Gestalt Theory and Therapy - Chapter 6

And this is my existence

A Gestalt dream work technique in which clients are asked to describe a dream image and follow their description with "and this is my existence."

Playing the projection

A Gestalt experiment especially applicable to group therapy in which one client takes on and acts out characteristics they're describing or seeing in other members. Also used in individual therapy, clients can be asked to be or act in a way that is especially annoying or bothersome to him or her in other individuals. This technique is also designed to help clients own parts of themselves that are often disavowed.

The exaggeration technique

A Gestalt experiment in which clients exaggerate their subtle nonverbal behaviors. This technique helps clients to reclaim their entire self—including their bodies—and amplifies the meaning of behaviors that may have been outside awareness.

I take responsibility for

A Gestalt experiment in which the client is asked to use the phrase I take responsibility for as a prefix to whatever they're saying in therapy. Especially useful for clients who externalize symptoms, it's a technique designed to address the problems that result from not owning the whole of oneself.

Feeling the actual

A Gestalt experiment in which the therapist asks that the client to make up sentences starting with the words "now" or "at this moment" or "here and now" as a way to bring the client's current physical and emotional experiences into greater awareness.

The reversal technique

A Gestalt technique is often used in group therapy in which clients are asked to notice physical sensations, feelings, and thoughts that emerge as she or he engages in behaviors that are less obvious or typical or opposite of normal for them. This technique helps clients reclaim their complete selves and get in touch with parts they ordinarily minimize, deny, or ignore.

Mental metabolism

A Gestalt term for the process of assimilating ideas by metaphorically biting off what one can, chewing on it, and digesting the idea.

Deflection

A boundary disturbance involving a distraction designed to diffuse, reduce, or avoid contact. Perls used the term Aboutism to describe deflection as talking about things or about the self rather than directly experiencing contact.

Empty chair technique

A core Gestalt experiment or technique in which the client is imagines someone or a part of the self into an empty chair and then initiates and maintains a dialogue with that person or part of the self.

Staying with the feeling

A general Gestalt therapy strategy or philosophy used to help clients stay focused on what they're experiencing in the moment. By encouraging clients to be aware of what they're feeling, doing, and experiencing in the moment and giving attention, voice or even action to the moment-to-moment experience, staying with the feeling enhances full contact, improves awareness, and stimulates personal development.

Self-regulation

A primary focus of Gestalt therapy, self-regulation is accomplished when one is aware of her or his own needs, sensations, and desires and can therefore deal with them directly and authentically.

Holism

A primary idea associated with Gestalt theory in which the whole is both greater than and different than the sum of its individual parts.

Confluence

A type of boundary disturbance that involves boundary merging or the experience of not knowing where one person stops and the other begins.

Introjection

A type of boundary disturbance that involves complete acceptance of other's beliefs or standards without any critical thinking or evaluation.

Relational Gestalt therapy

An approach characterized by the belief that both the client and the therapist bring subjectivity into therapy and neither view is inherently accurate or correct.

Emotion-focused therapy

An approach developed by Leslie Greenberg, PhD, that integrates person-centered, Gestalt, and existential therapy traditions.

Body feedback

An important part of Gestalt therapy in which the therapist consistently notices and points out client's nonverbal behavior and physical manifestations.

Contact

Considered the lifeblood of Gestalt therapy and a necessary component of all learning possibilities, contact is the exchange of information between self and other. The definition of contact implies boundaries that function to connect as well as separate self and other.

Resistance to contact

Enacted as a boundary disturbance, resistance to contact is the reluctance or defense against true interaction with the environment or others that would allow for learning. In a Gestalt paradigm, repeated resistance to contact constitutes psychopathology.

Boundary disturbances

In the Gestalt paradigm, these are the ways of having "resistance to contact." The specific methods by which individuals may interrupt or resist contact are: (a) introjection; (b) projection; (c) retroflection; (d) deflection; or (e) confluence.

Retroflection

One of five boundary disturbances, retroflection has two components. First, it occurs when someone does to themselves what they would really like to do to another person. Second, it occurs when one does to someone else what they would really like to have done to themselves.

Projection

One of the five Gestalt boundary disturbances; projection occurs when one person places his or her emotions or traits onto others. Often the projected traits are those the individual would prefer ignoring or disowning.

Explosive layer

One of the layers of neurosis in Gestalt theory.

Impasse

One of the layers of neurosis in Gestalt theory.

Implosive layer

One of the layers of neurosis in Gestalt theory.

Phobic layer

One of the layers of neurosis in Gestalt theory.

Phony layer

One of the layers of neurosis in Gestalt theory.

Here-and-now

One of the three phrases used by Yontef (2010) to describe the core theoretical factors in Gestalt therapy. Here-and-now describes immediacy or an emphasis on being present in the moment.

What-and-how

One of the three phrases used by Yontef (2010) to describe the core theoretical factors in Gestalt therapy. What-and-how is an emphasis on process over content, a moment-moment examination of what's happening and how it's happening.

Field theory

Originally described by Kurt Lewin, this theory emphasizes that individuals and the environment are in a state of constant interaction. It's a holistic perspective in which everything is relational, and nothing occurs in isolation.

Gestalt Bible

Published in 1951, Gestalt Therapy: Excitement and Growth of the Human Personality, (F. Perls, Hefferline, & Goodman), is considered the founding book or "bible" of Gestalt therapy. It has been described as intellectually challenging and difficult to understand but timeless in a way that makes its relevance longstanding.

Figure-formation process

The Gestalt term for a shift in cognitive or perceptual focus. Usually it refers to the formation of a figure or focus out of what was before in the background.

I and Thou

The I and Thou relationship was originally articulated by Martin Buber (see Chapter 4), I and Thou is one of the three phrases used by Yontef (2010) to describe core theoretical factors in Gestalt therapy. I and Thou describes the deepest and most ideal and authentic therapist-client relationship.

Process experiential therapy

The original name for emotion-focused therapy (see Greenberg, 2011).

Top dog/underdog phenomenon

The top dog is the righteous or know-it-all part of the personality (similar to the superego or conscience) and is typically in conflict with the underdog, which is another part of the personality that undermines or frustrates the top dog.

Character armor

Theodore Reich used the term character armor to describe muscular resistance through which clients defended against their libido.

Unfinished business

This term refers to experiences from the past that haven't been completely finished or processed. Gestalt therapists seek to bring unfinished business from the past into the present counseling session so it can be addressed and "finished."

Gestalt experiments

Treatment methods in which clients are asked to think, act, or speak in a prescribed way as a part of therapy. Examples of Gestalt experiments include the empty chair technique, the reversal technique and playing the projection.

Dream work

Working with dreams in ways that help clients own all persons, parts, and objects in their dream is a core procedure or activity in Gestalt therapy.