Psychotherapy and Gestalt Therapy
Everything depends on inner change; when this has taken place, then, and only then does the world change.
Martin Buber
Gestalt Psychotherapy has an existential, humanistic basis. It was developed by Fritz and Laura Perls in the middle of the last century. Paul Goodman, Joseph Zinker, Martin Buber and many others also influenced it hugely.
The word Gestalt comes from a German word that means an organized whole that is perceived as more than the sum of its parts.Gestalt experiences a human being as a holistic entity consisting of several inter-connecting inter-being parts. Cognitive, physical and emotional parts exist equally and form the substance we are made of. They are not separated, they are intertwined and directly influence one another. Our psychological state reflects on our body which again has a strong impact on our psyche. Emotions influence our thinking, but also our physical experiences. The way in which we see the world impacts on how we are going to paint the image of the world around us.
Gestalt Psychotherapy has an open and integrative approach and uses different and various techniques depending on the client and problems he or she brings. Gestalt believes in the potential of each individual to be well, to live a satisfying and fulfilling life, create healthy and authentic interpersonal relationships, solve problems and confront difficulties. Often, however, during childhood, and later as well, something happens and interrupts this natural process and a person gets stuck with images and beliefs about oneself and the world, with patterns of behaviour and feelings that become obstacles on that path. In order to remove the obstacles, one must first see them, explore them, understand how and why they were created and how they impact upon our lives in the present moment.