Gestalt Therapy: Therapy of the Situation

by Georges Wollants

This seminal textbook on Gestalt therapy refreshes the theory of by revisiting its European roots. Taking the basic premise that people do the best they can in relation to their own situation, leading European therapist Georges Wollants explains Gestalt theory and provides a useful critique of commonly taught concepts. Each section approaches a key area of psychotherapy theory in context, while chapter summaries, illustrations and worked-through case examples help to make the theory accessible to all those training in Gestalt therapy. Commentaries from current experts in different areas of Gestalt provide a balanced overview of Gestalt therapy today.

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Marina Riker-kucic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing visit to gestalt therapy as a therapy of situation. Great tool for experienced therapists whose gestalt training has started couple of decades ago to center themselves solidly in experienced practice of conducting gestalt therapy sessions over the years. Gestalt therapy is interactional therapy. The person is not a disturbed body, nor a disturbed soul; in therapy situation we deal with disturbed relations to the world. If the person is suffering, she is suffering from her situation. There are no symptoms, only fixed solutions; there are no mental illnesses, only behaviour. Person's resistance is motivational force; it is a marker of the neglect of important needs. The therapeutic task is not only to help the person to become aware of her situation, but even more, to help her grasp what that awareness means to her, to unfold the meaning.