Gestalt Couples Therapy in the Field of Trauma

Paul A Jenkins

doi:10.4236/psych.2016.75072

Abstract

The field of Gestalt therapy has long had a troubled relationship with mainstream psychotherapy. The decades long assent of cognitive-behavioral and other, more objectively oriented therapies moved Gestalt even further from common acceptance as a valid alternative for treatment. Couple’s therapy, in particular, has not commonly been seen as a natural “fit” for Gestalt practice. The author’s view is that the recent rise of integrated therapy and the need for Evidence-Based Treatment separate from issues of allegiance to a particular school of therapy has created a new opportunity to reconsider Gestalt therapy theory and practice in couple’s work. It is particularly relevant for work with couples in which one or both have been traumatized. Recent developments in Gestalt practice offers a fresh approach for such work, especially in regard to its focus on resolving underlying shame and the need for the couple to develop mutual acceptance at a deep level. Both these therapeutic tasks are vital in work with traumatized clients. These Gestalt tasks can easily be integrated with other, more mainstream models of working with trauma and working couples. An example of this integrated approach is offered to explore the ramifications of the theoretical assertion.

Highlights

The field of Gestalt therapy currently was currently experiencing a rather awkward relationship with what we could term “mainstream psychotherapy”
Fritz Perls was deeply dissatisfied with the theory and practice of psychoanalysis as it existed, and conceptualized a therapy approach that was much more experiential, less “theory laden”, and integrated the radical ideas of Gestalt psychology (Clarkson & Mackewn, 1993)
The basic question asked here is, “how can information and concepts from mainstream psychology be integrated with Gestalt practices and principles to enrich our clinical work with couples where at least one has experienced significant complex trauma”

Summary

Introduction

The field of Gestalt therapy currently was currently experiencing a rather awkward relationship with what we could term “mainstream psychotherapy”. Gestalt therapy needs to evolve if it hopes to retain relevancy and acceptance within the wider world of mainstream psychotherapy, increasingly dominated by EBP To do so, it must integrate the empirical findings from various other areas, including neuropsychology, the study of complex trauma, developmental psychology, and couple’s therapy. The basic question asked here is, “how can information and concepts from mainstream psychology be integrated with Gestalt practices and principles to enrich our clinical work with couples where at least one has experienced significant complex trauma” To answer this question, the paper will first create a conceptual foundation to support the integration of Gestalt theory, practice, and information from other clinical fields. It will present a case review that reflects an integration of mainstream and Gestalt theory and therapy

Conceptual Foundation

Gestalt Treatment of Trauma and Couples

Integration

Praxis

Conclusion