Corey chapter 8

. Gestalt therapy is basically an existential encounter out of which clients tend to move in certain directions. Through a creative involvement in Gestalt process, Zinker (1978) expects clients will do the following:

Move toward increased awareness of themselves Gradually assume ownership of their experience (as opposed to making others responsible for what they are thinking, feeling, and doing) Develop skills and acquire values that will allow them to satisfy their needs without violating the rights of others Become more aware of all of their senses Learn to accept responsibility for what they do, including accepting the consequences of their actions Be able to ask for and get help from others and be able to give to others

listening to client's metaphors

By tuning into metaphors, the therapist gets rich clues to clients' internal strugglesBeneath the metaphor may lie a suppressed internal dialogue that represents critical unfinished business or reactions to a present interaction. For example, to the client who says she feels that she has been put through a meat grinder, the therapist could ask: "What is your experience of being ground meat?" or "Who is doing the grinding?" It is essential to encourage this client to say more about what she is experiencing. The art of therapy consists of assisting clients in translating the meaning of their metaphors so that they can be dealt with in therapy

you talk

Global and impersonal language tends to keep the person hidden. The therapist often points out generalized uses of "you" and invites the client to experiment with substituting "I" when this is what is mean

A key strength of Gestalt therapy is the attempt to integrate theory, practice, and research. Although Gestalt therapy was light on empirical research for several years, it has come more into vogue recently. Strumpfel and Goldman (2002) note that both process and outcome studies have advanced the theory and practice of Gestalt therapy, and they summarize a number of significant findings based on outcome research:

Outcome studies have demonstrated Gestalt therapy to be equal to or greater than other therapies for various disorders. More recent studies have shown that Gestalt therapy has a beneficial impact with personality disturbances, psychosomatic problems, and substance addictions. The effects of Gestalt therapy tend to be stable in follow-up studies one to three years after termination of treatment. Gestalt therapy has demonstrated effectiveness in treating a variety of psychological disorders.

language that denies power

Some clients have a tendency to deny their personal power by adding qualifiers or disclaimers to their statements. The therapist may also point out to clients how certain qualifiers subtract from their effectiveness. Experimenting with omitting qualifiers such as "maybe," "perhaps," "sort of," "I guess," "possibly," and "I suppose" can help clients change ambivalent messages into clear and direct statements. Likewise, when clients say "I can't," they are really implying "I won't." Encouraging clients to substitute "won't" for "can't" often assists them in owning and accepting their power by taking responsibility for their decisions. The therapist must be careful in intervening so that clients do not feel that everything they say is subject to scrutiny

it talk

When clients say "it" instead of "I," they are using depersonalizing language. The counselor may ask them to substitute personal pronouns for impersonal ones so that they will assume an increased sense of responsibility

listening for language that uncovers a story

clients often use language that is elusive yet gives significant clues to a story that illustrates their life struggles. Effective therapists learn to pick out a small part of what someone says and then to focus on and develop this element. Clients are likely to slide over pregnant phrases, but the alert therapist can ask questions that will help them flesh out their story line. It is essential for therapists to pay attention to what is fascinating about the person who is sitting before them and get that person to tell a story

Miriam Polster (1987) described a three-stage integration sequence that characterizes client growth in therapy.

discovery, accommodation, assimilation

By focusing on language, clients are able to increase their awareness of what they are experiencing in the present moment and of how they are avoiding coming into contact with this here-and-now experience. Here are some examples of the aspects of language that Gestalt therapists might focus on:

it talk, you talk, questions language that denies power, listening to clinets' methphors, listening for language that uncovers a story

questions

s. Questions have a tendency to keep the questioner hidden, safe, and unknown. Gestalt therapists often ask clients to experiment with changing their questions into statements. In making personal statements, clients begin to assume responsibility for what they say. They may become aware of how they are keeping themselves mysterious through a barrage of questions and how this serves to prevent them from making declarations that express themselves.