Gestalt Therapy Rebecca Cordisco “Lose your mind and come to your senses” -Fritz Perls

Background Fritz Perls (b. 1893, d. 1970) Born into a Jewish family in a suburb of Berlin, Germany. Confrontive, showy, controversial. Originally trained in psychoanalysis. Replaced sex drive with hunger drive. Married Laura Posner Perls in 1929, 2 children

Basic Philosophy GT theorists believe that humans are growth oriented. Most basic value-HOLISM. Humans can’t be separated from their environments, nor can they be divided into parts (body and mind). Humanistic/Existential Approach Emphasizes individual choice and responsibility. Focused on the growth process. Emphasis on growth and actualization (seems to support a positive view of human nature). Emphasis on creativity, spontaneity, and resisting conformity. Healthy= sometimes being in conflict with societal norms.

Human Motivation Motivated by the drive to satisfy needs. Biological and psychological needs are important Important need-interaction with other human beings. Process of self-regulation Harmony with the environment, maturity, or actualization. Self-regulation Knowing what is good and bad for you. This is innate, and humans adapt easily to changing environments.

Central Constructs Contact Seeing, moving, hearing, touching, talking, smelling, tasting are all ways of contacting the environment. Healthy contact results in assimilation, which in turn leads to growth. Following contact, the organism retreats to “digest” the results. Needs Life is a process of needs satisfaction. A Gestalt has a figure and a ground Figure, what stands out Ground, the rest of the experience (eg. The background). The notion of Gestalt (meaning “whole” or “pattern” in German) A need is an incomplete Gestalt that emerges into an organism’s awareness. That becomes figure, everything else becomes ground. When one need is satisfied, another arrives to take its place.

Who do you see here??

Central Constructs Polarities If something exists, the opposite must exist as well. Sometimes we as humans do not want to accept one end of the polarity. Top-dog (you should), underdog (I can’t) Contact Disturbance Also called boundary problems or resistances (to awareness). Dysfunctional Most primitive contact disturbance is “introjection” Taking in experience or food without digesting it.

Resistances Projection An unwanted part of the self is expelled into the environment. For example, we avoid the experience of our own hate for someone by believing that they hate us. Confluence Refers to a complete loss of self in which the individual cannot separate himself from the environment. Unable to withdraw when it is appropriate to do so. Has trouble expressing their own beliefs and values. Kids going into gangs, adopt the identity of the gang.

Resistances Retroflection The unacceptable impulse is turned toward the self. Tense the muscles to resist hitting someone During therapy, physical expressions can be clues where awareness was interrupted. Awareness is key. If you are unaware of your retroflections, you are repressing them. Isolation Losing contact with both the environment and the self Deflection The impulse is dampened. Also seen when we avoid or interrupt interaction with another person.

Health and Dysfunction Healthy people live in harmony with the environment. Self-regulation guides the individual to be aware of shifting needs. Organism uses natural tendencies to self-regulate and assimilate. Recognizes the interconnection with the environment Strikes a balance with herself as well as others Creative adjustment (used by GT counselors to describe how one changes the environment to meet the needs of the organism and changes the organism to fit the needs of the environment).

Anxiety-“futurizing” (failing to remain centered in the present). Dysfunction in GT is known as “dis-ease” because the person is not in harmony with the environment. Neurosis is a growth disorder that results from the interruption of the cycle of awareness. Unfinished Business- when the GT process has failed in some way The need that was not met will hang around to bother the person. Anxiety-“futurizing” (failing to remain centered in the present).

Nature of Therapy No formal assessment is used The therapist is generally the assessment tool (uses observation to see how the individual functions in their life). The counselor will look at the client’s contact with the environment, awareness, support, etc. Hard core GT analysts say that diagnosing people will label them, and that is de-humanizing. The most common assessment/diagnostic question used in GT “What do you experience right now?” Most interested in assessing the client’s current state of awareness

Let’s talk to Gloria!

Overview of Therapeutic Atmosphere The essence- the immediate experience of the client. Does not mean that the past or the future is never discussed. GT counselors believe that asking “why” is avoiding life. They feel talking about things strays away from experiencing and acting. Therapist strives to create an authentic contact with the client. Good therapy is a result of the therapist paying attention to both the client’s process and the relationship between the therapist and client. Therapist is active. Primary task-observation to find where the client has interrupted her experience. Can be long or short term

Roles of Client and Counselor Confrontation was the hallmark of Perls’ approach. Different today Counselors are expected to be authentic and transparent with their clients. Counselors should be aware of their own being as well as their clients. The client should engage actively The GT counselor likes when clients disagree, in fact encourages it. They don’t want their clients to introject their own values!

Goals Awareness 2 aspects Microawareness-awareness of a particular content area Awareness of the awareness process Ultimately results in the growth of the individual Growth

Process of Therapy 3 central elements Relationship, awareness and experiment Relationship with counselor and client Interruptions in the awareness process are what bring client to counseling in the first place Experiments try to bring issues out in the safe environment of counseling.

Critical rules Stay in the now Emphasis on aware and authentic communication Using “I” not “it” language (taking responsibility) Asking no questions Emphasis on physical or body sensation and functioning. Unfinished business is often seen in the body of the client. The notion of “field” The therapist is an integral part of the process, not just an observer. The field is everything that is around and goes on between the client and the counselor. When resistance is shown, the GT counselor wants the client to become aware of it.

Countertransference Proactive countertransference When the counselor’s unfinished business is activated while in relationship with the client. Reactive countertransference When the GT counselor responds to the client’s transference behavior.

Therapeutic Techniques Eclectic-any technique that fosters awareness is considered acceptable. Therapist self-disclosure Therapist will disclose their awareness to the client. Dialogues Empty chair Helping to resolve unfinished business The client can switch between being top-dog and underdog. Playing the Projection Exaggeration Wiggling her leg incessantly to become aware Reversals Ask the client to play the reverse A shy client would pretend to be an extrovert

Therapeutic Techniques Dream Work Takes on the role of the parts of the dream, giving each its own speech and experiences. Working with Polarities Love-hate, strong-weak The client is asked to take the role of each end Awareness Training or Bodywork Asked to attend closely to any body sensation Breathing, tone of voice, physical gesture Taking Responsibility Follow statements with “and I take responsibility for it”

Let’s check in with Gloria again…

Evaluation of the Theory Criticisms Characterized as “wild, uncontrolled, and undisciplined” Highly linked to Perls and his abrasive approach Connected to the 1960s mindset of being wild, free and dangerous Emphasis on raw experiencing and lack of structure worries some Lack of supporting theory Seen more as a collection of gimmicky techniques

Evaluation of the Theory Qualities of the Theory Precision and Testability Based on well-constructed lab research Empirical Validity Support for effectiveness is evident