What Are Gestalt Techniques Designed to Help?

Gestalt therapy was developed by Frederick and Laura Perls in the late 1940's. It is an experiential approach that focuses on understanding and process rather than content. Through this therapy clients learn what and how they are thinking rather than why they think the way they do. Perls believed that clients are manipulative and avoid responsibility, so the function of the therapist is to confront the client's avoidance of self-reliance. The goal of this approach is self-awareness.

Anger

• Anger is one behavior that can be addressed through the Gestalt techniques of open-dialogue and building a relationship. When using these techniques with someone struggling with anger, it is important that the client feels that the therapist is listening and not judging. Gentle confrontation is necessary to increase awareness of the problem. This is a cautious process. Maintaining the therapeutic relationship established in Gestalt therapy demonstrates to the angry client that the therapist really is listening. This approach opens the door for dialogue to emerge.

Lack of Trust

• Making the rounds is a specific technique used in group Gestalt therapy. It is useful when a group member is having difficulty trusting the other group members. The therapist asks the group member to go to each of the other members and tell them why he or she not trust them. This exercise allows the client to experiment with new behavior, confront and practice taking risks. Through this practice in a safe environment, clients can then practice these skills in their lives.

Severe Inhibitions

• Some clients demonstrate severe inhibitions and excessive timidness. They may act very sweet and kind, but they actually feel they are not standing up for themselves. In this case, the reversal technique may be beneficial. In this technique, the client reverses his typical behavior. For example, the client may role-play an encounter while behaving as negatively as she can. This activity allows the client to acknowledge other sides of her personality.

Body Language

• Gestalt therapists increase awareness of the subtle signals sent through body language. Examples of these postures and gestures are slumped shoulders, crossed arms, frowning and shaking legs. Using the exaggeration exercise, the therapist would ask the client to exaggerate the problem behavior. For example, a client who slouches would be asked to slouch as much as possible, all the way to his lap if possible. The client then describes the feeling associated with the behavior. The concept is that there is an underlying feeling associated with the behavior, and exaggerating the behavior will intensify the feeling to bring it into awareness.