Gestalt Theraphy, Gestalt School

1. GESTALT COUNSELLING
■ Prepared by Dr.Evangeline Joshua, Assistant Professor, Madras School of
Social Work
GESTALT COUNSELLING
Joshua, Assistant Professor, Madras School of

2. INTRODUCTION
 The word “GESTALT” means
form”.
 Gestalt therapy is a phenomenological
Laura Perls in the 1940’s.
 It is based on the principle
of body , mind and soul .Best
of body , mind and soul .Best
looking back into the past
 It emphasizes to alleviate
negative feelings these
expressed in the present time
 Perls believed that we are
should we expect others to
means “whole ,configuration, integration, pattern o
phenomenological-existential therapy founded by Frede
.
principle that humans are best viewed as a whole entity co
Best understood when viewed through their own eye
Best understood when viewed through their own eye
past but by bringing the past into the present .
alleviate unresolved anger, pain, anxiety, resentment an
emotions cannot just be discussed but must be
time.
are not in this world to live up to others expectati
to live up to ours.

3. WHAT IS GESTALT THERAPY?
Gestalt therapy is a client- centered approach
present and understood what is really happening
perceive to be happening based on past experience
are encouraged to experience them perhaps through
o become more aware of how their own negative
awareness and making them unhappy.
approach to psychotherapy that helps client focus
happening in their lives right now, rather than what the
experience.Instead of simply talking about past situations ,
through re-enactment.Through the gestalt process client
negative thought patterns and behaviors are blocking tru

4. When it’s used
 Gestalt therapy can help clients with issues such
difficulties and even physical ones like migraine
 Gestalt techniques are often used in combination
therapies.
such as anxiety , depressions ,self-esteem ,relatio
migraine headaches ,ulcerative colitis and back spasms.
combination with body work ,dance, art, drama and

5. How does it work?
Those undertaking gestalt therapy will explore all of
their thoughts, feelings, behaviours
values to develop awareness of how they present
themselves and respond to events in their
environment. This gives them the opportunity to
environment. This gives them the opportunity to
identify choices, patterns of
that are impacting their health and well
preventing them from reaching their full potential.
Those undertaking gestalt therapy will explore all of
behaviours, beliefs and
values to develop awareness of how they present
themselves and respond to events in their
environment. This gives them the opportunity to
environment. This gives them the opportunity to
identify choices, patterns of behaviour and obstacles
that are impacting their health and well-being, and
preventing them from reaching their full potential.

6. Some of the common methods which are used
■ Role play
■ Role play can help individuals to experience different feelings and emotions, and
to better understand how they present and
■ The ‘open chair’ technique
■ The open chair technique involves two chairs and role play, and give rise to
emotional scenes. The client sits opposite an empty chair and must imagine
someone (usually themselves or parts of themselves) sitting in it. Next, they will
communicate with this imaginary being
communicate with this imaginary being
what they represent.
■ Then they must switch chairs so they are physically sitting in the once
chair. The conversation continues, but the client has reversed roles
on behalf of the imagined part of their own problem. This technique aims to
enable participants to locate a specific feeling or a side of their personality they
had previously disowned or tried to ignore. This helps them to accept polarities
and acknowledge that conflicts exist in everyone.
Some of the common methods which are used.
Role play can help individuals to experience different feelings and emotions, and
to better understand how they present and organise themselves.
The open chair technique involves two chairs and role play, and give rise to
emotional scenes. The client sits opposite an empty chair and must imagine
someone (usually themselves or parts of themselves) sitting in it. Next, they will
communicate with this imaginary being - asking questions and engaging with
communicate with this imaginary being - asking questions and engaging with
Then they must switch chairs so they are physically sitting in the once-empty
chair. The conversation continues, but the client has reversed roles - speaking
on behalf of the imagined part of their own problem. This technique aims to
enable participants to locate a specific feeling or a side of their personality they
had previously disowned or tried to ignore. This helps them to accept polarities
and acknowledge that conflicts exist in everyone.

7. ■ Dialogue
■ A gestalt therapist will need to engage the client in meaningful and authentic dialogue in order
to guide them to a particular way of behaving or thinking. This may move beyond simple
discussion to more creative forms of expression such as dancing, singing or laughing.
■ Discussing dreams
■ Dreams play an important role in gestalt therapy, as they can help individuals to understand
spontaneous aspects of themselves. Fritz Perls
by playing different objects and people in the dream. During this, they would be asked
questions such as, ‘what are you aware of now?’ to sharpen self
■ Attention to body language
■ Throughout therapy, a gestalt therapist will concentrate on body language, which is
considered a subtle indicator of intense emotions. When specific body language is noticed,
the therapist may ask the client to exaggerate these movements or
■ This is thought to intensify the emotion attached to the
meaning. For example, a client may be showing signs of clenched fists or frowning, to which
the therapist may ask something such as, ‘what are you saying with this movement?’.
A gestalt therapist will need to engage the client in meaningful and authentic dialogue in order
to guide them to a particular way of behaving or thinking. This may move beyond simple
discussion to more creative forms of expression such as dancing, singing or laughing.
Dreams play an important role in gestalt therapy, as they can help individuals to understand
Perls frequently asked clients to relive their dreams
by playing different objects and people in the dream. During this, they would be asked
questions such as, ‘what are you aware of now?’ to sharpen self-awareness.
Throughout therapy, a gestalt therapist will concentrate on body language, which is
considered a subtle indicator of intense emotions. When specific body language is noticed,
the therapist may ask the client to exaggerate these movements or behaviours.
This is thought to intensify the emotion attached to the behaviour and highlight an inner
meaning. For example, a client may be showing signs of clenched fists or frowning, to which
the therapist may ask something such as, ‘what are you saying with this movement?’.

8. HOW IT WORKS
 The major goal is self- awareness.
 Gestalt therapy is practiced in the form of exercise
 It can be administered in individual or group
 The goal is to discover a patient’s unresolved
can lead to a resolution.
 Patients work on resolving interpersonal issues
 By building self –awareness gestalt therapy
choices they make affect their health and their
 With this self-knowledge clients begin to understand
connected and develop more self-confidence
problems.
exercise and experiments.
settings .
unresolved issues & try to engage those people in interactio
issues during therapy.
helps clients better understand themselves and h
their relationships.
understand how their emotional and physical selv
to start living a fuller life and more effectively de

9. Rational Emotive Therapy
■ It is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy
Ellis. REBT is focused on helping clients change irrational beliefs.
■ As a young man, Ellis found himself longing for companionship yet experienced
a severe fear of talking to women. In order to tackle his fear, Ellis decided to
perform an experiment. For a month, he visited a nearby park and forced
himself to talk to 100 different women.
■ Over time, Ellis found that his fear of speaking to women had diminished
considerably. This experience served as a basis for developing his approach to
therapy, combining behavioral strategies with assessing underlying thoughts
therapy, combining behavioral strategies with assessing underlying thoughts
and emotions.
■ "People are not disturbed by things but rather by their view of things," Ellis said.
The fundamental assertion of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) is that
the way people feel is largely influenced by how they think.
■ When people hold irrational beliefs about themselves or the world, problems can
result. The goal of REBT is to help people alter illogical beliefs and
thinking patterns in order to overcome psychological problems and mental
distress. 
Rational Emotive Therapy
behavioral therapy developed by psychologist Albert
. REBT is focused on helping clients change irrational beliefs.
As a young man, Ellis found himself longing for companionship yet experienced
a severe fear of talking to women. In order to tackle his fear, Ellis decided to
perform an experiment. For a month, he visited a nearby park and forced
himself to talk to 100 different women.
Over time, Ellis found that his fear of speaking to women had diminished
considerably. This experience served as a basis for developing his approach to
therapy, combining behavioral strategies with assessing underlying thoughts
therapy, combining behavioral strategies with assessing underlying thoughts
"People are not disturbed by things but rather by their view of things," Ellis said.
The fundamental assertion of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) is that
the way people feel is largely influenced by how they think.
When people hold irrational beliefs about themselves or the world, problems can
result. The goal of REBT is to help people alter illogical beliefs and negative
in order to overcome psychological problems and mental

10. The Basic Steps of REBT
1. Identify Irrational Thought Patterns and Beliefs which leads to psychological
distress.
■ Eg: Feeling excessively upset over other people's mistakes or misconduct
■ Believing that you must be 100% competent and successful in everything to be
valued and worthwhile
■ Holding such unyielding beliefs makes it almost impossible to respond to
activating situations in a psychologically healthy way. Possessing such rigid
expectations of ourselves and others only leads to disappointment,
expectations of ourselves and others only leads to disappointment,
recrimination, regret, and anxiety.
2. Challenge Irrational Beliefs
■ Once these underlying feelings have been identified, the next step is to
challenge the mistaken beliefs. In order to do this, the therapist disputes these
beliefs using very direct and even confrontational methods
■ Ellis suggested that rather than simply being warm and supportive, therapists
need to be blunt, honest, and logical in order to push people toward changing
their thoughts and behaviors.
Irrational Thought Patterns and Beliefs which leads to psychological
Feeling excessively upset over other people's mistakes or misconduct
Believing that you must be 100% competent and successful in everything to be
Holding such unyielding beliefs makes it almost impossible to respond to
activating situations in a psychologically healthy way. Possessing such rigid
expectations of ourselves and others only leads to disappointment,
expectations of ourselves and others only leads to disappointment,
Once these underlying feelings have been identified, the next step is to
challenge the mistaken beliefs. In order to do this, the therapist disputes these
even confrontational methods.
Ellis suggested that rather than simply being warm and supportive, therapists
need to be blunt, honest, and logical in order to push people toward changing

11. Person Centered Counseling(Person Centered Approach)
■ Person centered therapy is also called client centered therapy.
■ Unlike other therapies, the client is responsible for improving his or her life, not
the therapist. This is a deliberate change from both psychoanalysis and
behavioral therapies where the patient is diagnosed and treated by a doctor.
■ Instead, the client consciously and rationally decides for themselves what is
wrong and what should be done about it.
counselor who listens and encourages on an equal level.
Person Centered Counseling(Person Centered Approach)
Person centered therapy is also called client centered therapy.
Unlike other therapies, the client is responsible for improving his or her life, not
This is a deliberate change from both psychoanalysis and
behavioral therapies where the patient is diagnosed and treated by a doctor.
Instead, the client consciously and rationally decides for themselves what is
wrong and what should be done about it. The therapist is more of a friend or
counselor who listens and encourages on an equal level.

12. Core Conditions of the therapy
■ Client-centered therapy operates according to three basic principles that reflect
the attitude of the therapist to the client:
■ The therapist is congruent with the client.
■ The therapist provides the client with unconditional positive regard
■ The therapist shows an empathetic understanding to the client.
1. Congruence in Counseling
1. Congruence in Counseling
This means that, unlike the psychodynamic therapist who generally maintains a
'blank screen' and reveals little of their own personality in therapy, the
is keen to allow the client to experience them as they really are.
Core Conditions of the therapy
centered therapy operates according to three basic principles that reflect
the attitude of the therapist to the client:
with the client.
unconditional positive regard.
understanding to the client.
This means that, unlike the psychodynamic therapist who generally maintains a
'blank screen' and reveals little of their own personality in therapy, the Rogerian
is keen to allow the client to experience them as they really are.

13. The ABC Model
■ Ellis suggested that people mistakenly blame external events for unhappiness.
He argued, however, that it is our interpretation
the heart of our psychological distress.
■ To explain this process, Ellis developed what he referred to as the ABC Model.
■ A ⁠— Activating Event: Something happens in the environment around you.
■ B ⁠— Beliefs: You hold a belief about the event or situation.
■ C ⁠— Consequence: You have an emotional response to your belief.
■ C ⁠— Consequence: You have an emotional response to your belief.
■ The events and situations that people encounter throughout life are only one
piece of the puzzle. In order to understand the impact of such events, it is also
essential to look at the beliefs people hold about these experiences as well as
the emotions that arise as a result of those beliefs.
Ellis suggested that people mistakenly blame external events for unhappiness.
interpretation of these events that truly lies at
the heart of our psychological distress.
To explain this process, Ellis developed what he referred to as the ABC Model.
Something happens in the environment around you.
You hold a belief about the event or situation.
You have an emotional response to your belief.1
You have an emotional response to your belief. 
The events and situations that people encounter throughout life are only one
piece of the puzzle. In order to understand the impact of such events, it is also
essential to look at the beliefs people hold about these experiences as well as
the emotions that arise as a result of those beliefs.

14. 2. Unconditional Positive Regard
■ The next Rogerian core condition is unconditional positive regard
believed that for people to grow and fulfill their potential it is important that they
are valued as themselves.
■ This refers to the therapist's deep and genuine caring for the client.
therapist may not approve of some of the client's actions, but the therapist does
approve of the client. In short, the therapist needs an attitude of "I'll accept you
as you are."
3. Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand what the client is feeling.
therapist's ability to understand sensitively and accurately [but not
sympathetically] the client's experience and feelings in the here
unconditional positive regard. Rogers
believed that for people to grow and fulfill their potential it is important that they
This refers to the therapist's deep and genuine caring for the client. The
therapist may not approve of some of the client's actions, but the therapist does
approve of the client. In short, the therapist needs an attitude of "I'll accept you
Empathy is the ability to understand what the client is feeling. This refers to the
therapist's ability to understand sensitively and accurately [but not
sympathetically] the client's experience and feelings in the here-and-now.

15. Behavioral Counseling(Behavioral Therapy)
Behavioral therapy is a term used to describe a broad range of techniques used to
change maladaptive behaviors. The goal is to reinforce desirable behaviors and
eliminate unwanted ones. Behavioral therapy is rooted in the principles
of behaviorism, a school of thought focused on the idea that we learn from our
environment.
Types of Behavioral Therapy
■ Applied behavior analysis uses operant conditioning to shape and modify
problematic behaviors.
■ Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
a cognitive element, focusing on the problematic thoughts that lie behind
behaviors.
■ Dialectical behavioral therapy is a form of CBT that utilizes both behavioral
and cognitive techniques to help people learn to manage their emotions, cope
with distress, and improve interpersonal relationships.
Behavioral Counseling(Behavioral Therapy)
Behavioral therapy is a term used to describe a broad range of techniques used to
change maladaptive behaviors. The goal is to reinforce desirable behaviors and
eliminate unwanted ones. Behavioral therapy is rooted in the principles
, a school of thought focused on the idea that we learn from our
uses operant conditioning to shape and modify
relies on behavioral techniques but adds
a cognitive element, focusing on the problematic thoughts that lie behind
is a form of CBT that utilizes both behavioral
and cognitive techniques to help people learn to manage their emotions, cope
with distress, and improve interpersonal relationships.

16. ■ Exposure therapy utilizes behavioral techniques to help people overcome their
fears of situations or objects. This approach incorporates techniques that
expose people to the source of their fears while practicing relaxation strategies.
It is useful for treating specific phobias and other forms of anxiety.
■ Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)
destructive thoughts and feelings. People then actively challenge those thoughts
and replace them with more rational, realistic ones.
■ Social learning theory centers on how people learn through observation.
Observing others being rewarded or punished for their actions can lead to
Observing others being rewarded or punished for their actions can lead to
learning and behavior change.
utilizes behavioral techniques to help people overcome their
fears of situations or objects. This approach incorporates techniques that
expose people to the source of their fears while practicing relaxation strategies.
It is useful for treating specific phobias and other forms of anxiety.
Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) focuses on identifying negative or
destructive thoughts and feelings. People then actively challenge those thoughts
and replace them with more rational, realistic ones.
centers on how people learn through observation.
Observing others being rewarded or punished for their actions can lead to
Observing others being rewarded or punished for their actions can lead to

17. Techniques used in Behavior Therapy
■ In order to understand how behavioral therapy works, it is important to know more
about the basic principles that contribute to behavioral therapy. The techniques used
in this type of treatment are based on the theories of classical conditioning and
operant conditioning.
■ Aversion therapy: This process involves pairing an undesirable behavior with an
aversive stimulus in the hope that the unwanted behavior will eventually be reduced.
For example, someone with an alcohol use disorder
that causes severe symptoms (such as headaches, nausea, anxiety, and vomiting)
when combined with alcohol.
■ Flooding: This process involves exposing people to fear
■ Flooding: This process involves exposing people to fear
situations intensely and rapidly. It is often used to treat
the individual is prevented from escaping or avoiding the situation.
■ Systematic desensitization: In this technique, people make a list of fears and then
learn to relax while concentrating on these fears. Starting with the least fear
inducing item and working their way up to the most fear
systematically confront these fears under the guidance of a therapist while
maintaining a relaxed state. Systematic desensitization is often used to treat
phobias and other anxiety disorders.
Techniques used in Behavior Therapy
In order to understand how behavioral therapy works, it is important to know more
about the basic principles that contribute to behavioral therapy. The techniques used
in this type of treatment are based on the theories of classical conditioning and
: This process involves pairing an undesirable behavior with an
aversive stimulus in the hope that the unwanted behavior will eventually be reduced.
alcohol use disorder might take disulfiram, a drug
that causes severe symptoms (such as headaches, nausea, anxiety, and vomiting)
: This process involves exposing people to fear-invoking objects or
: This process involves exposing people to fear-invoking objects or
situations intensely and rapidly. It is often used to treat phobias. During the process,
the individual is prevented from escaping or avoiding the situation.
: In this technique, people make a list of fears and then
learn to relax while concentrating on these fears. Starting with the least fear-
inducing item and working their way up to the most fear-inducing item, people
systematically confront these fears under the guidance of a therapist while
maintaining a relaxed state. Systematic desensitization is often used to treat

18. ■ Techniques based on Operant Conditioning
■ Operant conditioning focuses on how reinforcement and
punishment can be utilized to either increase or decrease the
frequency of a behavior. Behaviors followed by desirable
consequences are more likely to occur again in the future, while
those followed by negative consequences become less likely to
occur.
■ Behavioral therapy techniques use
■ Behavioral therapy techniques use
shaping, modeling, and related techniques to alter behavior. These
methods have the benefit of being highly focused, which means
that they can produce fast and effective results.
Techniques based on Operant Conditioning
focuses on how reinforcement and
punishment can be utilized to either increase or decrease the
frequency of a behavior. Behaviors followed by desirable
consequences are more likely to occur again in the future, while
those followed by negative consequences become less likely to
Behavioral therapy techniques use reinforcement, punishment,
Behavioral therapy techniques use reinforcement, punishment,
shaping, modeling, and related techniques to alter behavior. These
methods have the benefit of being highly focused, which means
that they can produce fast and effective results.

19. Research has shown that CBT is most effective for the treatment of:
■ Anger issues
■ Anxiety
■ Bulimia(INSATIABLE HUNGER)
■ Depression
■ Somatic symptom disorder
■ Stress
■ Substance abuse
Research has shown that CBT is most effective for the treatment of: