Gestalt Polarities: Understanding and Counseling the Resistant, Non-Motivated Drug-Dependent Person

Abstract

The concept of polarities in gestalt theory sheds light on the resistance and non-motivation of drug-dependent clients. Gestalt principles and methods enable counselors to work with non-motivation in a more behavioral manner. The gestalt approach can be extended to the treatment structure of a clinic, agency or therapeutic community. The agency can anticipate resistance and initiate procedures that begin with the first client contact, and continue throughout the critical stages of the rehabilitation process. A powerful change approach like gestalt therapy can encourage drug counselors to deal directly with resistance, and thus unblock the present impasse to encounter the perplexing “non-motivation” problem presented by many drug dependent persons.