Gestalt Therapy: The Art of Being Present

 

Gestalt therapy is a humanistic approach to psychotherapy, and as such is based on the belief that every person has an innate potential for growth, self-realization, and healthy development. Therapy does not seek to "fix" the client, but rather accompanies them on their journey toward personal growth and the ability to make confident decisions about their life. The term "Gestalt" comes from the German word for "shape" or "whole" and thus reflects the essence of this therapeutic approach: the person is perceived in relation to their environment as a whole that cannot be divided into individual components. Gestalt therapy emerged in the 1940s as a response to the dominant approaches in psychology at the time, namely psychoanalysis and behaviorism. However, it brought a new and innovative way of cooperation between therapist and client and emphasized the importance and sensitivity of this relationship. 

Basic principles of Gestalt therapy 

Gestalt therapy is based on several key principles that together form its unique approach to understanding people and their experiences.

Awareness

One of the core principles of Gestalt therapy is the principle of awareness. We describe it as an experience in which a person is in contact with everything that is currently happening, with their body and the environment that surrounds them. Awareness in this sense is not merely intellectual knowledge, but a process in which perceptions, emotions, and physical experiences are interconnected. The goal is not to analyze the situation, but to experience it consciously and without judgment. The founder of Gestalt therapy, Fritz Perls (1969), emphasizes that awareness is the first step toward change.

Here and now

A characteristic feature of Gestalt therapy is its focus on the present moment. This concept is based on the belief that real change and self-understanding can only occur in the present moment, not in the past or future. Naturally, this does not mean that our past is unimportant – Gestalt therapy teaches clients how to view it through the lens of what is happening "here and now." 

Context

People are always part of a broader context, formed by their environment, relationships, and culture, and cannot be isolated from this context. Gestalt therapy is based on this belief. In psychology, experts refer to this as field theory, which was originally formulated by Kurt Lewin in 1951. According to his theory, human experience is part of a broader "field" that includes not only internal aspects of a person, such as needs, desires, and thoughts, but also external factors, such as the environment around them. All these components influence each other, intertwine, and together create a unique context in which the experience takes place. 

The relationship between therapist and client

The close relationship between the client and therapist is considered the central element of the entire process in Gestalt therapy. The dialogue between them is authentic, direct, but above all equal. The therapist is not the one who "fixes" the client, but rather accompanies them through their experiences and together they explore how these experiences reflect the client's life outside of therapy sessions. 

Structure and course of therapy

Gestalt therapy differs from many other approaches, as it is not rigidly structured in advance, but adapts to the individual needs of the client and what is happening in the present moment. The therapist does not act as an authority figure determining the direction, but rather as a guide who creates a safe space for exploring the client's experiences "here and now." The session may include various exercises, such as:

• empty chair technique – the client imagines a person or part of themselves with whom they have an imaginary conversation, which can reveal unexpressed emotions or internal conflicts

• work with body language – focusing attention on physical sensations that reflect mental processes (e.g., tension, breathing, posture)

• experimentation – trying new experiences in the safe environment of the therapist

• exaggeration – if the client has difficulty expressing their feelings in words, the therapist may ask them to emphasize a certain gesture or movement that appears spontaneously

This is followed by joint processing – the therapist and client reflect on what has happened, what the client has realized, and how it relates to their life outside of therapy. The length of therapy varies; it can be short-term or long-term, and sessions usually last 50-60 minutes once a week. 

Where gestalt therapy can help and why it is effective

Gestalt therapy has been regaining scientific interest in recent years. Current research confirms its benefits not only in individual work with clients with anxiety and depression, but also in the treatment of psychosomatic disorders, personality disorders, personal growth, and burnout prevention. A review of 11 empirical studies (Raffagnino, 2019) shows that Gestalt therapy achieves comparable effectiveness to other established approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, particularly in the areas of improving functional experience, self-image, and interpersonal relationships. Improvements were seen not only in clinical diagnoses, but also in social adaptation, self-confidence, and personal responsibility.

More recent research from 2023 (Kaisler et al.) confirmed the positive effects of Gestalt therapy on clients with more common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. The study emphasized that an important factor in change is "empowerment" – that is, strengthening one's sense of competence and ability to influence one's life. 

Research and clinical practice show that focusing on the "here and now" experience, working with the body, emotions, and awareness, as well as an authentic relationship between therapist and client, are key factors for change. Gestalt therapy does not lead to rapid suppression of symptoms, but to a deeper transformation of the way a person perceives themselves and the world. 

Gestalt therapy at PSYMED clinic

Gestalt therapy at the PSYMED clinic is practiced by two experts, Mgr. et Mgr. Adi Hasanbašić and Daniel Espitia, whom you can learn more about on their profiles.

If you are interested in Gestalt therapy and would like to learn more about it or arrange your first consultation, please contact us. 

 

About author: Jana Felklova Jana is a first-year master’s student in the Theoretical and Research Psychology program at Charles University in Prague. She views her work at Unicare Medical Center as a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field of psychology while pursuing her studies.

 

References:

Pejic, A., & Javed, A. (2023). Gestalt Therapy. In StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; National Library of Medicine (US), National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK613291/

Perls, F. S., & Stevens, J. O. (1969). Gestalt therapy verbatim.

Raffagnino, R. (2019). Gestalt therapy effectiveness: A systematic review of empirical evidence. Journal of Social Sciences, 7(6), 346–361. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2019.76029

Kaisler, R. E., Fede, M., Diltsch, U., Probst, T., & Schäfer, Y. (2023). Common mental disorders in Gestalt therapy treatment: A multiple case study comparing patients with moderate and low integrated personality structures. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1304726. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1304726