Optimistic approach placing importance on self-actualization
People are basically good
Goal is to help people develop awareness, inner strength, and self sufficiency
Wholeness, integration, and balance: Gestalt theorist believe the cause for psychological difficulties stems from a disconnection of emotions, contact with others, or their bodies. The goal of therapy is to acknowledge those disconnections and restore wholeness.
People can't be separated into parts (body and mind) or from their environment
Integrating polarities:
The need for homeostasis can lead people to view their world in terms of polarities or extremes (good or bad)
Polarities reflect internal or interpersonal conflict
People must integrate polarities, especially of the mind and body
Field theory: integrating figure and ground
Awareness of what is happening in the present moment and the relationship that is in contrast with it
The empty chair and the two-chair technique are used to make the client aware of the background and foreground
Shifts lead to important changes and understanding of experiences
Ego boundary:
Two polarities of the fluid ego boundary:
Identification: Brings aspects into our lives and ego boundaries
Alienation: Puts aspects outside of our ego boundaries
Deals with the organism's relationship with the environment (internal and external)
Homeostasis vs. flux:
Our lives are always changing and can't be frozen to maintain homeostasis (constant state of flux)
Awareness helps us deal with flux and maintain homeostasis
Awareness:
Hallmark of a healthy person and the goal of treatment
Preoccupation and low self-esteem can cause blocks in awareness
Clinicians pay attention to non-verbal language and do not practice reflective listening
Environmental contact to promote growth:
Contact with the environment helps to create awareness
Contact through looking, listening, touching, talking, moving, smelling, and tasting
Teaches us about ourselves and our world
Five layers:
Phony layer: People play games and are inauthentic
Phonic layer: People avoid pain and hide their real selves to avoid rejection
Impasse: People are confused, stuck, and seek help from others
Implosive: People begin to experiment with change after becoming aware of limitations
Explosive: People experience reintegration and wholeness
(Perls, 1969a) Here and now:
Remaining in the present, giving up trying to change the past and control the future
Responsibility:
Accepting responsibility instead of placing blame and resenting others
Nature of growth disorders:
People who deny and reject aspects of themselves and environment, not living in the present, not making fulfilling contact with others, lack awareness, and are not becoming actualized
Treatment
Strategies:
Pay attention to experience and become aware of and concentrate on the actual present situation
Maintain and promote the integrity and interrelationships of social, cultural, historical, physical, emotional, and other important factors
Experiment
Encourage creativity
(Perls et al., 1951) Goals:
Promote attention, clarity, and awareness
Helping people live in the here and now
Improving people's sense of wholeness, integration, and balance
Bring closure to unfinished business
Appreciation and access of resources
Promote responsibility and self-sufficiency
Promote self-esteem, self-acceptance, and actualization
Meaningful contact with others and the environment
Develop skills to manage life without hurting others
(Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014)
Do not analyze, instead integrate (Perls, 1969a)
Therapeutic alliance:
Create an I-to-thou relationship
Free of judgement
Fully in the here and now
Do not urge people to change
Experiments:
Promotes learning experiences
Could include, enactments, role-playing, homework, or activities
Use of language
Talking with the client and not at the client
Immediacy and direct person-to-person contact
Questions usually begin with what or how
Encourage I statements
Focus on the present
Encourage responsibility
Dreams:
Represent aspects of the dreamer
Fantasy:
Promotes awareness and exploration
Represents aspects of the client
Can also bring closure to unfinished business
Body as a vehicle for communication:
Identification: Clinicians remain aware of bodily messages
Locating emotions in the body: Exploring the physical sensations of a person's emotions
Repetition and exaggeration: Focuses attention on where the energy is coming from and is releasing blocked awareness