Becoming Parents: a Gestalt understanding of the different contemporary parenting

Abstract

Family, a striking concept for society and culture, an important foundation of interpersonal relationships, shows changes and new models. The decision to have children is based on individual experience and achievement, no longer because of a need for a traditional nuclear family model. The study aimed to understand the experience of some family modalities in the decision to have and raise children. For this, the Gestalt Approach was chosen as the basis. The Gestalt-therapy look at the process, an integration that is never completed. The present research investigated three families models; single-parent, heterosexual and homosexual couple. The methodology used was phenomenological qualitative research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with data analyzed by the Giorgi method. With the interviews, it was noticed that the arrival of the son brings uncertainties, questions, new divisions of tasks and resignations on the part of the families. We conclude that families experience similar experiences regardless of their model. Palavras-chave : Family; Parenthood; Qualitative phenomenological research; Gestalt therapy.