Techniques
True or False: Experiments, Exercises, Confrontation, and Empty Chair are examples of techniques used in Gestalt Therapy.
True
True or False: Gestalt believes that clients must learn to grow up, stand on their own, and "deal with life problems themeslves"
True
True or False: Gestalt views therapy as a two-way engagement between the therapist and the client.
True
A way of avoiding contact and awareness by being vague and indirect is...
True or False: Requires strong general clinical background & training in theory/practice of Gestalt theory but also personality theory, psychopathology & knowledge of psychodynamics
True
What technique uses the terms "top dog" and "under dog"
Internal Dialogue Exercise
C - Gestalt therapy does not involve a heavy emphasis on the future. Gestalt therapy is focused on the here and now.
True or False: Gestalt therapy focuses heavily on the here and now.
True.
Paying attention to and exploring what is occurring at the boundary between the person and the environment is...
Field Theory
True or False: Most criticisms of Gestalt pertain to recent changes.
False. Most criticisms pertain to original Gestalt therapy.
True or False: Making the Rounds is a technique primarily used in individual therapy.
False. Making the rounds is often used in group therapy. Clients are often asked to go to each group member and speak with them. The purpose is to confront risk, disclose self or experiment with new behaviour.
True or False: Gestalt does not see self-awareness as an important factor in learning to self-regulate and heal.
False - Gestalt believes that individuals have the capacity to self-regulate WHEN they have awareness.
Gestalt therapy might (a) encourage clients to experience isolation, (b) place blame on other people for the client's problem, or (c) develop skills to help clients meet their own needs without violating the rights of others.
C - Among other things, Gestalt therapy helps clients develop skills and acquire values that allow them to satisfy needs without violating rights of others.
Unexpressed feelings (such as resentment, guilt, anger, grief) dating back to childhood that now interfere with effective psychological functioning; needless emotional debris that clutters present-centered awareness.
Unfinished Business
True or False: Gestalt therapy can help client's develop awareness of their cultural identity.
True.
Encouraging clients to stay with and examine a difficult feeling in the moment rather than denying or avoiding it is an example of what technique.
Staying with the Feeling.
What are the three stages of client growth experience?
1. Discovery - Each client reaches new realizations
2. Accommodation - Clients recognize they have a choice
3. Assimilation - Clients learn how to influence their environment and feel capable of dealing with surprises they encounter in life.
The uncritical acceptance of others’ beliefs and standards without assimilating them into one’s own personality.
Introjection
Name one deficit of Gestalt Therapy using a multicultural perspective.
- Gestalt methods can lead to intense feelings. Therapy may have limitations with clients who have been culturally conditioned to be emotionally reserved/avoid openly expressing feelings.
- Openly expressing feelings may be a sign of weakness in some cultures
- If Gestalt therapists practice in a flexible way and tailer therapy to client's individual needs, it may prove effective beyond these potential problems.
We have talked about 11 common techniques used in Gestalt therapy. Name 6 of them.
Dream work, exaggerated exercise, staying with the feeling, making the rounds, reversal exercise, rehearsal exercise, confrontation, internal dialogue exercise, empty chair technique, experiments, exercises.
What are Gestalt's two agendas within human nature?
(1) Move client from environmental support to self-support.
(2) Reintegrate disowned parts of one's personality.
The primary goal is to assist clients to attain INCREASED AWARENESS and GREATER CHOICE IN THE HERE AND NOW.
The act of turning back onto ourselves something we would like to do (or have done) to someone else.
Retroflection
Name 3 strengths from a multicultural perspective
Strengths:
■Evolved as a culturally sensitive and diversity-friendly orientation
■Useful and effective if used in a flexible way
■Can be tailored to fit the unique ways an individual perceives and interprets their culture
■Assists in developing awareness of cultural identity
■Helps people integrate polarities within themselves (i.e., bi-racial clients)
■Strong focus on which aspects of client's background become central and the meaning that is placed on these aspects