Gestalt Therapy Research Articles

Editor's Note

Other| November 30 2020 Editor's Note Gestalt Review (2020) 24 (2): vi. https://doi.org/10.5325/gestaltreview.24.2.vi Cite Icon Cite Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Permissions Search Site Citation Editor's Note. Gestalt Review 30 November 2020; 24 (2): vi. doi: https://doi.org/10.5325/gestaltreview.24.2.vi Download citation file: Zotero Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All Scholarly Publishing CollectivePenn State University PressGestalt Review Search Advanced Search Congratulations are in order to Robert W. Resnick, PhD, for having been awarded the 2019 Distinguished Award for the International Advancement of Psychotherapy by the American Psychological Association (APA). For the APA to acknowledge that a—Gestalt—therapist has had international influence on the advancement of therapy is certainly a milestone. We are pleased not only for Robert Resnick but also for Gestalt therapy in the larger domain.This issue of Gestalt Review is dedicated to the memory of RUTH BADER GINSBURG, scholar, lawyer, judge, and Justice, who died on September 18, 2020 at the age of 87. In the words of JILL LEPORE, David Woods Kemper '41 Professor of American History at Harvard University and staff writer at The New Yorker, “Ginsburg bore witness to, argued for, and helped to constitutionalize the most hard-fought and least-appreciated revolution in modern American history: the emancipation of women. Aside from Thurgood... You do not currently have access to this content.

“Dal colloquio alla relazione diagnostica”: definizioni, modelli ed ambiti di intervento.

There have been several authors who in recent years have sought to clarify the world of psychodiagnosis: from the analysis of the expert question to the criminological interview, from the structure of the expert report to the development of new damage assessment criteria Mc Williams, 2002; Parolin, Agostin, 2006; Abazia, 2017). Also in the testological field, numerous researches have highlighted how the appropriate use of tests represents one of the main aspects in the evaluation process. Corporal's studies (2017); Del Castello (2018) were an important guide to the interpretation and reporting both in the clinical and legal-expert field of the MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2), integrating insights related above all to its restructured form (MMPI-2 RF). It becomes important, in fact, that there is attention in the choice of tools not only "technical" but also "relational", in order to constitute an "appropriate frame of meaning", necessary for a careful and scrupulous psychological evaluation. Within the scientific panorama main objective of the authors, after having performed a detailed and in-depth analysis of the literature in question, will be to propose through this contribution, a practical guide to outline the "good practices" indispensable for each type of intervention, in order to be able to conduct a Gestaltic psychological assessment (from the clinical interview to the collection of bio / psycho / social data up to the correct administration of the psychological tests) in the various professional fields (clinical, expert, etc.). Keywords: Psychodiagnostic report, Psychological evaluation, Integrated Gestalt therapy

Duygu Odaklı Terapinin Gestalt Terapi ve Varoluşcu Terapi ile Karşılaştırılmalı Analizi

Emotion-Focused Therapy is an experiential and current therapy method that contains applications of modern emotion theory, Person-Centered Therapy, Existential Therapy and Gestalt Therapy. Existential and Gestalt Therapy, which are among the traditional approaches, have important contributions in the formation of the Emotional Focused Therapy approach. Therefore, in this study, it was aimed to perform a comparative analysis of Emotional Focused Therapy with Existential Therapy and Gestalt Therapy. In Emotion-Focused therapy, topics such as recognition, explanation, meaning, transformation and control of emotions are handled. This Therapy method is based on Gestalt Therapy’s concepts. The philosophy and view of human nature of Emotion-Focused Therapy method were influenced by Existential Therapy method. In addition, Emotion-Focused Therapy method has embraced the existentialist approach’s emotions such as fear, anxiety and loneliness. Emotion-Focused Therapy and Gestalt Therapy methods have similar views on human nature. Both approaches reveal that people have the capacity to solve their problems and improve. Emotional-Focused Therapy is not functional in treating serious psychological disorders. it deals with anxiety, depression and negative childhood experiences. Existential Therapy has complex counseling issues such as death, freedom, loneliness and alienation. The Gestalt Therapy method focuses on the treatment of individuals who have problems with interpersonal relationships and responsibility. The emotion is the key concept of Emotion- Focused Therapy. The purpose of Gestalt Therapy is to make clients aware of their emotions. Existential therapy focuses on emotions such as fear and anxiety. According to existential therapists, anxiety is a precondition of life. As a result, it has been observed that Emotion-Focused Therapy and Existential Therapy and Gestalt Therapy have similarities in terms of therapeutic relationship and application, although there are some differences.

Il disturbo autistico ad alto funzionamento: criteri per un modello integrato

The autism studies show a greater degree of scientific evidence. They derive from Applied Behavioural Analysis (Aba) and Cognitive-Behavioural orientation. Gestalt therapy deals with autism recently. The concepts of Gestalt psychotherapy, including the concept of contact boundary, the principle of creative adaptation and the phenomenological perspective of the organism-environment field, are central to the characteristics of autism. These concepts are important, in particular for autism high functioning. Gestalt therapists deal with the value of spirituality in the treatment of people with autism. This is of strong scientific significance. Health includes, in fact, the physical, social, psychological and spiritual aspects as represented by OMS in the 2004 Promoting Mental Health document. The purpose of this work is to produce a contribution in the direction of comparison and integration. The aim is to lay the foundations for the creation of an integrated model for the treatment of high functioning autistic disorder. In order to implement this integration logic, based on the study of scientific data and my clinical experience, the active ingredients present in these three approaches will be identified (Aba, Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy and Gestalt Psychotherapy). The development of a mix of active ingredients allows to obtain a greater control of the possible limits and side effects present in each orientation. The next step is to conduct the assessment through these integration criteria. For this purpose, areas of intervention will be identified in which the examination of the specific characteristics will be described. Keywords Autism, intervention, integration Abstract in italiano Gli studi sull’autismo che mostrano un maggior grado di evidenza scientifica derivano dall’Applied Behavioral Analysis (Aba) e dall’orientamento Cognitivo-Comportamentale. La psicoterapia della Gestalt ha iniziato ad occuparsi di autismo recentemente. I concetti della psicoterapia della Gestalt, tra cui il concetto di confine di contatto, il principio di adattamento creativo e la prospettiva fenomenologica del campo organismo-ambiente, sono centrali per le caratteristiche dell’autismo e, in particolare, per la specificita dell’autismo ad alto funzionamento. Psicoterapeuti della Gestalt hanno, inoltre, evidenziato il valore della spiritualita nel trattamento delle persone con autismo. Cio e di forte pregnanza scientifica in quanto la salute comprende gli aspetti fisici, sociali, psicologici e spirituali come rappresentato dall’Oms nel documento Promoting Mental Health del 2004. La finalita di questo lavoro e produrre un contributo nella direzione del confronto e dell’integrazione. L’obiettivo e porre le basi per la costituzione di un modello integrato per il trattamento del disturbo autistico ad alto funzionamento. Al fine di attuare tale logica d’integrazione, sulla base dello studio dei dati scientifici e della mia esperienza clinica, saranno identificati i principi attivi presenti in questi tre approcci (Aba, psicoterapia Cognitivo-Comportamentale e psicoterapia della Gestalt). La messa a punto di un mix di principi attivi consente di ottenere un maggior controllo dei possibili limiti ed effetti collaterali presenti in ciascun orientamento. Il passo successivo e la conduzione dell’assessment mediante questi criteri d’integrazione. A tale scopo, saranno individuate delle aree d’intervento in cui sara descritto l’esame delle specifiche caratteristiche. Parole chiave: autismo, intervento, integrazione

Gestalt Therapy Approach to Depressive Experiences

Mourning and depressive experience are distinguished to highlight the core of the suffering of people in depression. In the mourning experience a specific person or situation becomes unreachable and therein lies the loss suffered. The experience of melancholic depression differs: what is lost is that which anchors the subject to the fabric which connects him/her to the world. A radically relational approach to depression where the client and therapist are seen as depressing here and now in the therapy’s situation is introduced.

Emotional addiction from the perspective of Gestalt therapy

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Challenges and innovations in the use of active methodologies in undergraduate medical courses

Abstract Background Conscious perception of oneself and others in their complexity and subjectivity allows the approach of trying to understand the human being to overcome the labeling stigma of the disease. For the educator, it is unique to guide the way that can transform a gap in the undergraduate medical education into a possibility of positive action. It was in this sense that the perception workshop was developed based on the concept of Integrated Gestalt Therapy. Teachers of the Communication, Leadership, and Management Skills discipline invited undergraduate medical students to stimulate the five senses. For sensory experiments, 6 stations were used in the classroom. Season 1 - View: Photos from the 'More Medical Programs' and deductive interpretation were posted on the board for observation. Season 2 - Tact: Blindfolded they handled four types of objects with different textures. Season 3 - Movement: two photos of yoga position (medium and high complexity) for imitation. Station 4 - hearing: auditory processing through binaural stimulation with computer-attached headset. Season 5 - nose and taste memory: through spices, leaves and dried fruits, the nostrils were stimulated for identification and recognition. Station 6 - Speech: Voice Lab through Voice Spectrogram Analysis (Praat). Results Faced with activities like this, we can see that students go through a process of breaking paradigms, which significantly influences their way of thinking. This training is part of continuing education through the perspective of the knowledge spiral. With the evolution of the undergraduate years, the student will be able to refine and deepen their reflections in a continuous process. Conclusions This work represents a breakthrough in the field of health education. Humanized professionals, aware of their skills and abilities, with actions aimed at the well-being of the population, in a generalist, critical and reflective manner. Key messages The impact generated on the assisted population have been observed when this new professional profile is inserted in health services. This workshop represents a breakthrough in the field of training health professionals with actions focused on the welfare of the population in a generalist, critical and reflexive manner.

Listening as a Relational and Experientialist Praxis: Insights from Gestalt Therapy

ABSTRACT Humanistic psychology is grounded in dialogic communication and existentialist phenomenology, involving a relational philosophy and experientialist methodology. Its relative neglect within listening research is canvased before exploring the praxis of Gestalt therapy – a humanistic psychotherapy – which models integration of philosophy, theory, and practice relevant to listening. While listening research is increasingly attuned to relational aspects of communication and elements of humanistic therapies, it remains shaped by a metaphysics of atomization, compromising its capacity for integrated praxis. The value of conceptualizing listening as a praxis similar to that of Gestalt therapy is therefore elucidated, with particular reference to listening pedagogy in higher education.

Technology and Gestaltism: A Robotic-Based Learning Aid Tool

With the objective to seeking a new educational approach, in which to due students to be into active protagonists of their academic life, this paper presents the design of a robotic teaching tool that was conceived from the use of techniques of Gestalt Therapy, so as to be a playful instrument of verification of learning. The relevance of the study is due to the fact of the conception of this tool arised from the extraclass view of a group of students who contributed to the development using robotics as a form of tool belonging to its universe outside the classroom. Three sessions were carried out on the use of the tool in the students' class in order to test their playful characteristics and to ascertain the ability to help learning of non-technical subjects of the students who were involved in the development of the same.

Gestalt Psychotherapy and Coaching for Relationships

Gestalt Psychotherapy and Coaching for Relationships

Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso y Terapia Gestalt

Dada la pujanza con que las terapias del enfoque contextual se presentan en el panorama psicoterapéutico actual, y la incorporación de elementos de la terapia humanista como algo natural en el proceso de surgimiento y desarrollo de este enfoque (Hayes, 2012), el objetivo de este artículo es identificar y desarrollar los ingredientes específicos que denotan una convergencia entre la Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso y la Terapia Gestalt, las cuales se constituyen en exponentes significativos del enfoque contextual y humanista, respectivamente. En tanto que la Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso es una Terapia Contextual que se apoya en la Teoría de los Marcos Relacionales, la Terapia Gestalt fue elaborada por Fritz Perls, quien aglutinó en este enfoque el conocimiento existente en su época y dio lugar a una terapia con gran repercusión en la práctica clínica. En este artículo se presentan los fundamentos teóricos de ambos enfoques y se identifican una serie de principios teóricos y prácticos en los que estos coinciden a pesar de haber seguido recorridos diferentes para llegar a ellos. Así, se analizan elementos comunes como la evitación experiencial en la explicación de los problemas psicológicos, y se identifica un conjunto de prácticas clínicas compartidas que evidencian una convergencia entre ambos enfoques. Se realiza, por último, un análisis crítico de las repercusiones de esta convergencia en la investigación futura sobre los procesos responsables de la eficacia en psicoterapia.

LAYANAN KONSELING PERORANGAN DENGAN TEKNIK KURSI KOSONG UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KETERAMPILAN KOMUNIKASI INTERPERSONAL

This research begins from the background regarding each individual's interpersonal communication skills that need to be improved in this globalization era. As an empty chair technical intervention in individual counseling services provided to have interpersonal communication skills, one of those skills is maintaining good communication in the daily environment, especially with parents. This study uses a quantitative method using a survey research design that aims to determine the effectiveness of individual counseling services with empty chair techniques to improve interpersonal communication skills. The purpose of this study is to find a picture of the effectiveness of individual counseling services with empty chair techniques to improve interpersonal communication skills and to find out individual counseling services with effective empty chair techniques to improve interpersonal communication skills. Data processing was performed by comparing the scores of pretest and posttest results on a client (S) aged 20 years. Analysis of the research data used is based on client respondents (S) on the DASS instrument before and after the implementation of individual counseling services with the empty chair technique. Thus it can be concluded that individual counseling services with the empty chair technique are effective for improving interpersonal communication skills.

게슈탈트치료와 수용전념치료에서의 정신병리 이론과 변화 과정 비교 고찰

게슈탈트치료와 수용전념치료에서의 정신병리 이론과 변화 과정 비교 고찰

Teoria, pratica e tecnica

The stumbling blocks that a therapist experiences working with his clients are both technical and personal. This paper would like to be a "reminder" to help the therapists leaning on the theoretical postulates underpinning the existential-phenomenological gestalt therapy. In addition, we propose a self-evaluation method through which the therapist can monitor his experience (comprised by what the therapist is experiencing about him/herself, about the client and the therapeutic relationship) during each session. The aim is to practice a kind of self-supervision, to bring out the potential crux hindering the therapeutic process. We propose to look to the therapeutic treatment from the therapist's point of view. For this purpose, we suggest to the therapist to write his experience session by session, in order to create a sort of journal that will be used for analysis using the existential-phenomenological methodological framework (Giorgi, 1985). We expect that what emerges from the above-mentioned analysis could be faced referring to the pillars of existential-phenomenological Gestalt therapy, highlighting the infinite dialogue between practice and theory and the continuous rebound between what happens inside and what exists outside the inner world of the therapist and his practice. Keywords: Psychotherapy, Gestalt, Phenomenological existential method, supervision, self-evaluation

Deliberateness and spontaneity in Gestalt therapy practice

Abstract: The present work aims to describe the different ways of acting in Gestalt therapy. The author distinguishes two activities, one deliberate and the other spontaneous. Within deliberate therapeutic activity he further distinguishes work on the individual and work on the relationship. Both classical Gestalt therapy and the relational orientation that Gestalt therapy has developed today encompass deliberate and spontaneous therapy action. The two perspectives are not irreconcilable, but complementary, integrating each other. Keywords: subjectivity, relationship, field, deliberateness, spontaneity, meeting.

Two risks and a third way: what research for Gestalt therapy?

Abstract: In this article the author explains the possible future for Gestalt therapy in view of the evolution of the regulatory context and the appearance of the contextual model resulting from the evolution of research in psychotherapy. This future oscillates between marginalisation or even outright disappearance and dissolution into a vast, integrative, outcome-based current. The author argues that both the values inspiring the Gestalt therapeutic posture and the mode of intervention based on the therapist’s affective resonance are worth defending and even disseminating more widely than today. He then draws the outlines of a Gestalt research that allows Gestalt therapy to be legitimised by being recognised as offering evidence-based treatments and to continue to develop as an original and innovative modality. Keywords: psychotherapy research, Gestalt therapy research, evidence-based, contextual model, effectiveness, EAGT, EAP.

Relational Gestalt therapy as a potential psychology of liberation from oppressive social forces

Abstract: The essence of relational Gestalt therapy, according to Goodman, rests within political activism and social critique. Thus, a discussion of relational Gestalt therapy as a potential psychology of liberation invariably implies a critique of mainstream psychology. Essentially, an idea is clarified through differentiation with what it is not. Psychology embedded within a positivist paradigm, in attempting to understand universal human nature as distinct from the phenomenological field in which the individual is situated, makes a series of assumptions that are rarely questioned within the mainstream psychological literature. Consequently, a theory of human nature as ahistorical and apolitical becomes a form of oppression in service of those with power. Furthermore, the generally accepted theory of human nature has implications for ‘best practice’ in psychotherapy in treating deviations to such nature, with these deviations regarded as ‘mental disorders’. The article concludes that potentially establishing relational Gestalt therapy as an ‘evidence-based practice’ should not be the only direction the Gestalt community takes, but also focusing attention towards political activism and a critique of social theory in order to effect real change within the world. Keywords: relational Gestalt therapy, positivist psychology, evidence-base, power, political activism, critique of social theory.

Catching Dreams: Applying Gestalt Dream Work to Canadian Aboriginal Peoples

Gestalt therapy is similar to an Aboriginal worldview in that they both involve a holistic approach and focus on health and wellness strategies. The Aboriginal worldview is best portrayed as holistic in nature, where the circle of wellness symbolizes unity, wholeness, completeness, and balance. Dream work is a therapeutic technique utilized in Gestalt therapy that could be very useful for Aboriginal peoples given their spiritual and narrative way of being. This article demonstrates the cultural acceptability for utilization of dream work in Gestalt with Aboriginal clients. Furthermore, it discusses both strengths and limitations of this modality of therapy. Implications for use are also discussed.

The vocal-therapy: experience of some directions of psychotherapeutic and psychological space

This article reveals the accumulated experience of scientific space in the phenomenology of vocal therapy. The analysis of foreign and domestic directions of studying of a voice as polymodal material for research of various mental phenomena in psychotherapeutic and psychological practice is given. It is substantiated that vocal therapy can be used to improve various aspects of the functioning of human body systems. Many researchers have proven the effectiveness of vocal therapy in different directions (psychoanalysis, human-centered approach, gestalt therapy, ontopsychology, body-oriented concept, transpersonal voice therapy, as well as sound therapy, music-vocal-therapy, music-pedagogical therapy, music-pedagogical therapy). Singing is popular all over the world due to its availability, which favorably distinguishes vocal therapy from other methods.

Relationship between Mentalizing and Working Conditions in Health Care.

Mentalizing describes the human ability to comprehend one’s own and others’ mental states and is seen as one of the core competencies of psychotherapists. Current research has emphasized the importance of both early dyadic attachment as well as broader sociocultural environmental input on the development of mentalizing. This study investigates whether mentalizing skills, operationalized via reflective functioning (RF), might be influenced by training and working conditions. This study was a matched case-control comparison, cross-sectional study. RF was assessed in a total of 10 psychotherapy trainees working in private practice at the beginning (group A; n = 5) and end (group B; n = 5) of their psychotherapy training (training association: Gestalt Therapy, Institute of Integrative Gestalttherapy Vienna) and in a total of 40 health professionals (institution: General Hospital Vienna—Social Medical Center South, Vienna, Department of Psychiatry, acute psychiatric ward) at the beginning of (group C; n = 20) and without (group D; n = 20) mentalization based therapy training. The participants differed from each other regarding their training, but participants of the same institution were matched. RF scores were significantly higher in group A and B than in group C and D (A,C: p = 0.0065, Odds Ratio (OR): 0.0294; A,D: p = 0.0019, OR: 0.0132; B,C: p = 0.0065, OR: 0.0294, B,D: p = 0.0019, OR: 0.0132). RF scores were not significantly different among groups A and group B (A,B: p > 0.9999) or between groups C and D (C,D: p = 0.6050). The current study suggests that mentalizing skills might be rather slow to improve by training, but that they might be influenced by the context.