Gestalt Psychotherapy

Gestalt Theoretical Psychotherapy is a method of psychotherapy based strictly on Gestalt psychology. It was developed by the German Gestalt psychologist and psychotherapist Hans-Juergen P. Walter and his colleagues in Germany and Austria.

Gestalt Psychotherapy has an holistic approach to human functioning – the mind, body, emotions and spirit entwined as an interactive whole, constantly working to achieve balance. An individual’s personal growth is encouraged through development of self awareness and self support for appropriate, spontaneous and creative contact with others.

The learning and application of Gestalt Therapy is experientially based and experimentally oriented. The therapist works with what is immediately obvious and available to awareness, in the Here and Now. Blocks in awareness and behaviour may emerge in the therapy in the same way as they manifest themselves in the client's life. From there the therapy may proceed in small steps using mini-experiments with new behaviours in order to expand awareness. In this way optimal support for creative and adaptive contact with one’s environment becomes possible. It’s an interactive process where past experiences and future longings are appreciated and explored as manifested in present thinking, feeling and behaving. Ideally, and with time, the client experiences relief as s/he becomes able to expand their experience and behaviour. In this way gestalt psychotherapy results in an increased capacity for living more authentically and fully.