Gestalt therapy is a type of psychotherapy which can be put in the category of experiential psychotherapies. According to the text books definitions, Gestalt therapy’s main emphasis is an individual’s personal responsibility and focuses upon an individual’s experience in the present, his relationship with the therapist and his social and environmental life.
This therapy was invented by Fritz Perls, Laura Perls, and Paul Goodman. The Gestalt therapy was developed in the 40s and 50s.
The therapy is essentially based upon four pillars: the phenomenological method, the dialogical relationship between the therapist and the client, the theoretical strategies, and experimental liberty. Although all of them can be found in any formulation of Gestalt therapy, but the early practice of Gestalt theory emphasized on personal experiences and experimental freedom only. Later developments in the therapy techniques gave birth to new theoretical emphasis e.g. client-therapist relationship.
The Gestalt theory literature started flourishing in the 90s when several journals appeared on the surface. At the same time, new applications of the therapy were being tried and tested. More recently, Gestalt therapy is being applied in organizations as a coaching technique. Gestalt therapy or Gestalt practice can be very effective for those who are undergoing depression.
We are living in a life where things can turn ugly at any instant. One can be a winner at one time and can become a complete loser the very next moment. Gestalt therapy can help you achieve peace of mind if you’re undergoing a similar situation. It makes you explore various aspects of your consciousness and can make you see life through a different angle. Gestalt therapy is a form of meditation.
Gestalt practice combines both eastern and western practices of meditation. Does it make you live a better, more peaceful life? Yes, it could be very effective in some individuals’ cases.