Gestalt Theory - BM

Gestalt Theory

Belle A McGathy

Index

Founders

View of Human Nature

Source of dysfunction

Healing Process

Roles of Counselor and Client

Skills/Techniques/Interventions

Multicultural Considerations

Timeline

Resources

01

Founders

Developed by Fritz and Laura Perls in the 1940s, and Paul Goodman in the 1950s (History of Gestalt: A brief history, 2023; Stoehr, 1997, p. 4-6).

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View of Human Nature

Humans are cared forbest in holistic enviorments that promote growth; humans are inheriently capable of self-awareness and can take personal responcibility. Humans can confront existential concerns and explore diverse relationships with others.

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Resources

Source of Dysfunction

UNFINISHED BUISNESS!

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Besides the ghostly dysfunctions, Gestalt also believes that dysfunctions can come from: Lack of Awareness: as individuals may not undertsand their internal stuff well enough to resolve and process. Avoiding and Resisting: used to protect one's self from uncomfortable or painful emotions. Typically temporary defense mechanisms that do not work as long-term strategies. Fragmentation: inner conflicts that arise from disowning one's self - ouch! Maladaptive Relational Patterns: Ghost bugs you so you exorsize the ghost instead of asking what's wrong - ouch! Projection and Blaming: my unresolved stuff is now your stuff; hope you like it because I will blame you or whatever else is around to blame.

LOREM

Healing Process

"The therapy process [...] can be aptly summarized in nine words [...]: I and thou, here and now, what and how" (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 201, p. 143). Gestalt therapy focuses on bringing awareness to the client's unfinished business, healing through focusing on the present and how to implement plans / appropriate goals.

"I do my thing and you do your thing.I am not in this world to live up to your expectations,And you are not in this world to live up to mine.You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful.If not, it can't be helped."

(Supposedly) Fritze Prels

Skills, Techniques, and Interventions

(Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2012, pp. 143-145, 163, 458).

Two-Chair Technique uses dialoges to "highten" client's affect and experience (p. 458).

Peeling the onion - Looks at the Phony, the phobic, the impasse,the implosive, and the explosive to integrate and bring awareness (p. 143).

Dream Work - dreams are seen as experiences that can bring about a lot of insight and feeling, but are not to be interpreted (p. 163).

FEILD THEORY

Multicultural Considerations

Because Gestalt therapy is not an adjustment therapy and strives to be value-free, with a focus on understanding each unique individual and the individual’s subjective experience as opposed to an “objective” standard for psychological health, there is no population that would be excluded from treatment (Zahm & Gold, 2004).

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Timeline

Very Basic Timeline...because I am out of time.

Fritz and Laura Prels with Paul Goodman start publications and serious study of Gestalt. Forming the key principles.

01

1940s - 1951

Workshop in Cape Cod, MS opens; popularity raises, expands globally.

1952 - 1990s

02

Contemporary therapists draw from the principles while adding in new techniques and applying integrative healthcare tools.

03

Present

Resources

History of Gestalt: A brief history. (2023). Retrieved from GTIP.Org: https://www.gtip.org/working-with-gestalt-therapist/what-is-gestalt-therapy-theory/history-of-gestalt/ Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2012). Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories: In Context and Practice (2nd ed). John Wiley & Sons, INC. https://doi.org/978-1-118-28905-1 Stoehr, T. (1997). Here now next: Paul Goodman and the origins of Gestalt Therapy. Jossey-Bass, Inc. https://doi.org/150.198209 Zahm, S. G., & Gold, E. K. (2004). Gestalt Therapy: 3 Applications and Exclusions. In C. D. Spielberger, Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology (pp. 95-104). https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/gestalt-therapy.

Self-Portrait With Fur-Trimmed Robe

Key Action Principles

The Whole, Self-regulated person Feild Theory - View people in their environment; my favorite diet show does this with people's lifestyles and houses by having the doctors live with the cleints for a while to see what expectations are realistic and which ones are not. The Figure-ground-formation process Peeling the onion - Ogres are like onions! The therapy proces - I and Thou, Here and Now, What and How.

Click on the Widgets to see groundbreaking art that changed how society viewed human nature, holistic living, and the human-nature connection.

Vitruvian Man 1485

Primavera - 1470s/1480s Humanism

(Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2012, pp. 143 - 145)

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Bring it to life with an interactive window

Create a new layer with all the Genially features.

• Generate experiences with your content.
• It’s got the Wow effect. Very Wow.
• Make sure your audience remembers the message.
• Activate and surprise your audience.

Got an idea?

Bring it to life with an interactive window

Create a new layer with all the Genially features.

• Generate experiences with your content.
• It’s got the Wow effect. Very Wow.
• Make sure your audience remembers the message.
• Activate and surprise your audience.