View of Human Nature

Gestalt theory is founded on a positive view of human nature. Perls believed that developing an
awareness of one's feelings, reactions, and thoughts in a present situation could resolve
personal issues. In other words, people have the ability to solve their own problems. They can
regulate their actions when they are aware of what is happening.

Gestalt theory believes that in order to change, we must accept who we are. In contrast, the
more a person works to become something different, the greater the chance that they will
remain the same. This is the paradoxical theory of change; we change when we become
aware of what we are as opposed to trying to become what we are not.

The Counseling Process

The Gestalt counselor has the role of helping the client identify with who they really are. This is
done by facilitating a client's ability to focus on their present feelings. The counseling process
does not aim for analysis or introspection, but rather creates opportunities to bring unresolved
emotions into the present so they can be dealt with.

Perls described five layers of the counseling process. These benchmarks would follow in
succession as the client progresses. This is sometimes called 'peeling the onion.'

 First is the phony layer. At this point, the client pretends to be something that they are
not.
 Next is the phobic layer. The client now shows a fear of revealing their real identity and
denies its existence.
 Third is the impasse layer. At this point, the client will appear stuck and unable to meet
their counseling goals.
 Then comes the implosive layer. When this occurs, the client develops awareness of the
ways they are holding back and becomes vulnerable.
 Finally, the client reaches the explosive layer. This is when the client becomes whole and
reacts in an authentic way with intense expression of their feelings. Emotions that need
to be dealt with are experienced in a safe environment where they can be guided to a
resolution.

Let's look at an example of this process with Brenda. Brenda enters counseling pretending that
she has a fulfilling relationship with her husband, even though she's unhappy. As counseling
begins, Brenda starts to experience negative feelings of resentment toward her husband that
she isn't ready to express. She doesn't want these feelings to exist, so she enters a state of
denial.

Next, Brenda finds ways to avoid expressing any emotion at all during her counseling sessions.
This means that no progress can be made. Her therapist confronts this situation until Brenda
allows herself to become aware of her feelings and acknowledge that she's avoiding them. This
makes her vulnerable to feeling all of the resentment she has been bottling up inside her. Once
all her barriers are broken down, she experiences this resentment with an intense rush of
emotion. She can now begin to discuss her true feelings about her marriage and what must
occur to move forward.

The ultimate measure of success in Gestalt therapy is the extent to which clients grow in
awareness, take responsibility for their actions, and move from environmental support to self-
support.

Strengths and Limitations

Gestalt therapy's holistic approach is one of its strengths. The unique experiences of each
individual are taken into account and valued by the therapeutic process. There's also a real
attempt made to integrate Gestalt theory, practice, and research. However, this attempt is
challenged by a historical lack of empirical research.

Gestalt therapy is only appropriate for certain populations. It should not be used with
adolescents, people who cannot appropriately deal with the emotional intensity that is brought
about by the therapeutic process, or those who are severely disturbed.

Lesson Summary
Fritz Perls developed a therapy that focuses on what is occurring in the present and is based on
understanding a person within their environment. He called this Gestalt therapy. Gestalt
therapy views the whole person, their environment, and the person's relationship with their
environment. There's a strong focus on present awareness. A person has the ability to solve
their own problems through the awareness of present feelings, thoughts, and reactions.

Gestalt theory is built around the premise that a person must accept who they are in order to
change. Central to this premise is the paradoxical theory of change, that we change when we
become aware of what we are as opposed to trying to become what we are not.

Five layers of the counseling process are:

1. Phony
2. Phobic
3. Impasse
4. Implosive
5. Explosive