Gestalt Therapy Flashcards
What is the main concept of Gestalt theory?
This theory takes an active approach, focusing on the “here and now”. Individuals must be understood from the context of their ongoing relationship with the environment.
What is the initial goal of Gestalt therapy?
To help clients expand their awareness of what they’re experiencing in the present moment. It’s more about how the client views reality vs. reality itself.
What is the main focus point of Gestalt therapy, and how is it utilized?
The main focus point is the process of therapy. Practitioners have devised techniques to increase the client’s awareness of what they’re doing and how they’re doing it, such as with the “empty chair” technique.
What are the basic principles of Gestalt therapy?
- Holism (emphasis on the WHOLE individual; everything is important)
- Field Theory (the organism must be seen in its environment as part of a constantly changing field)
- Organismic Self-Regulation (our equilibrium gets disturbed by a need, sensation, or interest; we do our best to regulate ourselves using strength & resources)
What is the “figure/ground” concept?
- Emphasis on “figure”: those aspects of the individual’s experience that are most prevalent at that moment
- Emphasis on “ground”: those aspects of individual’s presentation that are out of their awareness
The goals of therapists is to help bring things from the “ground” to the “figure” so that individuals can begin to change.
What is a phenomenological inquiry?
Using questions in an appropriate manner to get clients to pay attention to what they need to pay attention to.
Why should therapists NEVER use a “why” question?
“Why” questions sends a message of blame or judgement. It makes clients defensive, they’re too open-ended, and the clients tend to focus back on their problems.
What kinds of questions should a therapist use, and why?
Instead of “why”, we use “what” or “how” questions. These are designed to help the client connect with the present moment.
What is unfinished business, and how does it affect the client?
Stuff from the past (feelings) that was unresolved or not worked through. It still influences what the client is doing right now, and if it’s unable to be worked through healthily, it produces a sense of frustration, anger, and resentment. Therapists use this in treatment to help clients move past it.
Why is it important that we set up therapy where the CLIENT moves past their issues, rather than the THERAPIST telling them what to do?
By setting up the environment, focusing on the individual, and asking the questions, we help the client figure out how to resolve it themselves. The process becomes more about them, which is much more meaningful.
What is the difference between contact and resistance to contact?
- Contact is our interaction, sensation, and perception with EVERYTHING in our environment. Social & engaging behavior is important in being healthy.
- Resistance to contact is our attempt to cope with an event or experience in our life. We use contact boundary disturbances to prevent us from focusing on the here and now, and leads us to become incongruent and maladaptive.
When is contact affective?
Affective contact is interacting with nature and people within your environment without losing your own individuality. We are also encouraged to withdraw and reflect on our contact experience, just so long as we return to our need for socializing with others.
What are the 5 types of contact boundary disturbances?
- Interjection (taking something from someone else without any thought or making sure it fits and making it our own)
- Projection (taking something that doesn’t work or fit that we want to disown and placing it on someone else)
- Retroflection (the means we use to give ourselves what we were unable to obtain from the environment)
- Deflection (using the process of distraction to make it difficult to maintain a sense of contact with another person)
- Confluence (blurring the differentiation between the self and the environment)
