Gestalt Theory

Humanistic (Set 5)

Person who created it

Fritz Perls

Human Nature

• Gestalt (meaningful, organized whole)

• Holistic (mind-body gestalt)

• Responsible and active

• Live in the here and now

• Self is the integrator

Maladjustment

• Avoiding problems that cause impasses to growth

• Incomplete gestalt due to “unfinished business”

• Interruptions of growth

• Layers of Neurosis

  • Phony- stereotype, inauthentic relating

  • Phobic- avoid pain by resisting the self

  • Impasse- stuck in the maturation process

  • Implosive- deadness; expose defenses

  • Explosive- release energy; become alive

  • Actualizing person- lost mind & came to senses

• Ego Defenses that prevent contact

  • Introjection: uncritically accept other beliefs

  • Projection: disown and blame others

  • Reflection: turn on the self what desire for others

  • Deflection: distract through humor, intelligence

  • Confluence: Blurred differentiation of self & environment

Counselors Roles and Goals

• Goals:

  • Awareness

  • Integrating conflicting dimensions of the self

  • Become aware and make choices

  • Accept responsibility

• Roles:

  • Genuine I/thou relationship

  • Focus on the underlying feelings communicated through body messages

  • “Lose your mind and come to your senses.”

  • Focus on language patterns

Treatment Strategies

• Increase awareness through experiments and exercises

• Experiments- personalized activities

• Exercise - ready-made techniques

• Dream work

• Emtphy chair technique

• “I take responsibility for…”

• Playing the projection

• Rehearsal exercise

• Exaggeration exercise

• Staying with the feelins

Awareness

conscious perception of thoughts, feelings, and actions

Unfinished Business

Unresolved emotions from past experiences

Integration:

bringing all aspects of self into harmony

Techniques

• Empty Chair: role-playing conversation with another person or aspect of self

• Role-playing: acting out conflicting parts of self or relationships

• Guided fantasy: imagining scenarios to explore feelings

Body awareness exercises:  focus on tension, posture, and nonverbal cues