What does it mean to be a Gestalt Focused Therapist?

​Much of being a Gestalt therapist means observing the here and now...

Observing the I and Thou, and paying attention to what emerges organically inside the client, outside of the client, and in between client relationships (with therapist, nature, animals…). It also means disturbing the client’s homeostasis.

Fritz Perls, originator of Gestalt therapy along with his wife, Laura, states: “The simplicity of the gestalt approach is that we pay attention to the obvious, to the utmost surface. Everything that a person wants or needs to express is all there in the obvious.” ​

The ‘obvious’ that Fritz speaks to includes paying attention to clients’ breath, gestures, posture, body and psychosomatic language, and quality of contact. All of these plus their stories emerge in session for us to observe and track.

The German word "Gestalt" is commonly understood to mean "whole"

The German word ‘Gestalt’ does not have a direct English translation, but it is commonly understood to mean ‘whole’. A Gestalt wants to be completed, meaning a situation, a movement, or unfinished business wants to be completed, made whole and integrated into one’s being. Gestalt also means, ‘formation out of the dark’.

Imagine yourself for a moment...

...walking along a path at dawn in a thick fog. It is difficult to see what you are approaching, yet slowly your eyes begin to perceive the outline of a tree. As you draw closer, the tree becomes clearer and in focus. This is what we mean by ‘formation out of the dark’. There is always something there, and it can take time, a careful approach, and unique interpretation to see what emerges for any particular person.

And there is always something emerging because we are always in process. Our bodies, emotions, thoughts, breath, passions… are always in flux. I remind my clients and students regularly that ‘everything is always on its way to becoming something else.’ This often serves as a mantra of comfort for moments of struggle. In therapy, clinicians have the privilege of stepping into the moving path of someone’s life process. Then we purposefully and creatively work and play with what emerges in that process, at that time, and in this place.

If we are to observe what emerges in the here and now, then there is no protocol to follow. There is awareness, skill, disturbing, and relationship to create with. For styles of therapy such nature-based or art, there are partnerships or tools to work with as well.

From an eco-therapy lens we can perceive what emerges elementally 

Our bodies correspond to the earth; our emotions are like water and are fluid; our hearts, instincts, and passions correspond to an inner fire; and our breath and thoughts are like air, consistently coming in and going out.
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Supporting clients to be aware of and balance these elements within and without means coming into the wholeness that Gestalt aims for. Yet solely ‘supporting’ is limiting. In Gestalt therapy we also disturb our clients’ homeostasis. Fritz Perls articulates this as “frustrating the client”. One reason we disturb them is to interrupt and bring awareness to a pattern. Another reason is to re-create opportunities for clients to gain trust in themselves or another by ‘going through a hard time and coming out ok’ (Duey Freeman).

This process is core to attachment and trust.

Gestalt therapy is rich with direct experience, relational dynamics, and expression. 

Gestalt therapy, one of the oldest, modern therapies is rich with direct experience, relational dynamics, and expression. It is the first ‘parts work’ therapy (not IFS) and is the first therapy to engage the social nervous system. The therapeutic milieu at the time was dominated by psychoanalysis where clients laid on a couch and free-associated while the clinician interpreted. Gestalt initiated speaking face-to-face with clients, and purposefully refrained from interpreting their content.

Being a Gestalt therapist is both challenging and rewarding. The challenge for me personally arises in trusting myself to take risks and be creative with what I’ve learned and experienced. The reward comes from the aliveness this therapy can evoke – especially when collaborating with the aliveness of nature. And isn’t aliveness and vitality the point of living?