Gestalt Therapy

Gestalt Therapy emphasizes personal responsibility and helps clients focus on the present. It also stresses the development of: 

• the therapist-client relationship/alliance,
• the social context of the client’s life, awareness, attitudes and
• direct feelings and perceptions rather than interpretations.

HOW GESTALT WORKS

“I and thou in the here and now”

Gestalt is a German word which can be translated as ‘whole’, ‘pattern’ or ‘form’.

It has the sense that meaning cannot be found from breaking things down into parts but rather from appreciation of the whole. In other words, Gestalt is a holistic process. It regards the individual as a totality of mind, body, emotions and spirit who experiences reality in a way unique to that particular individual.

In practice, Gestalt practitioners work with clients to help them focus on: 

• self-awareness: on what is happening from one moment to the next or, as we often say, in the Here and Now.
• Increased awareness and understanding of the present, of one’s immediate thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and of patterns of relating can bring about powerful change and new perspectives.

Gestalt’s focusing on the present moment, and on immediate thoughts and feelings, make it a very lively, spontaneous and creative approach.

Understanding the holistic awareness and increased insight into how we think, feel and act is often very liberating the clients. It builds self-confidence, frees people to address issues and helps them to live life to its fullest potential.

WHAT IS GESTALT USED FOR?

Gestalt therapeutic work has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of issues such as:

• anxiety, stress, addiction, tension and depression,
• whether as a long-term therapy or via a number of sessions.

At times of personal difficulty, Gestalt offers people a safe, supportive space:

• to explore difficult feelings,
• to understand the underlying patterns in personal relationships and
• to begin making practical changes.

Gestalt is also a highly effective and empowering change process for working with:

• individuals,
• couples,
• groups,
• teams and
• organisations.

Gestalt approach can also be used to help people in education, health and social care.

We also use gestalt as part of our Training and Coaching for people in Human Resources and Organisational Development. It has been a very useful tool for effecting changes in individuals, in teams and across organisations.