Emotions Theories: Gestalt Therapy
The purpose of this essay is to better illustrate Gestalt therapy, a counseling theory based on the principle of holism. Moreover, I will analyze how through Gestalt practices, clients, such as Helen, Blake, Suzanne and Marie become conscious of what they have deserted or are no longer aware of.
Core Constructs of Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt therapy is an experiential and humanistic form of therapy that embraces awareness, freedom and self-direction. Gestalt therapy focus on the “here and now” and allow clients to be more self-aware and to accept their feelings in order to ease distress. Gestalt theory maintains that wellness encompasses taking responsibility for one’s self and being connected to others.
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In Helen’s therapy session, she describe being discontent with her life. She specifically identifies her marriage as an area where she is not happy. Furthermore, Helen’s “top dog” is telling her that she must always play the role of a good worker and wife, otherwise calamity is bound. Her polarized belief is displayed when she says that “people will not make it if you are not where you said you would be” (MyLab, n.d). Additionally, the defense mechanism Helen is portraying is introjection, which is uncritically accepting beliefs of others, because she avoids taking responsibility for her own self. Lastly, Helen reports that change will be difficult, placing her in the impasses layer of neurosis, characterized by feeling trapped (MyLab, …show more content…
The technique that I find most helpful is the empty chair technique that places the client across from an empty chair. Then the client is asked to envision that is sitting in the chair. The therapist stimulates dialogue between the empty chair and the client, allowing the client to express his or her thoughts (“Gestalt Therapy”, n.d.). In the case of Suzanne and Marie, a homosexual couple, are trying to fit in to the new work place in Atlanta, where they are keeping their relationship a secret in fear of being rejected. Therefore, in cases like these, when working with Gestalt therapy, it is crucial to take into account cultural considerations. Suzanne and Maria are coming from Los Angeles, where their relationship was perceived as normal, but now the fear of judgement in the new work place in Atlanta is straining their relationship. Therefore, the therapist must practice acceptance in all cases in order to successfully guide and empower
She allows her mother to control her and make decisions for her. During their conversation, she asks her mom if she should marry Mr. Jones even if she does not love him. Her mother does not seem to care until Helen mentions that he is Vice-President of the company. Her mother says that she should marry him whether she loves him or not because he will be able to take care of her and Helen. They continue to discuss how Helen can marry this man that she doesn’t like so she will never have to work again and he can support her mother, or she can say no at the risk of losing her job and not being able to support her mother anymore. Helen ties in how life is making her “feel like I’m stifling!” (591). Again, I feel this is another representation of Helen not being able to handle the pressures of society. Helen can’t talk about important decisions she has to make without feeling claustrophobic and blowing up by saying things like “I’ll kill you!” (592). I think she blows up because her mother is always nagging her and she can’t handle it in that moment anymore, especially since it is a conversation about
In this vignette, the client and social worker begin a new session at the point where the last left off. Kirsten, a college student, has come to this private practice setting to discuss her experiences, fears, and difficulties with coming out, particularly after her previous coming out experiences. In the previous sessions, the worker and Kirsten have explored many themes revolving around coming out, her experience coming out to her neighbor, and Kirsten’s anxieties about talking with her sister. The role of the social worker in this vignette is to discuss possible options with Kirsten as she moves toward talking with her sister, engaging in role play Kirsten has requested, and exploring Kirsten’s feelings about the upcoming meeting with her
Helen is a disgruntled housewife, she doesn’t support Harry in his plans to create a safe haven inside of the cellar. When Harry attempts to set a plan in motion, she seems to be against him and proceeds to scold him. The scenario of Karen, their daughter being ill, may have contributed to her attitude towards Harry. Unable to come to a unanimous decision on the appropriate approach to handle Karen’s illness and as well as the ongoing crisis around them, they foster a bitter attitude towards one another. According to the authors Thomas N. Bradbury and Frank D. Fincham there is a reason for that. It states that… “One explanation for this apparent gender difference is that, compared to husbands' attributions, wives' attributions are rooted more firmly in the events and circumstances of the marriage. If wives' attributions are indeed more accurate or well developed representations of partner behaviors, then their attributions will be linked more closely to the behaviors they display in interaction when discussing some of those partner behaviors.”(Bradbury and Fincham 574). All things considered, Helen’s and Harry’s portrayal cast their marriage under the ‘dysfunctional marriage’ category.
Katherine’s ideal self was a woman who had a successful career and a family life; she wanted to have a husband, children, and a career. These attributes were different from her real self-concept. Her real self was without a husband, children, or a career. As a result of this incongruence between her real self and ideal self, Katherine lacked positive self-regard. She was bounded by the commands of her husband, who disapproved of and ridiculed her dreams to own a business. Her husband was insistent that she had to take care of him, which made her feel incompetent and made her dependent, and later divorced her. The seriousness of her neurosis is observed when she intentionally missed her 10th high school reunion due to the fear of being judged of her lack of success and accomplishments by her classmates. Due to the lack of positive self-regard, she was afraid that others would either make fun of or pity her. The incongruence between her perceived self and ideal self affected her condition of worth, she thought that if she was successful, she would have been accepted by others.
In this chapter, Anderson, Lunnen, and Ogles (2010) discuss the interrelationship between theories of psychotherapy and the techniques used by those theories. They argue that the techniques used by therapists and the common change factors of all models of psychotherapy cannot be separated from the therapist’s underlying theory of psychotherapy. They unite these aspects into a contextual model. Anderson et al.’s contextual model and discussion of placebos will be evaluated and then applied to the author’s future therapeutic practice. Unfortunately, due to the pervasive influence of postmodern philosophy throughout the chapter, there is little that should be applied to one’s practice of psychotherapy.
The rapport and friendship built throughout this movie is vital to the success of the therapy exhibited here. This is a great example of Gestalt therapeutic approach and helps to identify most of the techniques incorporated. The techniques and ways of gently confronting but pushing a client all the way through are very beneficial to each viewer of this film.
As well as, remembering that mental health may or may not play a role in these conflicts. The counselor must first assess his or her own views regarding sexuality. Working with clients apart of the LGBT culture, the counselor should not consider homosexuality unnatural or immoral. A counselor has the skills necessary to create a positive and nonjudgmental environment, and will not feel uncomfortable discussing issues related to homosexuality. It’s important for counselors to support clients in the coming out process at a pace that is healthy for them. Also, to help the LBGT individual identify who they are, and assist in developing their coping skills. With the help of support groups and the counselor, many conflicts can be resolved (Sue & Sue,
The most concise way to characterize Gestalt psychology is to say that it deals with wholes and its given data are what have been called phenomena. It is because of their strong phenomenological orientation, which explains that wholes are experienced by conscious man and not in parts. For example, in perceiving a melody one gets a melodic form, not a string or a note, a unitary whole that is something more important than the total list of its parts. This is the way experience comes to man, organizing it into significant structured form.
This therapy recognizes heterosexual privilege and explores the trauma and shame that occurs to Lesbians and gays, even as children. With my client this is imperative to explore and also the isolation component.
It is also important to recognize that it is vital that therapists remain self-aware and avoid judgments based upon their own understanding. This session is my first opportunity to work with a same-sex couple and to see therapy unfold over the span of the quarter. I have based my approach on the data that was presented to me through intake forms and prior sessions with the couple. To protect the couple from any negative counter-transference, I filtered my observations through the theories of Gottman’s Married Couple Therapy (2008), Johnson’s Emotionally Focused Therapy (2008) (EFT), and David’s Integrated Model of Couple Therapy (2013a) (ICT). The bulk of this paper will then examine my therapeutic approach, the supporting theoretical concepts, and my strengths and weaknesses as a therapist during the session.
Gestalt therapy is existential, phenomenological, and process-based approach created on the premise that individuals must be understood in the context of their ongoing relationship with the environment. Awareness, choice and responsibility are the cornerstone of practice (Corey, 2013).
This essay will focus on Gestalt therapy and will examine how the self is defined and employed in
Latorre, M. (2000). A Holistic View of Psychotherapy: Connecting Mind, Body, and Spirit. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 36:2, 67-68.
Gestalt and TA concept have been widely recognized for their role in psychotherapy. In this context, they provide the therapist with a framework which can be used to help their patients overcome mental problems and issues. As result, personal growth and development is likely to be attained. Their significance is illuminated by the fact that both of them encourage the patient’s ‘here and now’ awareness, which is fundamental in personal development (Brenner 2000).
Personality is an individual’s characteristic pattern of feeling, thinking and acting. Psychodynamic theories of personality view human behavior as a dynamic interaction between the conscious mind and unconscious mind, including associated motives and conflicts (Myers & Dewall, pg# 572, 2015). These theories focus on the unconscious and the importance of childhood experiences. Psychodynamic theories are descended from Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis, which is his ideology of personality and the associated treatment techniques. Psychoanalysis attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts. This theory also includes the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions. He proposed that childhood sexuality and unconscious motivations influence personality. Freud’s historically significant psychoanalytic theory became part of the human cultural legacy.