Chapter 6 - Gestalt Therapy Flashcards
What are the core elements of Gestalt Therapy?
Here and now focus, authenticity, active dialogue, and I/Thou relationship.
What is the main goal of Gestalt Therapy?
To expand clients’ awareness of their present experience.
How does Gestalt Therapy define awareness?
A curative process that leads to integration and wholeness.
What philosophical influences shape Gestalt Therapy?
Existentialism, phenomenology, and process-based approaches.
What is the significance of the ‘I/Thou’ relationship in Gestalt Therapy?
It emphasizes dialogue, mutual respect, and genuine presence between therapist and client.
What is the role of the present moment in Gestalt Therapy?
The power of healing exists in the ‘now’ rather than the past or future.
What is phenomenological inquiry?
Paying attention to what is happening in the present moment.
What is holism in Gestalt Therapy?
Integrating thoughts, feelings, behaviors, body sensations, memories, and dreams.
What is field theory in Gestalt Therapy?
Clients are seen as participants in a constantly changing environment.
What is the figure-ground formation process?
How individuals organize their experiences from moment to moment.
What is organismic self-regulation?
A natural process where needs or sensations emerge to disturb an individual’s equilibrium.
What is contact in Gestalt Therapy?
Interacting with others and the environment without losing individuality.
What are boundary disturbances?
Defenses that prevent full contact with the present moment.
What is introjection in Gestalt Therapy?
Psychologically swallowing whole beliefs without questioning them.
What is projection in Gestalt Therapy?
Attributing personal thoughts or feelings to others instead of owning them.
What is retroflection?
Turning impulses inward, such as directing anger at oneself instead of others.
What is deflection?
Avoiding direct contact or intense emotions through distraction or humor.
What is confluence?
A lack of boundary between self and others, leading to loss of individuality.
What is unfinished business in Gestalt Therapy?
Unresolved emotions from the past that interfere with present functioning.
What is an impasse in Gestalt Therapy?
A point where external support is unavailable, leading to emotional stagnation.
How does Gestalt Therapy address blocked energy?
Helping clients recognize and transform their resistance into adaptive behavior.
How does Gestalt Therapy work with body awareness?
Encouraging clients to experience bodily tension and give it a ‘voice’.
What is ‘It talk’ in Gestalt Therapy?
Using impersonal language instead of owning experiences.
Why is language important in Gestalt Therapy?
It can reveal hidden emotions and disowned aspects of experience.
What is the difference between exercises and experiments in Gestalt Therapy?
Exercises are pre-planned techniques; experiments arise spontaneously in sessions.
What is the internal dialogue exercise?
A technique for exploring splits in personality through dialogue.
What is the empty-chair technique?
A role-playing exercise to process unresolved emotions with another ‘self’ or person.
What is the future projection technique?
Acting out an anticipated event in the present moment.
How does Gestalt Therapy apply to group counseling?
Encourages direct experience, awareness, and resolving unfinished business.
What is linking in Gestalt group therapy?
Including other members in an individual’s therapeutic exploration.
How does Gestalt Therapy address cultural diversity?
By adapting experiments to clients’ unique cultural perspectives and nonverbal expressions.
What are limitations of Gestalt Therapy for culturally reserved clients?
They may feel uncomfortable with its emotional intensity and direct expression.
What are strengths of Gestalt Therapy from a multicultural perspective?
It helps bicultural individuals integrate diverse cultural aspects of themselves.
What are criticisms of Gestalt Therapy?
It can be confrontational, may overemphasize emotions, and requires skillful application.
What is a risk of using Gestalt techniques improperly?
Therapists may abuse power or push clients too aggressively into emotional experiences.
What is the role of therapist authenticity in Gestalt Therapy?
Therapists must be genuine, self-aware, and open in their interactions with clients.
How does Gestalt Therapy view resistance?
As a meaningful defense mechanism that can be explored and worked through.
What is a core belief of Gestalt Therapy about healing?
Healing comes from experiencing and accepting the present moment fully.
