What is Gestalt counseling? A Gestalt therapist shares the basics of Gestalt.
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What is Gestalt counseling and who is it for?
Gestalt counseling is a person-centered, relational therapy that uses mindfulness, through present-moment awareness, non-judgment and curiosity to support clients in healing. Gestalt counselors use the therapeutic relationship, the client’s direct experience, recognition of context and history in a person’s life, and experiments to conduct therapy.
While Gestalt theory has been around since the 1940’s and is considered to be a forerunner to the Humanistic-Existential force of counseling it is still widely unknown. Because of Gestalt’s basis of non-judgment and present moment awareness it can be incredibly supportive for cultural reflexive care that recognizes the impact of identity, oppression and systems on an individual’s well-being.
“The whole is more than the sum of it’s parts.”
Created by the German couple, Fritz and Lara Perls, who eventually brought their new theory to New York City, the word Gestalt lacks simple translation. The quote most associated with Gestalt is, “the whole is more than the sum of its parts,” has come to be the most basic definition of Gestalt.
The belief that individuals have created coping mechanisms out of projections, trauma and outdated beliefs is centered in Gestalt. These learned behaviors, once needed for survival, no longer serve the individual and so the present moment is invited as both an intervention and resource for understanding.
With its attention on both the entirety of a person’s experience and the present moment need of a client’s experience; Gestalt counseling provides an opportunity ripe to recognize how culture, identity and healing come together.
What does this look like in a session?
Part of the beauty of Gestalt therapy is it’s openness to experimentation and creativity making each session different. Additionally, therapist’s may have multiple modalities that they incorporate into a session creating a tailored individual therapy for each client.
In my experience Gestalt is a home base that I often use in the counseling room. Gestalt practices inform my understanding of experiences as a liberation and Transpersonal therapist. The “field” of Gestalt, a pillar of the theory, is essentially the entirety of an individual’s experience; including intergenerational trauma, dreamwork and out of body experiences. All information is valid, useful and telling to understanding the deeper needs of an individual.
In sessions this can look like practicing mindfulness to foster brain and body connection, using experiments such as “open chair” to engage the present-moment and the therapeutic relationship as a path of healing. In Gestalt counseling the therapist is not removed, or a “blank slate,” but rather an active participant and clear mirror in the client’s process.
How do I know if Gestalt counseling is right for me?
Like any type of person-centered counseling Gestalt is based foremost on the therapist-client relationship. Remember your power as a client in the exploration and working process with your therapist. Use the guide below to explore whether a Gestalt counselor may be a good fit for you.
Stay Curious - Am I curious about myself and my inner world?
Feel - How does it feel to sit with the therapist during the intake?
Needs - What are you looking for in counseling? Does this therapist seem confident Gestalt can meet those needs?
Experiments - Are you open to trying new things in counseling?
Relationship - How much does the therapist & client relationship matter to you in counseling?
Cultural - What experience does your therapist have in cultural competency and working with different populations?
What do you notice as you read this article?
GESTALT IS FOR EVERYONE -
While Gestalt theory is not well-known in all spaces the framework and base of Gestalt counseling can be supportive for all populations.
Gestalt theory is empirically-proven to be an effective therapy.
Created in Germany by Fritz and Lara Perls in the 1930’s, Gestalt counseling was born during the Humanistic-Existential force of counseling.
Gestalt counseling uses the therapeutic relationship, direct client experience, field theory and experiments to foster healing and awareness.
At its core Gestalt counseling does not believe in “changing” a client but rather, supporting clients in having a deeper awareness and understanding of themselves in order to have choice.
For therapists interested in deepening their understanding of Gestalt or looking to incorporate Gestalt into their practice; click the link below to schedule a consult!
https://paintedonehealing.com/supervision
For clients curious to experience Gestalt counseling for themselves; click the link below to schedule a free consult!
Therapy is available for individuals in Colorado.
If you’re like to deepen and expand your skills as a liberation therapist, I offer supervision for pre-licensed therapists in Colorado & consultation for therapists anywhere in the world. Contact me to book a free consult.
About the Author
Nicole Xenos (MA, LPC, PhD, she/they) is a liberation-focused counselor, educator, and supervisor based in Colorado. She specializes in supporting folks with intersectional & marginalized identities, including queer folks, neurodivergent folks, and women of color. Her services include: counseling, supervision, and trainings.
If you’re interested in working with Nicole, click here to book a consultation.