What is gestalt therapy?

If you’re curious about what gestalt therapy is, and, perhaps, considering integrating gestalt therapy into your practice, this article can answer your questions.

Gestalt psychology therapy is a holistic and dynamic approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes awareness, personal responsibility, and the integration of mind, body, and emotion.

Rooted in the belief that individuals can only be understood as unified wholes, this modality encourages clients to live fully in the present moment.

In this article, we’ll explore what gestalt therapy is, explaining all aspects of gestalt psychology therapy—including gestalt therapy techniques, gestalt therapy methods, and gestalt therapy goals.

We will also share gestalt therapy examples to contextualize this modality and give you a practical application you can reference in the future.

This may help therapists decide whether this approach is suitable for their practice and their clients’ needs.

What is gestalt therapy? 

Gestalt therapy was developed in the 1940s by Fritz Perls, MD, along with his wife, Laura Perls, and Paul Goodman. It is a type of therapy that helps people focus on what’s happening in their lives right now.

Instead of getting stuck on past experiences, clients are encouraged to pay attention to their thoughts, feelings, and actions in the present moment. Issues related to the past or future are explored in the context of the present.

Studies have shown that gestalt psychology therapy can be very effective in treating conditions like depression and anxiety.

For example, a systematic review of 11 studies found that it helped anxious parents of primary school children (5-11 years old) reduce their anxiety, be more mindful, and become kinder to themselves.

Other researchers found that gestalt therapy was effective in helping students develop by focusing on their personal experiences and responsibilities.

The main gestalt therapy goals are to help clients become more aware of themselves, their feelings, and how they interact with others and their environment. In this process, the therapist’s role is to be empathetic—they observe the client’s responses and actions while guiding the sessions.

Principles of gestalt psychology therapy 

Gestalt therapy is based on several key principles that will influence how the therapy is conducted. These core concepts guide both therapist and client throughout the process, and form the foundation of gestalt therapy methods to use.

Here are some of the core principles: 

Holistic perspective 

Holism is a key principle in gestalt therapy that views a person as a whole, not just separate parts. It means that physical, emotional, mental, and social aspects are all connected and must be considered together to understand the person.

For example, clients may realize how their physical sensations are linked to emotional struggles.

The here and now

Clients focus on what they are feeling and experiencing right now instead of thinking too much about the past or worrying about the future. This allows them to see how their current thoughts and actions are influencing their lives.

Awareness and personal responsibility

According to Fritz Perls, “awareness in itself is healing,” which means that recognizing your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can be transformative.

Many psychological issues arise from a lack of awareness. When people avoid or suppress their true feelings, thoughts, or experiences, they become disconnected from themselves, which may lead to internal conflicts.

In gestalt therapy, therapists also guide clients in recognizing that they have control over their choices. This allows them to take ownership of outcomes instead of attributing them solely to external factors or the past.

The paradox of change

Although it is not always explicitly listed as one of its core principles, it aligns closely with the philosophy and gestalt therapy methods. The paradox of change suggests that genuine change occurs not when people try to be something they are not, but when they fully accept themselves as they are.

In other words, transformation happens through self-acceptance. Gestalt psychology therapy emphasizes this acceptance as a path to personal growth.

Experiential exercises

Gestalt therapy can be considered creative in its approach because it goes beyond just talking. Whereas traditional talk therapy usually entails discussing a client’s issues, gestalt psychology therapy involves active engagement through techniques like role-playing and creative expression (such as making art or dancing).

Gestalt therapy techniques 

Techniques like the empty chair exercise and role-playing help clients explore and process their emotions in a direct way.

Here are some of the most common experiential techniques used in gestalt therapy:

The empty chair technique

This well-known technique involves the client imagining someone (or something) significant sitting in an empty chair. They then speak to this imagined figure to express their thoughts and feelings, including unresolved issues about the person.

For example, a client who feels angry and disappointed toward their partner might imagine their partner sitting in the empty chair. They would voice their frustrations directly to them, by saying, for example: “I feel hurt when you ignore my efforts. It makes me feel like I’m not valued.”

In some cases, the “other person” in the empty chair might represent a part of the client themselves.

Dramatization

Dramatization or role-playing is also a widely used method where a client acts out scenarios or dialogues. One specific form of role-playing is the two-chair technique, where the client alternates between two chairs to act out both sides of a conversation—allowing them to respond as the other person.

For example, they may imagine sitting in one chair as themselves and in the other as someone they are in conflict with, such as a family member, partner, or boss.

The switching of roles during the exercise may allow them to gain insight into their own behaviors, understand others’ viewpoints, or shed light on how they expect that person to respond to them.

Exaggeration

The goal of this exercise is to help clients become more aware of their physical sensations and emotions by amplifying their body language.

The therapist observes subtle gestures, postures, or facial expressions the client may not even realize they’re making. During a session, they might tap their feet or clench their fists. Next, the client is asked to intentionally magnify the gesture.

Here are some gestalt therapy examples for the “exaggeration” exercise:

• If they’re tapping their feet, they might tap harder and faster.
• If they’re clenching their fists, they might clench and unclench more forcefully.
• If they’re shrugging their shoulders during a conversation about stress, they might shrug their shoulders higher and more deliberately.

This technique teaches the client to connect the gesture to suppressed feelings or unresolved conflicts.

Using “I” statements 

The use of “I” statements helps clients move away from blaming others or externalizing their problems.

Instead of the client saying, “You make me so upset,” they might reframe it to say, “I feel upset when this happens because it affects me in [specific way].”

Research shows that this approach is less likely to provoke negative reactions compared to “you” language. It helps the client feel heard and allows the other person to understand their feelings better.

Creative arts 

Artistic expression provides a safe space for releasing pent-up emotions, such as anger or grief, in a constructive way. This is especially beneficial for those who struggle with verbal expression.

Examples of creative arts in gestalt therapy include drawing, painting, sculpting, movement, dance, or writing.

Strengths and weaknesses of gestalt therapy

Gestalt psychology therapy is particularly helpful for clients struggling with issues like anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship problems. Since this type of therapy puts emphasis on awareness and the present moment, clients may develop a greater understanding of themselves.

However, gestalt therapy may not resonate with all clients. Some may prefer to explore past issues in depth, as opposed to the therapy’s present-focused approach.

In addition, techniques like the empty chair exercise or exaggeration may feel uncomfortable for the client. Such techniques require a level of vulnerability that a client might perceive as invasive or overwhelming.

Closing thoughts 

Gestalt therapy is considered a creative approach to helping clients understand themselves more deeply. Whether you’re working with individuals or groups, it’s a model that focuses on exploring emotions, thoughts, and actions in a direct and present-focused way.

It offers powerful tools for managing challenges like anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. If you’re considering incorporating gestalt psychology therapy into your practice, remember to be mindful of your client’s comfort levels with certain techniques.

Sources

1. Raffagnino, R. (2019). Gestalt Therapy Effectiveness: A Systematic Review of Empirical Evidence. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 07(06), 66–83.
2. Rogers, S. L., Howieson, J., & Neame, C. (2018). I understand you feel that way, but I feel this way: the benefits of I-language and communicating perspective during conflict. PeerJ, 6, e4831.

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