Contact Boundaries in Love Relationships

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to show the role of contact boundaryin relationships; especially in love relationships.The term “contact” is a fundamental concept in Gestalt Therapy.Contact has been described as the central point of human life, aswell as the life of all organisms, and it can be understood as the“meetings of various kinds with others”.In the context of gestalt therapy, contact means meeting withawareness with the other. Such contact is possible only where thereis awareness of difference, of what is not-me. Therefore, contactcan be described as the awareness of an “other” at a boundary inthe field.The practice of gestalt therapy shows how couples realize, or avoid,the intention to reach and be reached by the other. Couple relationshipsare seen by Gestalt therapy as a continuous co-creation ofthe contact boundary, as an experience that lies “between” thepartners.Thus, the awareness and protection of the contact boundaries isvery important in love relationships.