy movement in the U.S. and around the world. Laura a Fritz differed, Laura payed a great amount of attention to contact and support while Fritz had attention in intrapsychic phenomenon with his focus awareness. She taught that every Gestalt therapist needs to develop their own style and that whatever is integrated in our personality becomes support for what we use.


Goals of Therapy: 

While Gestalt therapy may not be goal oriented there are six methodological components that are essential because of the complexity of the therapeutic work. These methodological components that are vital to Gestalt Therapy are:

1. the continuum of experience
2. the here and now
3. the paradoxical theory of change
4. the experiment
5. the authentic encounter
6. process-oriented diagnosis

While a Gestalt therapist may not be focused on predetermined goals for their client, they do seem to have a basic goal and that is to assist the client to gain greater awareness and greater choice. The sense of awareness that needs to be gained includes, knowing the environment, knowing oneself, accepting oneself, and being able to make contact. Without the awareness clients tend to not be able to make a personality change. But with this awareness they have a capability to face and accept. Gestalt therapy is essentially an existential encounter where the clients move in certain directions. 

http://www.gestalt-annarbor.org/gestalt_therapy.htm

Techniques:

Techniques in the Gestalt therapy are seen as experiments where the therapist may tell the client "try this out and see what it's like for you." These experiments are presented in an invitational manner. Experiments can shift focus from talking about a topic to an activity that makes the client aware and understand the experience. Gestalt therapy can be seen as a series of experiments. The learning from these experiments can both educate the client and the therapist. Experiments bring struggles to life by having the client act them out in the present. The experiments are tailored to each individual client. Experiments can take many forms, just to name a few examples:

• setting up dialog between the client and some significant person in his/her life
• dramatizing the memory of a painful event
• assuming the role of one's mother or father during a role play
• a dialog between two conflicting aspects within the person

A specific technique used in Gestalt therapy (which Perls used often) is the empty chair technique. while examining the splits in personality Perls states that there is a main division. the "top dog" which is righteous  moralistic, demanding, bossy, manipulative etc. and the "underdog" which is like the role of the victim and is apologetic, helpless, and weak. The top dog and underdog are in a constant struggle for control. while using the two chairs the therapist asks the client to sit in one chair and fully become the top dog, then sit in the other chair and be as the underdog. In this role playing technique all parts are played by the client. This technique aids the client in experiencing the conflict fully and helps the client resolve and accept both sides. It also brings forth feelings that the client may be denying. 

                              http://quiteinterestingpeople.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html

                                   http://www.ddftherapy.com/therapy-style/gestalt-therapy-style

Making the rounds is another exercise seen in Gestalt therapy. It is used in a group setting and involves the client going to other members of the group and either speaking or doing something with the members of the group. The purpose is to confront and disclose oneself to the new behavior and from that grown and change. This helps when people are in groups and they may be shy about speaking with the new members. This exercise encourages communication between the members. 

                                            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0L56oF_z9s

                                           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2CtRKej7dw

Key Concepts:

• View of Human Nature- clients have to grow up, stand on their own feet and deal with their life problems themselves. Perls was a master at intentionally frustrating clients to enhance their own awareness. 
• Some Principles: 

1. Holism- Gestalt in German means whole or completion. Gestalt therapists are interested in the whole person. They place no value on aspects of the client.
2. Field Theory- The organism (client in this sense) must be seen in its environment. 
3. The Figure-Formation Process- this describes how the individual organizes experience from moment to moment. In Gestalt practice there is a foreground and background.
4. Organismic Self-Regulation- a process where equilibrium is disturbed by a need, sensation, or interest. 

• The Now- emphasis on learning to appreciate and experience the present moment. Phenomenological inquiry- means paying attention to what is happening now. 
• Unfinished Business- this can be manifested and expressed as rage, pain, hate, anxiety, grief, guilt, etc. 
• Contact and Resistance to Contact- in Gestalt therapy contact is a must for growth and change to take place. 
• Energy & Blocks to Energy: pay special attention to energy, how it is used and how it can be blocked in Gestalt therapy. 

http://boulderrelationshiphealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/cartoon-indiv-gestalt.jpg

For more information on Gestalt Therapy -Click here

Information courtesy of:
Gerald Corey Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy 9th Ed