GESTALT THERAPY – CHAPTER 15 – Flashcards
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Organism - Envirement Field
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The *Organism* is the human being & the *Field* is conceived of as being inseparable from that human being. *In the original description of Gestalt Therapy (GT), human beings do not stand apart form everything else & observe, take stock of, and manipulate things to their advantage to actualize themselves* -RATHER THE ORGANISM(HUMAN BEING) IS AN ORGANISM-ENVIREMENT FIELD, INS CONSTANT FLUX & RELATIONSHIP, CONSTANTLY FORMING & REFORMING IN & THRU RELATIONSHIP -Gestalt Anthropology concieved the human being as onto logically of the environment or field.
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Perls (1947/1969)
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The theory that = The Organism is striving for the maintenance of a balance which is the continuously disturbed by its needs & regained thru their gratification/elimination- but this takes place only at the boundary of the Organism-environment field.
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Self-Regualation
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Healthy self-regulation is the natural & fluid process of forming figures of interest against a diffuse background & then sustaining contact enough to satisfy them- the healthy person is one who is grounded enough to know what he/she feels & wants & is spontaneous enough to freely reach out for it whatever he/she happens to be -A central theme in early gestalt theory
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Contacting
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The meeting with an "other" (the world, another person etc) that would satisfy a persons needs.
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Perl's; Need
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Is not a biological drive in classic gestalt therapy, but part of a dynamic equipoise that included BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIO interests -Perls said that neurosis was the avoidance of contact
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Freud's Definition of health;
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the resolution of intrapsychic sexual conflicts, CL & CO attend to novelty, curiosity, or interest wherever & however they encounter it
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The Self & Contacting
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-*The Self* is not a structure in classic gestalt therapy-it is a set of functions -it is the process of *Contacting* what is "other" is the awareness of difference
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The Awareness of Difference
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Is necessary to *Contact* B/C no 2 ppl are exactly alike & no 2 moments in time are exactly the same
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*Id, Ego and Personality Function;*
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Although Perls et al. used words similar to Frued's work they have different meanings. -Id & Ego, for instance, along with Personality ARE NOT PARTS OF THE SELF; THEY ARE CAPACITIES & FUNCTIONS OF THE SELF, REFERRING TO WAYS IN WHICH PPL WORK RATHER THAN THINGS THAT ARE STABLE PARTS OF A PTN'S MIND
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Perls et al; *Id Function*
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Provides the general backround of life & connects the person to the world thru sensory perception & motoric action -often out of awareness-individuals can turn their awareness toward sensory perceptions for understanding of what might be happening within their bodies -The ABOUTNESS of the experience has not formed fully, & one is primarily aware of what its like for his/her body to have raw experience
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Perls et al; *Ego Function*
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Enables the person to form intentional objects in the foreground of life, to focus & to choose deliberate action in accord W/ interest & need. -The raw experience & its sensations give rise to emergent figures of interst, which are phenomenologically intentional objects- the aboutness of expirience & the person begins to sort, organize & make choices & decisions
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Perls et al; *Personality Function*
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Provides the person W/ a descriptive narrative identifying who the person is based on the assimilation of past experience.
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Relationship
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Points to the manner in whcih concepts, objects or ppl are connected; it also refers to the fact that they are connected. *Pg. 411*
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Perl's concept of Polarities;
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-Came form Friedlander's Differential Thinking & the concept of zeropoint. -in gestalt therapy a subject forms a polarity & identifies w/ on end of it, alienating the other. -INABILITY TO RESOLVE A POLARITY; might result in rigid behavioral patterns or the reduced ability to choose actions that would allow the individual to self regulate in a healthy manner
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Zero Point
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That place that seperates the 2 ends of a polarity
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What is a Polarity?
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Uses Binary thinking to reduce an otherwise complex situation to a choice B/W "this" and "that" B/W black & white, right or wrong, good or bad
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Summary Eval of the Classic model;
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The original formations of gestalt therapy took place in a phase of paradigm shift and was considered revolutionary science. -early gestalt therapy presented a postpositivest view of human beings & included many elements in nascent form that continued to be developed over subsequent years by later gestalt therapists & writers. -their work resulted in an evolution of the classic model to whats now known as Contemporary Gestalt Therapy (CGT)
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*Husserl* & Therapeutic Implications of Hermeneutic Phenomenology
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From Husserl, GT understands that all experience is about something. Its compromised of the process & the object or focus of that process. -Figures of interest are intentional in nature. -*PHILOSOPHICAL-PHENOMENOLOGICAL METHOD; setting aside's one's assumptions & theories about the CL to focus on the CL phenomenal presence.
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*Heidegger* & Therapeutic Implications of Hermeneutic Phenomenology
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GT understand that ppl come into a world already in process & that they emerge as situated W/in a definite context that is BIO/GEO/SOCI/CULTURE&ECONOMY -A person's presenting symptoms are NEVER a matter of intrapsychic processes alone; they are always contextual & multisystemic in nature.
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*Merleau-Ponty* & Therapeutic Implications of Hermeneutic Phenomenology
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GT realize that the situatedness of experience is also perspectival. That is contacting in the environment is accomplished thru a lived body & that is afforded various sensory capacities. -A person's perceptions & interpretations depend on the location in the situation; any situation can have multiple perspectives
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The Phenomenal Field
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The field is all things having effect, & that can be understood as referring to a persons sense of being-W/ the person perceives as having effect
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The Ontic Context
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The field of forces & extratherapeutic factors that exist & provide influence (regardless of rather any given person perceives their influence) -Such extratherapeutic factors are thought to account for up to 40% of outcomes in psychotherapy- this unified field is what some call "The Overall Situation" *PG 414*
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Relational Process;
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Refers to the way in which ppl manage contact W/ others. We are embodied beings & our embodiment is extended, which means that we do not simply meet another, but are extended into others. -We experience ourselves differently W/ one person versus another, & part of the reason is that we meet the other at the boundary of Organism-Environment, which itself is located in the field of organism environment- the whole embodied person. -THUS; we do not just stop at the boundary of our own skin but we now ourselves as related to others
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Interpersonal Relationships
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Operate according to a continual feedback loop B/W 1 person & another - they are INTER SUBJECTIVE - that is the individual experience of a person affects & is affected by, the individual experience of another -Both the CL & CO constitute a 2 person field that is affected by the overlapping sphere of the larger situation (the "third") which includes all extratherapeutic factors. -Such Interpersonal Contact is exciting but ITS NOT always pleasurable or wanted- ppl break contact & interpret relationship in various ways
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What is a Experiment In Gestalt Therapy (GT)?
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It is not simple technique, B/C it is Existential in nature-It requires the CL active participation, including the CL ability to engage, reflect on the expirience & conceptualize applications to his/her life. -Is a move from talking about expirience to the encactment of current expriience in the service of increased awareness,learning, skill acquisition & potential change. -Its one fabric W/ the existential nature of gestalt therapy itself .
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Phenomenology & Showing
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Deals with the appearing of various phenomena; consequently, any method for working W/ the appearing of the CL in Psychotherapy requires that the CO create a *Showing;* Its a showing to the CL of the way the CL is given his/her appearing- for that the CO employs a modified Phenomenological method
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*A Modified Phenomenological Method;*
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-Carefully observing a CL Presentation -Bracketing the CO's own impressions -Describing W/ is Observed -SelfDisclosing W/ is experienced in the presence of the CL
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Split Off Expirience
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Nervous energy being dispensed n the extremities & manifest in repetitious bouncing, twitching, jerking, rubbing, picking, scratching, tapping & so on. -CO takes note of CL's posture, listens for & observes their breathing patterns, nonverbal discourse.
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*Bracketing the CO's own Impressions;* What 2 things happen?
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*As a CO observes a CL 2 things often take place;* -The CO begins to formulate a theory about what is going on for the CL = *Rudimentary Model Making;* ppl typically do this all the time. We interpret our experience, & thru observation the CO begins to experience the CL (ppl tend to formulate theories & interpretations of experience so readily, its almost impossible for the CO NOT to make up a diagnostic narrative about the CL from what he/she is observing) -The CO experiences *Counterference;* the way the CL presents drags the CO into dealing with his/her own unfinished business & life issues.
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*The Strategic Use of Field Factors;*
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-Focusing on Current Field Dynamics -Investigating how the field is organized -Strategically Intervening at Levels of System
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Focusing On Current Field Dynamics;
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-Stolorow (2011) -Heidegger's Conceptions of the structure of affectivly -The GT would ask questions designed to gain a sense of as much of the situation as possible -Often as the CL tells a story, the CO can listen with curiosity & ask clarifying questions that provide an understanding of the setting for the narrative in question
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*Investigating How the Field is Organized;*
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The conditions of the overall situation described in the preceding case were a combo of how the CL constructed them & how other ppl created them. (one could say they were subjective & objective) -*GT ARE NOT concerned w/* the Objective Conditions, the TRUTH of the matter as they are dealing w/ the CL & how the CL makes sense of his/her life -BUT it is IMPORTANT; to realize that the CL might be misunderstanding the actions & misjudging the motives of others & if thats the case then the situation itself changes. -ITS 1 THING TO BE DEALING W/ A CL WHOS MISTREATED & CAUGHT IN A DYSFUNCTIONAL SYSTEM VERSUS ANOTHER TO BE DEALING W/ A CL WHOS PERSONALITY DISORDERED/PSYCHOTIC & READING OTHER PPL INACCURATELY
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*Dialogical Processes;*
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-Practicing presence -Practicing Inclusion -Practicing commitment to the process
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*Dialogical Processes;* Dialougue
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Is a form of contact in which the CO tries to create the conditions under which meaningful contact might take place B/W CO & CL. -Not something the CO can force on the CL, nor is it simple intervention that the CO can use. -It includes being present W/ the CL, connecting W/ the CL in a way that includes all the CL's experiences & being committed to the process
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*Dialogical Processes* -Practicing Presence;
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Shows up as a real person (ie PCT genuineness), not as a person playing a professional role. This does not mean that the CO forgets his/her responsibilities, but it does mean that the CO practices AUTHENTICITY In Presence the CO steps into the circle of contact & meets the CL - Being present is more than simple being w/ another person-its being w/ & available w/ all one is in a fully embodied manner; cognitively, emotionally & spiritually
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Authenticity
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Matching on the outside what 1 knows oneself to be on the inside -*DOES NOT MEAN;*babbling incessantly in an unregulated fashion that a stream of counsciousness might yield. -*IT MEANS;* being fully engaged in the process of therapy-open to being affected by the CL -being aware of how one is being affected -maintaining congruence among ones thoughts, feelings, and actions
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Practicing Inclusion; Inclusion
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Isnt simply acceptance- isnt empathy, for in empathy, even if temporarily, one loses ones own sense of being in the world. IT IS HONORING THE CL'S EXPERIENCE W/O LETTING GO OF ONES OWN EXPERIENCES AS A CO
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Practicing Commitment to the Process; Commitment
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Is a state of being dedicated. in GT's terms being dedicated to the process of dialogue, it signals that the CO understands the dynamics of dialogue & that he/she obligates him/herself to standing in when the CL may not be ready. -It points to not giving up when the process seems to lag, confuse, challenge or disappoint & it means abiding w/ the CL , remaining in the circle of contact. -This disposition that exceeds the scope of any given session. it informs the whole course of therapy for however long that may last.
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Behavioral Expirimentation;
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*GT's;*-use experiments to explore the unknown w/ a view to expanding awareness & facilitating experiential learning- They ask What happens if?- *CBT;*use Experiments either to negate a false hypothesis or to gather info about something unknown-
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Empty Chair Work
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The CL imagines something or someone he/she puts in the empty chair & then relates to it in some fashion
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2 Chair Work Technique
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Works when a person might be torn B/W 2 figures-The CO suggests putting 1 figure in one chair & the other in the other chair & having the CL shuttle back & forth B/W them, each time taking the position of the one & addressing the other from that perspective.
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Bilateral & Unilateral expiriements
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*BILATERAL*The CO negotiation & sets up an Experiment setting up a BILATERAL AGREEMENT; about it *UNILATERAL* the CO simply moves to action or tells the CL to do such & such as an alternative to (bilateral) GT experiments are not techniques -they are spontaneous from the flow of therapy from the interaction B/W CO & CL & they are bi/uni-LATERAL -Experiments like these are done 2 heighten awareness & to see what new information might become available-some magnify & some Diminish
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Assimilating the results of a Experiment;
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Experiments are in the service of INCREASED AWARENESS or EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING -Some do not need a follow up or reflection, B/C they change things in & of themselves & the CL simply needs to live past the "finish line" of one of them-not always the case often the CO might ask CL to pay attention to what they experiencing as a result of having done the experiment (sometimes during experiments rehearsal & practice is needed) -They contribute to learning by putting a person in a novel situation & then asking that person to work it out .
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The Paradoxical Theory of Change
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Claims that ppl change NOT by trying to be what they are not, but by actualizing themselves (as they are) in the moment
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Taking a MINDFUL & ACCEPTING stance;
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In Mindfulness & Acceptance, the CO points attention to the current moment of experience & accepts things as they are. (this is the paradoxical theory of change at work) -When used in connection with the *Modified Phenomenological Method;* its the simple description of whats taking place & the acceptance of it W/O judgement, analysis or critique.
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Maintaining a current attitude toward the situational moment;
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Its important for the CO to stay in the current moment, since elements of the situational moment are salient to the extent that they are felt in the current moment. -Actualizing a person can happen only in the current moment, so if the person is going to change, there needs to be some kind of grounding of the CL in the aspects of the current situation. -This doesnt mean a CL never talks about past influential experiences But it does mean that the CL encounters them as still active in some way in the present -the past must be resident & available in the present for the CL to deal w/ it as part of the situation
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Gestalt Evidence Base;
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-The State Hope Scale *Researchers Mentioned;* -Lambert (2013) -Stevens et al. (2011) -Leung & Tuen Ng (2013) -Yontef & Jacobs (2014) -The available research suggests that GT is as effective as other forms of Psychotherapy *PG. 427*
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Gestalt Hybrid Approaches
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Like emotion-focused & schema therapies have their own evidence bases BUT GT's can rightly point to them as providing at least partial research support. -The available research suggests that GT is as effective as other forms of Psychotherapy
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Gestalt Consilient Approaches
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Such as Mindfulness & Acceptance & commitment B/C considerable overlap exists B/W principles of those approaches & GT -The available research suggests that GT is as effective as other forms of Psychotherapy
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Mindfulness
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Can be understood as awareness. -Etymologically comes from the Pali satipatthana (meaning attention or awareness) & Patthana (meaning keeping in present) -David & Hayes (2011); Summarized it as the process of keeping present to ones awareness and the moment to moment awareness of ones experience W/O judgement -This focus on present awareness is basic in GT -There IS NO sense of what "should be" happening, instead of what is ACTUALLY happening. -THE GOAL; is to become increasingly aware of what is. (ie experiment)
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Positive Psychology
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Is a strength based approach that focuses on positive feeling, behaviors & cognition as opposed to negative thoughts, dysfunctions & disorders -GT from its inception has been oriented twd the positive in its view of the healthy organism, its fluid figures of interest & creative self regulation
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Multicultural Issues
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GT lends itself to multicultural work, BC its essentially a Phenomenological approach that DOES NOT assume things about CL BUT INSTEAD explores the experience, life & world that each CL brings into therapy -THIS DOES NOT MEAN: that GT disregard the need to become knowledgeable as they can about cultural conditions pertinent to their CL -just means that the approach itself has built in multicultural sensitivity. -Frew (2012)
