Gestalt therapy: what is it, what is it for and when is it used?

In Psychology there are various approaches that conceive human behavior and psychotherapy from different points of view. Nowadays, the cognitive-behavioral current is one of the most widespread due to its efficacy and scientific validity. However, there is life beyond this model. One of the lesser known therapies that can be very interesting is Gestalt Therapy.

Gestalt therapy is included in the humanist current, although it draws from approaches such as psychoanalysis, psychodrama, the existentialist current, among others. It was promoted by authors such as Fritzs Perls, Laura Perls and Paul Goodman, and its purpose is to achieve the personal growth of the individual, so that he can squeeze his potential to the fullest.

This therapeutic alternative is aimed at addressing the various psychological and emotional disorders from a different perspective in which awareness, self-realization or self-esteem takes on great weight. As with other humanistic therapies, Gestalt is a type of therapy that avoids focusing on the disease. Instead, it seeks to promote health by reinforcing the strengths of each individual individual.

Building a humanistic therapy

From this therapy, the psychologist is conceived as a figure who must help his patient to be more self-aware, focus more on the present and encourage their own self-care. For all this, and unlike other therapies such as psychodynamics, Gestalt therapy is focused on the present moment, without getting lost in ramblings of the past.

The patient who undergoes this type of therapy should end up feeling more self-confident, knowing himself better and being aware of the tools he has to lead a more satisfying life. As with other types of therapy, Gestalt allows us to work on all kinds of problems, such as depression, anxiety, fears, grief, addictions and even provides support in those moments of life when we can feel lost. at work and personal level, even if there is no disorder itself.

From the Gestalt point of view, therapy should constitute that safe space in which the patient can feel free to express themselvesas well as getting to know yourself like never before. If you are curious about this type of therapy, read on. In this article we will give you the keys to what Gestalt therapy is, what it is for and when it is used.

What is Gestalt therapy?

Gestalt therapy is a type of humanistic psychotherapy that addresses psychological and emotional problems from a perspective that breaks with the biomedical model of health-disease. Instead, his proposal is to promote health by reinforcing the strengths of the individual. To do this, it works on core points such as personal growth, self-esteem and self-awareness.

Therapy is conceived from this vision as a space where the individual must feel free and safe to express themselves and get to know themselves. The psychologist is the agent that accompanies you in this process of self-knowledge, helping you to acquire the necessary tools to face life in a healthier way. One of the defining characteristics of Gestalt is that it is a psychotherapy that focuses on the present.

In this way, try to help the patient become more aware of their actions and thoughts, in order to guide them towards an optimal mental state. Instead of getting lost in reflections on the past, it helps the person gain more control of himself in the present moment. This type of therapy emphasizes the role of personal responsibility, as well as the importance of the therapist-patient relationship. This means that Gestalt rejects the paternalism typical of other currents. On the one hand, the therapist accepts the patient unconditionally, without trying to make him change and stop being who he is.

This is so because from the Gestalt perspective it is assumed that self-acceptance is an indispensable requirement for psychological well-being. When the person himself does not accept himself or his therapist seeks to force his change, it is conceived that intellectualizations and aspirations are coming into play that remove the person from his immediate experience, which as we see for Gestalt is essential.

On the other hand, it is understood that the individual must take control of his actions and his life. A) Yes, the therapist, far from fostering his patient's dependence on him, paves the way for him to begin to take responsibility for his actions, taking charge of your life in a totally conscious way. From the theory that supports this therapeutic model, it is assumed that the individual is not a passive being imprisoned by environmental stimuli. Although it may be conditioned by your environment and genetics, you have room to choose the response you want to carry out in the face of the scenarios that are presented to you and that thus condition the course of your life.

Another important point of this therapy is that it rejects any type of reductionist position. In this way, it is assumed that the individual is a total organism that is related to its environment, so it cannot be analyzed "in parts". In other words, the person is conceived holistically.

What's more, from the Gestalt we flee from the excess of intellectualizationThis is considered to be counterproductive, since it distances the individual from their present experience and prevents them from becoming aware of the here and now, something fundamental from this therapeutic perspective. Often times, people act under the pressure of "shoulds", falling into rumination that prevents them from reaching their potential. Gestalt therefore avoids the excess of verbal thinking, since it understands that this acts as a barrier to growth and personal knowledge, as well as the connection with the present.

What is it for?

In accordance with everything that we have just mentioned, Gestalt therapy is presented as a therapeutic option that allows people to help advance in their personal development and be able to live their life focusing on the present moment with a conscious and responsible attitude. People who carry out a therapy like this can acquire greater well-being in their lives, since they will be able to work in an integral way the balance between their body and their mind.

With the help of a psychologist specialized in this type of therapy, the person can become more aware of how he does things, how he influences the environment that surrounds him and how he in turn influences it, being able to see the situations that affect him from different points of view that allow you to face them in the best possible way.

Mainly, Gestalt therapy allows to achieve two essential objectives:

• Achieve greater self-awareness, greater responsibility for one's actions and control over one's thoughts and behaviors.
• Conclude situations from the past that affect the well-being of the present.

This type of therapy It is ideal for those who find themselves in situations of blockage and unhappiness. Through it, the relational patterns, thoughts and behaviors that are generating this block can be known, in order to combat problems related to anxiety, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships. This intervention can also be interesting for the approach to physical phenomena, such as chronic pain or sleep disorders.

When is it used?

As it is a therapy focused on personal growth, It is suitable for people of any age group. The only requirement is that the person be involved in talking about how they feel, what they need and expect from therapy. From his initial request, the therapist will be in charge of guiding the therapy in one way or another depending on whether the patient is a child, adolescent or adult.

Conclusions.

In this article we have talked about what Gestalt therapy is, what it is for and when it can be applied. Gestalt is a type of humanistic psychotherapy that offers an alternative perspective on psychological problems. Far from adopting a reductionist vision focused on the disease, it seeks to promote better mental health and a higher quality of life, strengthening aspects of the person such as their self-awareness, self-esteem, responsibility and ability to be in the present moment.

One of the peculiarities of Gestalt therapy is that it is always focused on the problems of the present moment. Try not to get bogged down in rambling about the past, as it encourages the person to be present in the present moment. In addition, the relationship between therapist and patient is especially important, since therapy is offered as a space free of judgment where the professional accepts the person unconditionally without trying to change him.

Far from a dependent therapeutic bond, the psychologist encourages the taking of responsibility of his patient, so that you begin to make decisions in your life, gaining greater control over the situations that arise in your life. Gestalt is a therapy that avoids verbal ins and outs, as it considers that an excess of intellectual thoughts can be an obstacle for the person to gain awareness and knowledge about themselves. Thus, verbal ruminations and should be put aside so that the individual can begin to truly know each other.