Gestalt therapy

[parmesan189]

It was recommended that I do Gestalt therapy and I have found a therapist. I'm wondering if anyone has done Gestalt and if it's helped or not. If anyone knows anything about it.

I have looked it up online and from what I understand the therapist takes on your emotions and feels them for you. Not sure if I have that right. I'm concerned it may do more harm than good as it seems experimental.

Would appreciate any insight into it.

I haven't read the same as you about it (obvs) but I can't imagine a scenario in which any therapist would take on your emotions and feel them for you. No one will do anything 'for you', the work will all be your own. I would ask the therapist on the phone to explain the therapy to you in more detail though just so you can be completely clear before you start.

Gestalt therapy is certainly not experimental. Gestalt means looking at something as a whole, more than the sum of its parts. So a Gestalt therapist would look at every aspect of your life, your family, your work circumstances etc.

A classic Gestalt technique is called the empty chair. So for example if you are being bullied, the therapist might "put" the bully on the empty chair and ask you to speak directly to them. This helps you discover how the dynamic works between you and the bully and how you might change it.

It's an excellent form of therapy, very client based. You can use your first session to get your therapist to explain it to you.