Case Study Analysis & Gestalt Theory

RUNNING HEAD: GESTALT THEORY 1
Case Study Analysis & Gestalt Theory
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GESTALT THEORY 2
An overview of the principles and goals of Gestalt approach
Gestalt therapy is a counselling approach that focuses on the client as a whole,
interconnecting with the environment and his or her experiences. The approach puts more
emphasis on the “here” and “now” instead of “what was” or “might be.” The main objective
of this approach is to help the client understand what the counsellor is doing and how he or
she is doing it.
Gestalt practitioners always affirm that the key values of every human being are
encountered between two situational matters, both of which risk themselves in the dialogue of
a proper healing process. The primary focus is usually the step by step moment process of the
association between a client and a counsellor. In this association, the primary objective is a
completely authentic meeting between the two individuals.
Wholeness: This can be viewed as the foundation of the Gestalt approach which
emphasizes the wholeness of an individual during the counselling relationship. The
association is not just about intrapsychic or mere interpersonal dimensions. During the
counselling process, various aspects of an individual might be viewed in different ways. This
often includes symbolic, Behavioral, effective as well as spiritual aspects of the client’s life
(Crocker, 2013).However, the counsellor will always play the guiding principle that
integrates all the multiple facets and the unique individual. Acceptance and celebration of
such multifaceted wholeness are often goals for the client.
Self-regulation: In gestalt , an individual is viewed as having either natural or
organismic tendencies when they are regulating themselves . Wagner-Moore, (2004)
considered that the self is usually a function of facing or having contact with the
real transient beings and separate them from ego, and individual personality as

GESTALT THEORY 3
separate partial structures of the self, often mistaken with the entire function of the
self.
The attitude of the counsellor: To practice Gestalt theory, it means the counsellor puts
himself actively in the experience of the other individuals. It is more of a way that is
prescribed by the approach. Gestalt is characterized by the willingness of the counsellor to
take an active position in order to effectively intervene. The idea is based on the presumption
that treating the client with responsibility and intelligence is most likely to invite the client
into autonomy and self-healing.
It is more of a way that is perceived to set the methods for proper counselling. The
Gestalt concept is often associated with the idea of the willingness of the counsellor’s side in
order to remain active and as a person to intervene in the entire relationship. This is usually
based on the postulation that handling the client as a normal individual with unique
responsibilities and nominal decisions at any time of their lives is most probable to offer the
client an opportunity for autonomy and self- healing (Sterner,2012).
Explanation of how Esther could be understood from the perspective of gestalt
approach
In this case, the counsellor and the Esther have spent the first moment of the session
establishing the key issues as well as the themes that are associated with the client's states of
depression. To diagnose the Client, as a counsellor it is essential to follow Esther's lead,
providing her with the opportunity to process with no precise agenda in mind. The primary
goal, in this case, is to listen closely to Esther as she unfolds her recent experiences of being
unemployed and assist her in identifying what is bothering her so much. This will also allow
proper processing of the emotional style of the client. In order to understand the clients
properly, it would be great to utilize guided validation, exploration to communicate and

GESTALT THEORY 4
understand the client (Welling, 2012). During this time, the counsellor could clearly highlight
key issues and start developing an agreement with Esther regarding the matter at hand and
help her explore more
. As indicated in the key concepts of Gestalt, a strong association often involve d the
attitude of the therapist as it allows an agreement on the goals of treatment as well as a shared
bond is important to the overall success of such an emotion-driven therapy.Yontef, (2007)
add that , it should be understood that the main objective of the gestalt therapy is not
facilitating direct exchange with the client through a strategized approach, but instead to
facilitate the understanding of the client and insight in herself applying creative
measures(Tschacher, Junghan,& Pfammatter,2014).) Specifically, from Esther’s perspective,
the primary objective is to assist her to become aware of her subject experiences as much as
possible.
The desired results is that Esther becomes more authentic as an individual. In such a
case it would be easy for her to shed what disturbs her and make up her life in a new way. In
such a way the client will be able to make better choices that would eventually lead to a better
life, and develop the ability to grow herself as an individual without searching for any
employment (Nevis, 2013).Moreover, Esther will become more integrated with her present
self as well as the environment. Through such enhance awareness of herself, she will be able
to gain total self-acceptance and take full responsibility for her current situations which in
turn translates to her being in charge of her destiny.
How a counsellor might work with Esther using gestalt approach (the empty chair
technique)
The empty chair approach would effectively be applied in Esther’s case. One part of
self would be directed to express negative self-statements which in turn would evoke