Living in the present may not seem to be a problem but letting go of the past is. Many of us often face difficulties resolving our past conflicts which in turn creates a roadblock in our personal growth. Do you want to focus on self-awareness and personal growth? Then Gestalt therapy can help you heal, focus on the present, reduce stress and anxiety, and make better life decisions.
What Is Gestalt Therapy?
Gestalt therapy (GT) is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on our experience in the present moment and personal responsibility. GT was developed by psychotherapists Fritz Perls, Laura Perls, and author Paul Goodman during the 1940s. It emphasizes the social and environmental contexts of our lives, the adjustments we make in our lives due to certain situations, and the relationship we share with our therapist.
Gestalt techniques enable us to understand problems and focus on how they can affect us, instead of getting anxious or worried about why it happened. It encourages us to live in the present by making us more aware and encouraging personal growth.
Licensed professional counselor Jodi Clarke, LPC/MHSP explains “Gestalt therapy is a humanistic, holistic, person-centered form of psychotherapy that is focused on an individual’s present life and challenges rather than delving into past experiences.”
The focus here is mainly on taking responsibility for ourselves rather than blaming someone or something else. In this approach to mental wellness, we are encouraged to resolve past conflicts by becoming more present. The objective is to become more self-aware.
Related: 6 Reasons You Should Try Out Talk Therapy
“Gestalt Therapy centers around the present. Participants learn to tune into their inner selves, release the past, and engage with the present. Instead of worrying about the past or the future, GT focuses on the here and now,” explains an article medically reviewed by licensed professional counselor Whitney White, MS. CMHC, NCC., LPC.
Understanding Gestalt Therapy
Jodi Clarke writes “Gestalt, by definition, refers to the form or shape of something and suggests that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” In this specific theory of counseling, perception matters a lot. It gives extensive focus on how we put meaning behind our experiences, make sense of the world we live in, and place meaning behind it all.
According to Good Therapy, “At the core of gestalt therapy is the holistic view that people are intricately linked to and influenced by their environments and that all people strive toward growth and balance.”
This psychotherapy technique is based on the belief that we cannot understand ourselves fully unless we understand our circumstances. Context influences experience. GT recognizes that none of us have the ability to be purely objective and compelling someone to change can lead to further fragmentation and distress.
Related: 7 Ways to Know Therapy is Working for You
“Change results from acceptance of what is,” adds Good Therapy. This is why it focuses on helping people learn how to be more self-aware and accept their experiences and feelings to alleviate stress, anxiety, and suffering.
How Gestalt Therapy Can Help
GT can prove to be highly helpful in helping people treat and cope with various conditions, like:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Low self-efficacy
- Low self-esteem
- Relationship problems
It can also prove to be useful to help us gain more self-awareness, enable us to live in the present moment, and successfully pursue self-development. According to Psychology Today, Gestalt therapy can also help in treating physical conditions like back spasms, ulcerative colitis, and migraine headaches.
It adds “Good candidates for gestalt therapy are those who are interested in working on their self-awareness but may or may not understand the role they play in their own unhappiness and discomfort.”
