What is known as Gestalt Therapy is a psychological practice that focuses on the development of the person and the recovery of the ability to live in the present. This therapy conceives the human being as an entity made up of three parts: the body, mind and soul. Well-being and happiness will be achieved through the balance of the three parts of the person.
In the following article we will talk to you in a more detailed way of Gestalt therapy.
The origins of Gestalt therapy
Gestalt therapy has its roots in humanistic psychology, developed in the 1950s by Fritz Perls, Laura Perls, and Paul Goodman. This therapy is based on the idea that the mind and body are interconnected, and focuses on the importance of the totality of experience. By embracing the uniqueness of each individual, Gestalt therapy promotes self-responsibility and awareness on the part of the person.
The basic principles of Gestalt therapy
The importance of the present
Gestalt therapy seeks at all times for the person to concentrate fully on the present, instead of straying into the past or the future. It is about becoming fully aware of what you experience. in the here and now. By doing this, you can discover patterns of behavior, thoughts and emotions that may be affecting well-being.
The relationship between patient and therapist
In Gestalt therapy, The relationship between the therapist and the person is essential. It is a safe space in which the patient can explore their thoughts and feelings without any judgment. The therapist acts as a true guide, facilitating self-exploration and helping to become aware of patterns that could be limiting the patient's personal growth.
Gestalt therapy techniques
Gestalt therapy uses countless techniques and creative experiments to help the person express and understand different emotions. From the use of empty chairs to dramatizations of certain situations, All these tools will allow you to explore different aspects of the person and their relationships with others.
close cycles
In Gestalt therapy, great importance is given to closing cycles and resolving pending conflicts. This will involve facing and completing certain past experiences, releasing energy that may be trapped in memories that have not been resolved. By doing all this, the person is able to completely free himself. to live fully in the present and build a more conscious future.
Responsibility
Another characteristic of Gestalt therapy is that it encourages the person's self-responsibility, encouraging them to take responsibility. both elections and actions. By doing this, the person is able to live in a more authentic way thanks to the alignment that exists between the deepest values and desires.
Integration of all aspects
Gestalt therapy will embrace both the shadows and the lights of the person in question in equal parts. It is about fully integrating all parts of the person, even those that may be unknown. By accepting and understanding all of these aspects, the person will fully embark on a journey of self-discovery that promotes integrity and authenticity.
Bringing Gestalt therapy to daily life
You do not have to be in a therapeutic session to be able to apply the principles of Gestalt therapy. in daily life. Mindfulness, self-observation and awareness can be practiced without any problem at any time. All of these steps will have a significant impact on the well-being and happiness of the person in question.
The goals of Gestalt therapy
Gestalt therapy does not at any time aim to stop people from having problems in their daily lives. What it seeks is for the person to learn to solve these problems and to be able to grow on a personal level. That is why the main objective of this type of therapy is none other than to mature and grow.
For this, it is essential that the individual learns to be in the present. This will involve paying a price: the possible frustration of facing that moment head-on. You have to know how to accept both pleasant and unpleasant situations. The aforementioned acceptance It can only occur if the person is aware of the present reality.
Gestalt therapy therefore It doesn't focus too much on the past. If this occurs, it occurs to understand how said past can affect the person and to be able to carry out the task of self-knowledge.
How Gestalt therapy helps a person
This type of therapy helps in different processes:
- Anxiety and cases of depression.
- Emotional dependence towards the couple.
- Stages of important change.
- Fearful fears.
- Low self-esteem or lack of confidence.
- addictions.
- Crisis in the relationship.
- death of one loved person.
Gestalt therapy will offer a safe space in which the person can express themselves and know themselves. Thanks to this you can achieve certain well-being and happiness. In therapy sessions the patient will be able to express himself while also getting to know himself. All this will be achieved by integrating the cognitive, emotional and corporal approaches.
In short, Gestalt therapy has been criticized a lot for not having a specific evaluation tool. However, unlike other types of therapies, the strong point of Gestalt therapy is the focus of the present and awareness, rather than focusing on what could have been. Therefore, Gestalt therapy focuses on the person being able to live reality as it is, without judging it at any time. To achieve this, it is essential to work on everyday aspects such as self-knowledge, acceptance and being here and now.