Gestalt Therapy is a psychotherapy
based on the experiential idea of "here and now" and
relationships with others and the environment with a developed
theory that combines phenomenological, existential, dialogical,
and field approaches to the process of transformation and
growth, of human beings.
At the centre of Gestalt Therapy
lies the concept of "awareness". People are encouraged
to become aware of their own feelings and behaviours, and
their effect upon their environment through inquery. The
way in which an individual interupts or seeks to avoid contact
with their environment is considered to be a substantive
factor. By focusing on awareness of themselves as part of
reality, new insights and self-healing can occur.
There are a lot of self improvement
books that tell you how to change yourself. When you try
and change, you manipulate and torture yourself, and mostly
you just become divided between a part of you that tries
to change and a part of you that resists change
In coming to therapy, one learns
greater acceptance, compassion and love for oneself and others.
It is about bringing the unconscious or shadow part of oneself
to full awareness which then facilitates integration, acceptance
and wholeness. It helps the individual develop their own
inner support, self responsibility and self acceptance.
Gestalt Therapy is a powerful,
direct and creative, while at the same time respectful of
the individual’s process and their inner world and
what is right for them.
Gestalt Therapy may not help you
adjust to society, but instead will show you how to adjust
to YOURSELF, to discover your own reality, your own humanness
and truth and be more comfortable with it..
It takes great courage to live
fully and BE who YOU ARE. Only when you accept who you are –here
and now- do you have the opportunity to change!
(Rosner 1987) |
