Criticism Of Gestalt Counseling

“An important vehicle for change is the therapeutic relationship that exudes qualities of trust, openness, acceptance, permissiveness, and warmth. The degree to which the counselor is able to create this nurturing atmosphere will influence the client’s possibilities for growth. 2.The legitimate focus of counseling content is on affect and the exploration of feelings. Both interpersonal relationships and self-conception may be improved by becoming aware of feelings about oneself and others and by learning to express these emotions in sensitive and self-enhancing ways. 3.The universal goals of counseling are to help people to be more free, intentional, ethical, contemplative, and human. This means that time is spent in sessions helping clients to examine their values and personal characteristics so that they may become

However, Gestalt counseling has been soundly criticized for its lack of a clearly articulated theory and its limited empirical base. Among other criticisms are these: overly manipulative and controlling, anti-intellectual, gimmicky, has a high potential for abuse, encourages a “do your own thing” attitude, which can create a sense of irresponsibility, minimal emphasis on behaviorally useful life skills, and it overemphasized feelings to the exclusion of cognitive aspects of existence” (Kotter & Shepard, 2015, p. 137-138). The role is to help the client gain awareness of what they are feeling and doing now in their life. This is done by encouraging the client to experience their situation not just talk about it. For example, if they experienced abuse as a child, the client will be encouraged to re-experience the experience rather than just talk about it. For the client this bring self-awareness. Insight, knowledge to help see how current relations are being affected by this experience, so that transformation may