1. Who is associated with the therapy?
- Frederick (Fritz) Perls and Laura Posner Perls.
2. What are the basic assumptions underlying this approach?
- Gestalt Therapy stresses dialogue and relationship between client and therapist. It focuses more on process than on content; increase client's awareness on what they are doing and how they are doing it. Individuals have the capacity to self-regulate when they are aware of what is happening in and around them.
3. What are a few of the key concepts that are essential to this therapy?
- Some of the key concepts of Gestalt Therapy is focusing on the what and how of experiencing in the here and now to help clients accept all aspects of themselves. It focuses on the clients internal and external awareness. Gestalt therapists are interested in the whole person, not just one or two certain aspects. They attend to a client's thoughts, feelings, behaviors, body, memories, and dreams.
4. What do you consider the most important goals of this therapy?
- I believe that the most important goals of this therapy is to help increase the client's awareness of the present and help them make better choices for him/herself. Gestalt Therapy focuses on the whole person, not just certain aspects of the client. There are 6 vital components of Gestalt Therapy: a) the continuum of experience, b) the here and now, c) the paradoxical theory of change, d) the experiment, e) the authentic encounter, and f) process-oriented diagnosis.
5. What role does the therapeutic relationship play in terms of therapy outcomes?
- The therapist does not interpret for clients, but helps assist the clients in developing ways for clients to make their own interpretations. Therapists pay attention to nonverbal cues from clients and the language they use to express feelings, thoughts, and attitudes. Focuses on a person-to-person relationship rather than a therapist-client relationship.
6. What are a few of the techniques from this therapy model that you would want to incorporate into your counseling practice?
- I believe that I would like to use the therapeutic relationship technique that is used in this approach. I believe that using a person-to-person relationship, rather than a therapist-client relationship would be more beneficial to most clients. Many therapist-client relationships tend to be top-down communication patterns. Instead of having the therapist talk down to the client and give them specific directions on how to "correct" their problems, using a person-to-person relationship allows the client to figure out how they can solve their own problems.
7. What are some of the ways that this theory is applied to client populations, settings, and treatment of problems?
- Gestalt Therapy can be used in a variety of settings and with a variety of populations. It can be used for crisis situations, treatment of a range of psychosomatic disorders, couples and family therapy, awareness training, behavior problems in children, and teaching and learning. It works well with both individual and group counseling.
8. What do you see as the major strength of this theory from a diversity perspective?
- I believe the major strength of this theory from a diversity perspective is that it focuses on the client expressing him/herself.
9. What do you see as a major shortcoming of this theory from a diversity perspective?
- Clients who have been culturally conditioned to be emotionally reserved may not embrace this approach.
10. What do you consider to be the most significant contribution of this approach?
- I believe the most significant contribution of Gestalt Therapy is the emphasis on direct experiencing and doing, rather than just talking about feelings.
11. What do you consider to be the most significant limitation of this approach?
- I believe the most significant limitation is that Gestalt Therapy places a high value on contact and dialogue with the client and therapist, and for it to be effective the therapist must have a high level of professional development.
No comments:
Post a Comment