Gestalt Theory
What is Gestalt Counseling?
You may want to know something more about the gestalt approach to counselling before deciding to see a gestalt counsellor. Or you may just be interested in different approaches to counselling. On this page I have attempted to set out some of the basic ideas of the gestalt approach. Some of the ideas are complex and open to different interpretations, so this can be little more than an introduction. I have also included links to other sites and articles, as well as some suggested reading.
The Gestalt Concept of Self
We all talk about ourselves in the first person - 'I did this ', 'my book ', 'I felt happy ' etc., but what do we mean when we use the words 'I ' or 'me ', what is this thing we call self? In gestalt theory we view individuals as existing 'in relation ' - in relation to other people, in relation to animals, in relation to our environment etc. Our 'self ' is created by interaction with our environment, without interaction we have no sense of self. As a small baby we initially have no concept of our selves as separate from 'other '. We gradually learn to develop a sense of self through interacting with those around us, in particular with our prime carer - usually our mother. From our mother we learn that we exist as a separate individual. We learn that the things we do can affect those around us - we smile and they smile, we cry and we are fed or comforted. Where the mother is 'good enough ' the baby learns to develop a healthy sense of self, which stands them in good stead as they grow into adulthood. Where the mother is not 'good enough ', for whatever reason, the baby fails to develop a healthy sense of self and this can cause problems in later life.
Gestalt theory is very much about relationship. We cannot actually exist just as a seperate 'self ' in physical form. We are constantly interacting with our environment - we breath in air, we take in food and water. Our mood is affected by the weather, by a
You may want to know something more about the gestalt approach to counselling before deciding to see a gestalt counsellor. Or you may just be interested in different approaches to counselling. On this page I have attempted to set out some of the basic ideas of the gestalt approach. Some of the ideas are complex and open to different interpretations, so this can be little more than an introduction. I have also included links to other sites and articles, as well as some suggested reading.
The Gestalt Concept of Self
We all talk about ourselves in the first person - 'I did this ', 'my book ', 'I felt happy ' etc., but what do we mean when we use the words 'I ' or 'me ', what is this thing we call self? In gestalt theory we view individuals as existing 'in relation ' - in relation to other people, in relation to animals, in relation to our environment etc. Our 'self ' is created by interaction with our environment, without interaction we have no sense of self. As a small baby we initially have no concept of our selves as separate from 'other '. We gradually learn to develop a sense of self through interacting with those around us, in particular with our prime carer - usually our mother. From our mother we learn that we exist as a separate individual. We learn that the things we do can affect those around us - we smile and they smile, we cry and we are fed or comforted. Where the mother is 'good enough ' the baby learns to develop a healthy sense of self, which stands them in good stead as they grow into adulthood. Where the mother is not 'good enough ', for whatever reason, the baby fails to develop a healthy sense of self and this can cause problems in later life.
Gestalt theory is very much about relationship. We cannot actually exist just as a seperate 'self ' in physical form. We are constantly interacting with our environment - we breath in air, we take in food and water. Our mood is affected by the weather, by a