[annielovesbacon]

I hear a lot about ACT, CBT, EMDR, and psychodynamic therapy on here, at least as far as people labeling their therapy experiences. But earlier today I was reading something somewhere else about Gestalt/existential therapy (not even sure if that's one or two types) and realized I have no clue what they are like. Anyone here have experience with those types of therapy?

[giggles6211]

My therapist uses some Gestalt techniques--- some I like more than others. From my understanding, the overall principle of Gestalt is to process the here and now. Our memories can fail us, and getting all of the details of an experience correct is not what matters. However, how we feel about the situation in the here and now is what does.

My therapist does a lot of asking-- where in your body are you experiencing the hurt? What are your tense shoulders telling you that you need?


Gestalt is pretty famous for the "empty chair technique" in which you dialogue back and forth with someone (or a part of yourself) you may have unresolved emotions with. In doing so, the therapist guides you to stay in the moment and experience the feelings and to be aware of the body sensations that come with those feelings.

Gestalt also explores dream work and takes the perspective everything in the dream is a projection of yourself. I sometimes feel uncomfortable (and silly!) with these exercises sometimes.

Gestalt was a new concept to me, and it has been challenging. It has been helpful in many ways, but I also resist some of it both because it's hard and also because I just don't feel comfortable. Thankfully, my therapist isn't a "pureist" and is comfortable using other modalities as well.

I feel like that was a lot of rambling, but I hope that helps a little.

Originally Posted by annielovesbacon

I hear a lot about ACT, CBT, EMDR, and psychodynamic therapy on here, at least as far as people labeling their therapy experiences. But earlier today I was reading something somewhere else about Gestalt/existential therapy (not even sure if that's one or two types) and realized I have no clue what they are like. Anyone here have experience with those types of therapy?

[ElectricManatee]

My therapist mentioned once that she uses some Gestalt techniques, but I'm not sure I can pick them out. She has never asked me to talk to a chair, for example. She sometimes has helpful insights or questions around what's happening between us in the room. I talk about how my body feels sometimes if it's relevant and she seems to know what to do with that, but she doesn't ask about it a lot (fortunately, since I would find that annoying). I'm much more likely to pick up on the relational therapy aspects of what she's doing, but maybe it's all related? I have no idea.

[lucozader]

Gestalt therapy and existential therapy are different modalities, but they both come under the humanistic umbrella, along with person-centred, transactional analysis, focusing-oriented... and many others.

Humanistic therapies have in common the central premise that human beings are inherently capable of change and growth and that the therapist's role is to provide an environment conducive to that.

Gestalt therapy is very focused in the present moment, and places an emphasis on personal responsibility. My understanding is that some therapists can be quite confrontational in pursuing that focus.

I don't know a lot about what existential therapy is like in practice, but, as is clear from the name, it encourages a focus on existential issues.

I wouldn't see a T who wasn't humanistic, but my experiences have certainly varied. I think T1 would claim that he was practising gestalt therapy with me, at least in part, but I don't know if I agree. He liked to think he was like Fritz Perls (gesta therapy founder, also a nasty misogynist). None of my Ts have claimed to be existential though I think there has sometimes been an existential element to our work, and current T definitely has an interest.