Gestalt Therapy

Examples of Gestalt and Reality TherapyGestalt Therapy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReJhR4XIKh0

The Gestalt Prayer

I do my thing, and you do your thing.

I am not in this world to live up to your expectations

And you are not in this world to live up to mine.

You are you, I am I,

And if by chance we find each other, it’s beautiful.

If not, it can’t be helped.

Life of Frederick “Fritz” Perls (1893-1970) Middle child and only son Happy childhood; somewhat strained relationship w/ father due

to rebellious nature Failed 7th grade twice and expelled Completed medical school and served in WWI as a medic War experiences influenced humanistic behavior, but also

contributed to cynicism about human nature During a brief conversation w/ Freud, Perls felt humiliated by

him, perhaps spurring his passion to disprove Freud’s theory Wife Lore (Laura) Perls contributed to Perl’s writings

Gestalt therapy founded in reaction to…

~Behaviorism in the US

~Rising popularity of psychoanalysis

Gestalt believed that society supported “quack” therapy with quick-fixes

View of human nature…

“We do not experience things in isolated pieces, but in meaningful intact configurations”

Client is in the here and now, and always in the process of being what she/he is here and now, and becoming the person she/he can be

Humans have the ability to change and are be responsible for their own choices

Healthy behavior…

…is when a person is able to be fully aware of who they are while, at the same time, being able to make genuine ‘contact’ with others

…when people act and react as total organisms~ unfragmented and self-regulating

Psychopathology via the Gestalt Perspective There are five layers or levels of

psychopathology The cliché layer of appearing/acting what you are not The phony-level where we play games act ‘as if’ and give up

actualizing themselves, use polarities The impasse- we are stuck in our own maturation and have

no chance of survival The implosive-is a level of is the dead part of us which

needs to be shed, that is the part of us that is our identity The explosive- is the last level where by the person has

shed their old habits and character releasing tremendous energy allowing the person to experience full joy and sorrow

Role of Therapist

Therapists engage clients in developing their own awareness and experiencing their feelings in the present

Therapists pay attention to clients body language to provide clues to feelings about situations~ look for contradictions (saying you are in pain and laughing, saying you are mad and smiling, etc.)

Therapist does not ask “why” but “what” and “how” Helps client identify “energy blocks” in the body and

encourages the release of energy

Gestalt Therapeutic Techniques Games dialogue- pt. carry on dialogue between polarities of their

personality e.g..M/F I take responsibility- pt.are ask to end every statement with “I take

responsibility for it” Playing the projection- pt plays the role of another person Reversals- pt act out the opposite of the way they are to expose

some hidden polarities Rehearsals-pt reveals to the group the social role playing Marriage and counseling game- spouses take turns revealing the

most positive and negative things about each other May I feed you a sentence-therapist asks permission to repeat

and try on for size a sig. statement about the pt. Empty chair- pt is asked to play one or more roles and speaks for

each role, moving btwn chairs

Reality Therapy

Example of Reality Therapy

Reality Therapyhttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2387871371208231019&q=reality+therapy&total=106&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Life of William Glasser (1925-)

Reality Therapy

“The essence of Reality Therapy is the acceptance of responsibility for a person’s own behavior which enables the individual to achieve success and happiness.”

Reality Therapy Client

Someone who is unable to fulfill needs in a realistic way and has taken some less than realistic way in unsuccessful attempts to do so. They are either unvalued in a present unsatisfied

relationship, or Lack what would even be called a relationship.

**All clients have the same issues that are manifested differently through different coping mechanisms

Behavior

All we do is behave – almost all behavior is chosen and we are driven to satisfy our five basic needs:

Survival

Love

Belonging

Power

Freedom

Fun

Unhealthy behavior is when… Client choses unhealthy behaviors to deal

with feelings of disconnectedness “Mental illness” should only refer to issues of

the brain treated by a neurologist; alcohol, depression, bipolar are not mental illnesses but the behaviors in which a person has chosen to express their unhappiness

Role of Therapist

Give self – not service Doesn’t accept mental illness - each person is

responsible for behavior Focuses of “Here & Now” Increases client’s self-esteem Accepts and respects Builds confidence and trust Increases openness, integrity & honesty

Basic Foundation for Counseling

Counselors using Reality Therapy encourage trust in the counseling relationship, promote the view that we are responsible for our own actions and help develop practical steps for

quick improvement.

Major Components of Reality Therapy Focus on present Avoid discussing symptoms and complaints Understand “total behavior” Avoid criticizing, blaming, and/or complaining Remain non-judgmental and non-coercive No excuses Focus on specifics Making plans Be patient

Choice Theory(Goal is to replace the seven deadly habits with the seven caring

habits)

Seven Deadly Habits

Criticizing

Blaming

Complaining

Nagging

Threatening

Punishing

Bribing or Rewarding to Control

Seven Caring Habits

Supporting

Encouraging

Listening

Accepting

Trusting

Respecting & Negotiating Differences

Reality Theory Paradigm