Gestalt TherapyGestalt Therapy

Fritz Perls 1893 - 1970Fritz Perls 1893 - 1970

Berlin-Jewish-lower middle classBerlin-Jewish-lower middle class Problem child, failed 7Problem child, failed 7thth grade twice & expelled grade twice & expelled MD in PsychiatryMD in Psychiatry After WWI-worked in hospital for Brain Damaged Soldiers-After WWI-worked in hospital for Brain Damaged Soldiers-

realized view humans as a whole rather than sum of realized view humans as a whole rather than sum of discreet partsdiscreet parts

Analysis with Reich-Body work modelAnalysis with Reich-Body work model 1946-came to USA1946-came to USA Big Sur, California – Esalen InstituteBig Sur, California – Esalen Institute Married Laura Perls in 1930Married Laura Perls in 1930 Founded New York Institute of Gestalt TherapyFounded New York Institute of Gestalt Therapy

Gestalt psychologyGestalt psychology

Gestalt TherapyGestalt Therapy

Existential & Phenomenological ~ it is Existential & Phenomenological ~ it is grounded in the client’s “here and now”grounded in the client’s “here and now”

Initial goal is for clients to gain awareness Initial goal is for clients to gain awareness of what they are experiencing and doing of what they are experiencing and doing nownow– Promotes direct experiencing rather than the Promotes direct experiencing rather than the

abstractness of talking about situationsabstractness of talking about situations– Rather than talk about a childhood trauma the Rather than talk about a childhood trauma the

client is encouraged to become the hurt childclient is encouraged to become the hurt child

Emphasis in Gestalt Therapy vs Emphasis in Gestalt Therapy vs FreudianFreudian

Holistic approach to personality vs Holistic approach to personality vs mechanistic approach of Freudmechanistic approach of Freud

Value of examining present situation vs Value of examining present situation vs repressed Intrapsychic conflicts from early repressed Intrapsychic conflicts from early childhoodchildhood

Focus on “process” vs Freudian “content”Focus on “process” vs Freudian “content” On presently experienced vs what is On presently experienced vs what is

revealed by client from memoryrevealed by client from memory Self understanding comes from Individuals Self understanding comes from Individuals

behave in the present vs why they behave behave in the present vs why they behave as they doas they do

Therapist’s Goal in GestaltTherapist’s Goal in Gestalt Create experiments for client to assist their self-Create experiments for client to assist their self-

awareness of what they are doing and how they awareness of what they are doing and how they are doing itare doing it– Awareness includesAwareness includes

InsightInsight Self-acceptanceSelf-acceptance Knowledge of the environmentKnowledge of the environment Responsibility for choicesResponsibility for choices Paradoxical theory of changeParadoxical theory of change

Ability to make contact with othersAbility to make contact with others Clients expected to do their own seeing, feeling, Clients expected to do their own seeing, feeling,

sensing & interpreting vs passively allowing sensing & interpreting vs passively allowing therapist to give insight & answerstherapist to give insight & answers

Perls’s Concept of Human Perls’s Concept of Human NatureNature

Clients are manipulativeClients are manipulative Avoid self-relianceAvoid self-reliance Avoid taking on personal responsibilityAvoid taking on personal responsibility Clients have to stand on own 2 feet, deal Clients have to stand on own 2 feet, deal

with life problems themselveswith life problems themselves Move clients from environmental supports Move clients from environmental supports

to self-supportto self-support Help clients reintegrate disowned parts of Help clients reintegrate disowned parts of

personalitypersonality

Four Major Principles of Gestalt TherapyFour Major Principles of Gestalt Therapy HolismHolism-interested in the whole person-emphasis on -interested in the whole person-emphasis on

integration-thoughts, feelings, behaviors, body, & dreamsintegration-thoughts, feelings, behaviors, body, & dreams Field TheoryField Theory-organism must be seen in its environment -organism must be seen in its environment

or its context as part of a constantly changing filed-or its context as part of a constantly changing filed-relational, in flux, interrelated & in processrelational, in flux, interrelated & in process

Figure Formation ProcessFigure Formation Process-how individual organizes -how individual organizes environment from moment to momentenvironment from moment to moment– Background=undifferentiated field or groundBackground=undifferentiated field or ground– Figure=Emerging focus of attentionFigure=Emerging focus of attention

Organismic self-regulationOrganismic self-regulation-restore equilibrium or -restore equilibrium or contribute to growth & changecontribute to growth & change

The NowThe Now

Our “power is in the present”Our “power is in the present”– Nothing exists except the “now”Nothing exists except the “now”– The past is gone and the future has not yet The past is gone and the future has not yet

arrivedarrived For many people the power of the present is For many people the power of the present is

lostlost– They may focus on their past mistakes or They may focus on their past mistakes or

engage in endless resolutions and plans for the engage in endless resolutions and plans for the futurefuture

Unfinished BusinessUnfinished Business

Feelings about the past are unexpressedFeelings about the past are unexpressed– These feelings are associated with distinct These feelings are associated with distinct

memories and fantasiesmemories and fantasies– Feelings not fully experienced linger in the Feelings not fully experienced linger in the

background and interfere with effective contactbackground and interfere with effective contact Result:Result:

– Preoccupation, compulsive behavior, wariness Preoccupation, compulsive behavior, wariness oppressive energy and self-defeating behavioroppressive energy and self-defeating behavior

Layers of NeurosisLayers of Neurosis

Perls likens the unfolding of adult Perls likens the unfolding of adult personality to the peeling of an onionpersonality to the peeling of an onion– Phony layer ~ stereotypical and inauthenticPhony layer ~ stereotypical and inauthentic– Phobic layer ~ fears keep us from seeing Phobic layer ~ fears keep us from seeing

ourselvesourselves– Impasse layer ~ we give up our powerImpasse layer ~ we give up our power– Implosive layer ~ we fully experience our Implosive layer ~ we fully experience our

deadnessdeadness– Explosive layer ~ we let go of phony rolesExplosive layer ~ we let go of phony roles

Contact and Resistances to Contact and Resistances to ContactContact

CONTACT ~ interacting with nature and with other CONTACT ~ interacting with nature and with other people without losing one’s individualitypeople without losing one’s individuality

RESISTANCE TO CONTACT ~ the defenses we RESISTANCE TO CONTACT ~ the defenses we develop to prevent us from experiencing the present fulldevelop to prevent us from experiencing the present full– Five major channels of resistance:Five major channels of resistance:

IntrojectionIntrojection RetroflectionRetroflection DeflectionDeflection ProjectionProjection ConfluenceConfluence

Introjection-channel of resistanceIntrojection-channel of resistance

Tendency to uncritically accept others’ Tendency to uncritically accept others’ beliefs and standards without assimilating beliefs and standards without assimilating them to make them congruent with who we them to make them congruent with who we areare

Passively incorporate what the environment Passively incorporate what the environment provides, spending little time on becoming provides, spending little time on becoming clear about what we need or wantclear about what we need or want

Projection -channel of resistanceProjection -channel of resistance

Disown aspects of self by assigning them Disown aspects of self by assigning them to environmentto environment

Trouble distinguishing between inside & Trouble distinguishing between inside & outside worldoutside world

Disown attributes of self that are Disown attributes of self that are inconsistent with self-image & put onto inconsistent with self-image & put onto other peopleother people

To avoid taking responsibility for our own To avoid taking responsibility for our own feelings & person who we really arefeelings & person who we really are

Keeps us powerless to initiate changeKeeps us powerless to initiate change

Deflection -channel of resistanceDeflection -channel of resistance

Process of distraction-keep difficult to Process of distraction-keep difficult to sustain sense of contact with realitysustain sense of contact with reality

Overuse of humor, abstract generalizations Overuse of humor, abstract generalizations & questions rather than statements-results & questions rather than statements-results in emotional depletionin emotional depletion

Diminished emotional experience-by Diminished emotional experience-by speaking through and for othersspeaking through and for others

Confluence-channel of resistanceConfluence-channel of resistance

Blurring differentiation between self & Blurring differentiation between self & environmentenvironment

Fitting in-absence of conflict-belief all people Fitting in-absence of conflict-belief all people feel & think same wayfeel & think same way

High need for acceptance, approvalHigh need for acceptance, approval Stay safe, never express own feelingsStay safe, never express own feelings Therapist uses W’s questions to get client to Therapist uses W’s questions to get client to

open upopen up

Other Forms of ResistanceOther Forms of Resistance Control of environmentControl of environment

– Resistance to contactResistance to contact– Boundary disturbanceBoundary disturbance

Blocks to Energy-manifested by:Blocks to Energy-manifested by:– Tension in part of bodyTension in part of body– By postureBy posture– Keeping body tight & closedKeeping body tight & closed– Not breathing deeplyNot breathing deeply– Looking away from people when speakingLooking away from people when speaking– Choking off sensationsChoking off sensations– Numbing feelingsNumbing feelings– Speaking with restricted voiceSpeaking with restricted voice

Language forms Looked for in Therapy:Language forms Looked for in Therapy:

““It” talk~instead of “I”-depersonalizingIt” talk~instead of “I”-depersonalizing ““You” talk~global, impersonalYou” talk~global, impersonal Questions~keep hidden, safe, unknownQuestions~keep hidden, safe, unknown Language that denies Power~uses Language that denies Power~uses

qualifier or disclaimers~…YES…BUTqualifier or disclaimers~…YES…BUT Client’s metaphors~clues to internal Client’s metaphors~clues to internal

strugglesstruggles Language to uncover story~use elusive Language to uncover story~use elusive

language-cover life’s struggleslanguage-cover life’s struggles

Client’s Process in Gestalt WorkClient’s Process in Gestalt Work

Discovery ~ Surprises for clientDiscovery ~ Surprises for client– new realizations about selfnew realizations about self– novel view about old situationsnovel view about old situations– new look at significant othernew look at significant other

Accommodation~Accommodation~– recognition they have a choicerecognition they have a choice– try new behaviors in safety of officetry new behaviors in safety of office– expand awareness in real worldexpand awareness in real world

Assimilation~Assimilation~– Learning to influence environmentLearning to influence environment– Deal with surprises encountered dailyDeal with surprises encountered daily– Confidence to improve and improviseConfidence to improve and improvise

Therapeutic TechniquesTherapeutic Techniques

The experiment in Gestalt Therapy-to The experiment in Gestalt Therapy-to assist clients self-awareness of what they assist clients self-awareness of what they are doing and how they are doing itare doing and how they are doing it– Expanding awareness of clientExpanding awareness of client– Opportunity to “try on” new behaviorOpportunity to “try on” new behavior

Experiments bring struggles to life-inviting Experiments bring struggles to life-inviting client to enact them in the presentclient to enact them in the present

Major emphasis on preparing clients for Major emphasis on preparing clients for experiments-through trusting relationship experiments-through trusting relationship

Types of ConfrontationTypes of Confrontation Imposing stance ~ therapist meets own agenda Imposing stance ~ therapist meets own agenda

for the client-acts as expert, power and control in for the client-acts as expert, power and control in therapisttherapist

Competing stance ~ therapist promotes rugged Competing stance ~ therapist promotes rugged individualism with lots of negotiation, individualism with lots of negotiation, compromise, & confidencecompromise, & confidence

Confirming stance ~ acknowledging the whole Confirming stance ~ acknowledging the whole being of client-client’s needs & experience being of client-client’s needs & experience center of relationship-ideal type of confrontation-center of relationship-ideal type of confrontation-invites client to look at incongruities in verbal invites client to look at incongruities in verbal and non-verbal language, in words vs actionsand non-verbal language, in words vs actions

Gestalt ExperimentsGestalt Experiments

Internal dialogue exerciseInternal dialogue exercise Making the roundsMaking the rounds Reversal techniqueReversal technique Rehearsal exerciseRehearsal exercise Exaggeration exerciseExaggeration exercise Staying with the feelingsStaying with the feelings

Internal DialogueInternal Dialogue

Identifies the struggle for control in a Identifies the struggle for control in a person-fragmented between controller & person-fragmented between controller & controlled-through introjection of aspects controlled-through introjection of aspects of othersof others

Between “Top Dog” and “Underdog”Between “Top Dog” and “Underdog” Between “Critical Parent”-shoulds & Between “Critical Parent”-shoulds &

oughts and “Passive” recipient without oughts and “Passive” recipient without responsibility-with excusesresponsibility-with excuses

EMPTY-CHAIR-shift client in two chair for EMPTY-CHAIR-shift client in two chair for dialogue-role play-experiences conflictdialogue-role play-experiences conflict

Making the RoundsMaking the Rounds

In a group go up to each person in the group In a group go up to each person in the group and speak to or do something with each oneand speak to or do something with each one

Goal: confronting, take risks, disclose self, Goal: confronting, take risks, disclose self, try new behaviors to grow and change try new behaviors to grow and change

Reversal TechniqueReversal Technique

Role play the opposite of symptoms and Role play the opposite of symptoms and behaviors client suffersbehaviors client suffers

Client tries the very thing fraught with Client tries the very thing fraught with anxiety – therefore submerged and deniedanxiety – therefore submerged and denied

Help clients to accept personal attributes Help clients to accept personal attributes that they have tried to denythat they have tried to deny

Rehearsal ExerciseRehearsal Exercise

Behavioral rehearsal: role playing a planned Behavioral rehearsal: role playing a planned for new behavior with a person or people in for new behavior with a person or people in client’s environmentclient’s environment

To reduce stage fright, anxiety or fear “not To reduce stage fright, anxiety or fear “not do the role right”do the role right”

Encourages spontaneity and willingness to Encourages spontaneity and willingness to experiment with new behaviorsexperiment with new behaviors

Exaggeration ExerciseExaggeration Exercise

Exaggerate movement or gesture Exaggerate movement or gesture repeatedly to intensify feelings attached to repeatedly to intensify feelings attached to behavior to make inner meaning clearerbehavior to make inner meaning clearer

Trembling hands or feet, slouched posture, Trembling hands or feet, slouched posture, bent shoulders, clenched fists, tight bent shoulders, clenched fists, tight frowning, facial grimacing, crossed armsfrowning, facial grimacing, crossed arms

Staying with the FeelingsStaying with the Feelings

Keep client from escaping from Keep client from escaping from – Fearful stimuliFearful stimuli– Avoiding unpleasant feelingsAvoiding unpleasant feelings

Encourage to go deeper into feelings or Encourage to go deeper into feelings or behavior which they wish to avoidbehavior which they wish to avoid

Facing, confronting & experiencing Facing, confronting & experiencing feelings-to unblock and make way for new feelings-to unblock and make way for new levels of growth-takes courage & painlevels of growth-takes courage & pain