Gestalt therapy was developed in the 1940s-1950s and focuses on developing self-awareness and personal responsibility. It views individuals as defined by their relationships with others and in a state of constant change. The goal is to increase awareness of how one functions with others. Principles include holism, field theory, figure formation, and organismic self-regulation. Methods include the cycle of experience, addressing resistances, and different levels of experimentation. While research is limited, studies found clients improved more than average. Gestalt therapy may be most suitable for educated individuals addressing alienation and personal estrangement issues.

1. GESTALT THERAPYGESTALT THERAPY
Lecture 32Lecture 32

2.  GestaltGestalt is a German word referring tois a German word referring to
wholeness and the concept that a whole unit iswholeness and the concept that a whole unit is
more than the sum of its parts.more than the sum of its parts.
 Gestalt therapy was developed in the 1940sGestalt therapy was developed in the 1940s
and 1950s by Frederick (Fritz) Perls, aand 1950s by Frederick (Fritz) Perls, a
German-born psychiatristGerman-born psychiatrist
 Gestalt therapy tries to make individuals takeGestalt therapy tries to make individuals take
responsibility for their own lives and personalresponsibility for their own lives and personal
growth and to recognize their capacity forgrowth and to recognize their capacity for
healing themselves.healing themselves.

3.  DEFINITION:-DEFINITION:-Gestalt therapy is a complexGestalt therapy is a complex
psychological system that stresses thepsychological system that stresses the
development of client self-awareness anddevelopment of client self-awareness and
personal responsibility.personal responsibility.
 PURPOSEPURPOSE
o The goal of Gestalt therapy is to raise clients'The goal of Gestalt therapy is to raise clients'
awareness regarding how they function in theirawareness regarding how they function in their
environment (with family, at work, school, andenvironment (with family, at work, school, and
friends).friends).
o Individuals, according to this approach, define,Individuals, according to this approach, define,
develop, and learn about themselves indevelop, and learn about themselves in
relationship to others, and that they arerelationship to others, and that they are
constantly changingconstantly changing

4. ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OFORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF
GESTALT THERAPYGESTALT THERAPY
The theory of Gestalt therapy has three majorThe theory of Gestalt therapy has three major
sources.sources.
 psychoanalysis, which contributed some of itspsychoanalysis, which contributed some of its
major principles.major principles.
 Humanistic, holistic, phenomenological andHumanistic, holistic, phenomenological and
existential writings, which center on personalexistential writings, which center on personal
experience and everyday life.experience and everyday life.
 Gestalt psychology, the third source, gave toGestalt psychology, the third source, gave to
Gestalt therapy much more than its name.Gestalt therapy much more than its name.

5.  Gestalt therapy emerged from the clinical workGestalt therapy emerged from the clinical work
of two German psychotherapists, Frederickof two German psychotherapists, Frederick
Salomon Perls, M.D., and Lore Perls, Ph.D.Salomon Perls, M.D., and Lore Perls, Ph.D.
F.S.F.S.
 He worked with Kurt Goldstein,He worked with Kurt Goldstein,
 Later, in the 1920s; he trained inLater, in the 1920s; he trained in
psychoanalysis with Karen Homey and Wilhelmpsychoanalysis with Karen Homey and Wilhelm
Reich.Reich.
 Laura Perls is also an important name.Laura Perls is also an important name.

6.  Ego, Hunger and Aggression---Ego, Hunger and Aggression---The book,The book,
published under F. S. Perls's name in Londonpublished under F. S. Perls's name in London
in 1947, is subtitledin 1947, is subtitled A Revision ofA Revision of
Psychoanalysis.Psychoanalysis.
 Suggestions constitute an early contribution toSuggestions constitute an early contribution to
the development of ego psychology.the development of ego psychology.
 The book also contained chapters from holisticThe book also contained chapters from holistic
and existential perspectives and chaptersand existential perspectives and chapters
describing therapy exercises.describing therapy exercises.
 These exercises were designed to promoteThese exercises were designed to promote
physical awareness rather than insight, andphysical awareness rather than insight, and
were called concentration therapy.were called concentration therapy.

7.  Perls settled in New York City, in a communityPerls settled in New York City, in a community
of artists and intellectuals versed in philosophy,of artists and intellectuals versed in philosophy,
psychology, medicine, and education.psychology, medicine, and education.
 The book Published by the Julian Press inThe book Published by the Julian Press in
1951, the volume was entitled1951, the volume was entitled Gestalt Therapy:Gestalt Therapy:
Excitement and Growth in the HumanExcitement and Growth in the Human
Personality.Personality.
 Growing Up Absurd (1963).Growing Up Absurd (1963). Half the bookHalf the book
consisted of reports of the results of exercisesconsisted of reports of the results of exercises
in awareness which Hefferline administered toin awareness which Hefferline administered to
his students.his students.

8. Principles Of GestaltPrinciples Of Gestalt
TherapyTherapy

9.  Holism.Holism. Gestalt therapy takes into account theGestalt therapy takes into account the
whole person including thoughts, feelings,whole person including thoughts, feelings,
behavior, body sensations, and dreams.behavior, body sensations, and dreams.
 Field theory.Field theory. According to this theory,According to this theory,
everything is related, in flux, interrelated, and ineverything is related, in flux, interrelated, and in
process.process.
 The figure-formationThe figure-formation process describes howprocess describes how
individuals organize or manipulate theirindividuals organize or manipulate their
environment from moment to moment.environment from moment to moment.
 Organismic self-regulationOrganismic self-regulation is the creativeis the creative
adjustment that the organism (person) makesadjustment that the organism (person) makes
in relation to the environment.in relation to the environment.

10.  The Now.The Now. The concept of the here and now isThe concept of the here and now is
what is being done, thought, and felt at thewhat is being done, thought, and felt at the
moment, and not in the past or the future.moment, and not in the past or the future.
 Unfinished businessUnfinished business is defined as theis defined as the
unexpressed feelings that are associated withunexpressed feelings that are associated with
distinct memories and fantasies.distinct memories and fantasies.
 Gestalt therapyGestalt therapy is used for wide range ofis used for wide range of
psychometric disorders, in addition used forpsychometric disorders, in addition used for
crisis intervention, post-traumatic stresscrisis intervention, post-traumatic stress
disorders, personality disorders etc.disorders, personality disorders etc.

11. METHODSMETHODS
&&
PROCEDURESPROCEDURES

12. Cycle Of ExperienceCycle Of Experience

13. ResistancesResistances
 IntrojectionsIntrojections
 ConfluenceConfluence
 RetroflectionRetroflection
 DeflectionDeflection
 ProjectionProjection
 EgotismEgotism

14. Levels of Gestalt ExperimentLevels of Gestalt Experiment
1.1. GroundworkGroundwork
2.2. EnergyEnergy
3.3. FocusFocus
4.4. ThemeTheme
5.5. ConsensusConsensus
6.6. ExperimentExperiment

15. Forms Of ExperimentForms Of Experiment
 Directed BehaviorDirected Behavior
 FantasyFantasy
 PolaritiesPolarities
 Dream workDream work
 HomeworkHomework

16. CONCLUDING COMMENTSCONCLUDING COMMENTS:-:-
 The average client who received GestaltThe average client who received Gestalt
therapy was functioning better than 74% oftherapy was functioning better than 74% of
those not receiving treatment.those not receiving treatment.
 One reason we know relatively little about theOne reason we know relatively little about the
effectiveness of Gestalt therapy is that mosteffectiveness of Gestalt therapy is that most
Gestalt therapists are vehemently opposed toGestalt therapists are vehemently opposed to
the idea of research. For reasons that are notthe idea of research. For reasons that are not
always clear, evaluation research is seenalways clear, evaluation research is seen
almost as an anti-humanistic endeavor.almost as an anti-humanistic endeavor.

17.  Gestalt therapy took root in America in an era ofGestalt therapy took root in America in an era of
social turmoil and alienation. As a result, its mostsocial turmoil and alienation. As a result, its most
suitable clientele may turn out to be young, well-suitable clientele may turn out to be young, well-
educated people whose problems center oneducated people whose problems center on
personal estrangement and alienation.personal estrangement and alienation.
 Therapists who have a Gestalt orientationTherapists who have a Gestalt orientation
sometimes seem to do especially well with overlysometimes seem to do especially well with overly
intellectualized, college educated people who haveintellectualized, college educated people who have
lost touch with their feelings and immediatelost touch with their feelings and immediate
experience.experience.
 It will certainly not be an antidote suitable for allIt will certainly not be an antidote suitable for all
patients – no therapy is!patients – no therapy is!