EDGC 671

Theory Review
Gestalt Therapy
Frederick (Fritz) Perls

Dean Owen, Ph.D., LPCC

 Usual Disclaimer
Avoid prolonged contact with skin
Not to be taken internally
No animals were harmed during the
production of this presentation

After viewing this presentation avoid

operating mobile or dangerous equipment
This presentation contains graphic images
which some viewers may find disturbing.
 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, and I am I,
and if by chance we find each other,
it's beautiful.
If not, it can't be helped.

(Fritz Perls, 1969)

Fritz Perls
(1893 - 1970)
Perls developed and
popularized Gestalt
therapy, after his training
as a psychoanalyst in
Berlin, then Austria. He
moved to South Africa,
establishing a training
institute for
psychoanalysis there
before developing his
unique theoretical
approach.
 Fritz Perls

His work emphasized a phenomenological and subjective approach to

therapy, noting that many of us split off our experience (thoughts,
sensations, emotions) that are uncomfortable. One goal of his work is to
move people into owning their experience and developing into a healthy
gestalt (or whole). Perls’ book Gestalt therapy verbatim is an interesting
description of this approach drawn from transcripts of his work.
 Theory
Overview
Awareness is the key.
Key Figure: Frederick (Fritz) Perls (1893-1970).
The approach is an experiential therapy that
stresses here-and-now awareness and
integration of the fragmented parts of personality.

It focuses on the “what and how” of behavior

and the role of unfinished business from the past
in preventing an effective functioning in the
present.
Philosophy and Basic Assumptions: The
philosophy is rooted in existential philosophy
and humanistic psychology. It stresses the unity
of mind, body, and feelings. The basic
assumption is that individuals are responsible for
their own behavior and experiencing. The
approach is designed to assist a person to more
fully experience the present moment and to gain
awareness of the “how and what” of
behavior…not the “Why”….
Key Concepts: Acceptance of
responsibility, the concept of the
here-and-now, direct (as opposed to
talked about) experiencing,
awareness, avoidance, unfinished
business from the past, and dealing
with the impasse.
Therapeutic Goals: The goal is to challenge the
client to move from environmental
support to self-support and assist the client
in gaining awareness of moment to moment
experiencing, which is curative. With awareness
the client is able to recognize denied aspects of
self and thus proceed toward re-integration of all
parts of the self.
Therapeutic Relationship: The therapist assists
the client in experiencing more fully all feelings
and enables the client to make his or her own
interpretations. The therapist does not interpret
for the client but focuses on the “what and how”
of the client's behavior. The client identifies his
or her own unfinished business from the past that
interferes with present functioning by
re-experiencing past situations again as though
they were happening at the present moment.
Techniques and Procedures: Many techniques
are designed to intensify direct experiencing and
to integrate conflicting feelings. The approach
stresses confrontation of discrepancies and the
ways the client avoids responsibility for his or
her feelings. The client engages in role-playing
but, by playing out all the various parts and
polarities alone, gain greater awareness of the
conflicts within himself or herself.
Applications: The approach is well
suited to group work, but it can be
used also for individual counseling. It
is applicable to teaching/learning
situations in elementary/secondary
classrooms. It can be applied to most
populations as long as clients are
willing to cooperate.
Contributions: encouraging direct contact and
expression of feelings, the approach
de-emphasizes abstract intellectualizations of
one's problems. Intense experiencing can occur
quickly. Therapy can be relatively brief. The
approach recognizes the value of working with
the past as it is important to the here-and-now. It
focuses on the recognition of one's own
projections and r\the refusal to accept
helplessness. It give attention to nonverbal and
body messages. It stresses doing and
experiencing as opposed to merely talking about
problems in a detached way.
Limitations: The approach tends to be
anti-intellectual to the point that
cognitive-thinking factors are discounted. It
lends itself to becoming a series of mechanical
exercises behind which the therapist can stay
hidden. It can be misused as a set of gimmicks.
It is not grounded in solid theory. A possible
danger is that of stressing a "do your own thing"
philosophy to the extent of promoting a sense of
irresponsibility toward others. "Pure" Gestalt
therapy restricts group interaction. The therapist
could possibly manipulate the client with some
powerful techniques.
 The concept of Work
For Perls, the concept of work had a special
meaning. He would ask if a client wanted to
work. Often done in a group the invitation to
“Work” means to take a risk, self disclose, or
otherwise become engaged with the therapist on
a one-to-one basis in the center of the group (also
known as the “Hot-seat”.)
Perls is credited with establishing
Gestalt Therapy. However, his
wife Laura Perls and Paul
Goodman helped develop and
refine his ideas. He founded the
Gestalt Institute in 1952. Through
the years, various other theorists
have developed the model
further. (Gladding, 2004)
Perls compares the unfolding of the adult
personality to the peeling of an onion. In
order for individuals to achieve
psychological maturity, they must strip off
five layers of neurosis.
The layers are: the phony, the phobic, the
impasse, the implosive, and the explosive.
Perls believed we become
fragmented and choose not to
deal with uncomfortable things.
He believed we need to bring
unfinished business to the
present and deal with it in the
here and now. (Owen, 1996)
The techniques revolve largely
around two sets of guidelines
which are “rules” and “games”.
There are few rules which are
discussed at the beginning of
therapy. However, there are
many games limited only by the
leaders imagination and
creativity.
The rules are not intended to be
a list of dos and don’ts. They
simply provide a way of unifying
thought with feeling. They are
designed to facilitate the
maturation process.
The rules are:

1. The Principal of the Now- It

says all of us spend a lot of time
in the past or dreaming about
what will happen in the future.
The most effective means of
dealing with the past is to bring it
into the present.
2. I and Thou- Says that true
communication involves both the
sender and the receiver. The
therapist directs the patient to face
his reluctance to send his or her
message directly to the receiver.
He is asked to become aware of
the difference between talking to
and talking at the listener.
3. “It Language and I Language”-
This is the baseline of responsibility.
This rule deals with responsibility and
involvement. It is common for us to
refer to our bodies and/or acts in the
third person “it” language. By changing
“it” language to “I” language we learn to
identify more closely with the behavior
in question and to assume responsibility
for it.
Changing it to I is and example of
many of the Gestalt game
techniques. As the client
participates in this game he/she
is more likely to see himself as
an active agent who does things
rather than a passive person to
whom things somehow happen.
4. Use of the “Awareness
Continuum” the “How of
Experience”- This is basic to Gestalt.
It allows you to get rid of speculations
and get in touch with what your body is
telling you. This is Gestalt’s best way
of leading the client away from the
emphasis on the why of behavior and
towards the what and how of behavior.
5. No Gossiping- This rule is
designed to promote feelings and to
prevent avoidance of feelings.
Gossiping is talking about an
individual when he/she is actually
present and could be addressed
directly. We often gossip about
people when we have not been able
to handle direct feelings they have
aroused in us.
The no gossiping rule is another
technique to facilitate direct
confrontation of feelings.
6. On Asking Questions- Often
when the client asks a question it
is a way of avoiding true feelings.
Most often the questioner doesn’t
seek information. Therapists
have the client change the
question into a statement.
Games are therapeutic. They are
introduced by the therapist to help move
the client along. Games such as “I have a
secret” or “I take responsibility” are good
as group warm-ups at the beginning of a
session. We need to be aware of the
games we play and be free to substitute
satisfying for non-satisfying games.
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

Many of the major techniques used in Gestalt

Therapy are couched in the form of games.
Each of these is useful for assisting in the
creation of “here and now” awareness and
provide avenues for blocked material.
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

Games of Dialogue: Top Dog / Underdog:

Simply a dialogue game in which the client is
asked to play out both sides of a split of
conflict. Top Dog is roughly equivalent to the
psychoanalytic superego. Top Dog moralizes,
specializes in “shoulds”, and is generally
bossy and condemning. Underdog tends to be
passively resistant, make excuses, and finds
reasons for delay.
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

Making the Rounds: Simply put, a client is

asked to make a statement to every member of
the group. “I can’t stand anyone in this room”
may be followed by the therapist saying,
“Could you go around to everyone and say
that to them, personally?” The act of saying
something to each and every person often
turns on the light of awareness.
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

Unfinished Business: When unfinished

business is detected the therapist may ask a
client to “finish it”, here and now often by
role playing a two part dialogue. This
technique is frequently used in situations
where resentment exists.
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

I Take Responsibility: A simple game in

which client(s) are asked to add “...and I take
responsibility for it” to each statement they
make. What seems at first blush to be
mechanical, and even foolish, is soon seen as
one heavily laden with meaning.
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

Reversals: This technique is frequently used

to emphasize how we use emotion to avoid
dealing with problems. Essentially the
technique requires a client to adopt the
opposite personality of the one they portray in
the session.
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

Exaggeration: Similar to the above but with

exaggeration of the portrayed personality
style.
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

May I feed you a sentence?: The therapist

will give to the client a sentence to say and
then ask how he feels saying it....or what he
feels saying it. If the proposed sentence is
emotionally evocative or key, spontaneous
development will be supplied by the client.
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

Complete the Sentence: Sentence prompts

are provided to clients who must complete the
sentence and in so doing, often make
discoveries about themselves and others.
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

The “I Have a Secret” Game- This game

helps to get feelings out in the open and
resolve the problem to get closure. It
permits the exploration of feelings of guilt
and shame. Each person thinks of a
personal secret. They don’t share the
secret but imagine how they feel others
would react to it.
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

Playing the Projection Game-

Many seeming perceptions are
projections. The client says “I
can’t trust you.” He/she is asked
to play the role of an
untrustworthy person in order to
discover his own inner conflict in
this area.
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

Retreating to Safety: When the client

wishes to withdraw in fantasy to be any
place or situation in which he/she feels
secure. He/she describes the scene and
his/her feelings there. When he/she is
asked to open his eyes and “come back
to the group” the on-going work is then
resumed.
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

Rehearsal- A great deal of thinking

consists of internal rehearsal and
preparation for playing our accustomed
social roles. The experience of stage
fright simply represents our fear that we
will not conduct our roles well. The group
plays the game of comparing rehearsals
with each other making members more
aware of the preparation involved in
improving our social roles
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

Another approach that is not a rule or a

game but is important to Gestalt therapy
and symbolized much of Perls underlying
philosophy is the principal of “Can you
stay with this feeling?” The technique is
used at key moments when the client
refers to a feeling, mood, or state of mind
that is unpleasant and he wants to get rid
of it quickly.
 The “Games” of Gestalt Therapy.....

Perhaps he is at a point where he or she

feels confused, frustrated, or discouraged.
The therapist says, “Can you stay with
this feeling?” The patient will be asked to
elaborate the what and how of his
feelings. At these moments it is
necessary to help the client distinguish
between what he or she imagines and
what he or she perceives.
 The concept of Time

What happened yesterday is gone forever

and can never be recovered.

Tomorrow is not yet here….

All that we have is this moment…to be

fully lived and tasted….one’s life should be
a long string of fully lived moments.
Gladding, S.T. (2004). Psychoanalytic, Adlerian, and humanistic
theories of counseling. In M. Harlan (Ed.), Counseling a
comprehensive profession (pp. 204-208). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson Education.

Nisenholz, B. & Peterson, J.V. (1995). Theoretical approaches to

counseling and psychotherapy. In R. Short (Ed.), Orientation to
counseling (pp. 214-249). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

Owen, D.W. (1996, August). Overview:Gestalt Therapy. Paper

presented during Theories of Counseling class, Prestonsburg, KY.

Weikel, W.J. (1999, January). The rules and games of Gestalt

Therapy. Paper presented during Group Counseling class,
Prestonsburg, KY.
Resources Available Online:

Wikipedia (2008). Gestalt therapy from Wikipedia, the free

encyclopedia. 01-28-08 Available:
(http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_therapy)

Yontef, G. (1993). Gestalt Therapy: an introduction. 01-

28-08 Available: http://www.gestalt.org/yontef.htm