Gestalt Counselling: Principles and Practices in Action

The assignment explores the impact of Gestalt counselling techniques within therapeutic practices. It investigates how foundational concepts from Gestalt psychology, particularly those related to perceptual grouping and figure-ground organization, inform modern counselling strategies. By examining works such as Clarkson & Cavicchia's 'Gestalt Counselling in Action' and Wagemans et al.'s exploration of a century of Gestalt psychology in visual perception, the analysis highlights how these principles support client-centered and existential therapeutic frameworks. The paper evaluates the efficacy of non-directive supportive therapy for adult depression and discusses integrative approaches to counselling children and adolescents. Through this comprehensive review, the assignment provides insights into how Gestalt methodologies can enhance understanding and intervention in various counseling settings.

Running head: INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author Note

1INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
Executive summary
As classified under the fundamentals of psychology, every human mind or individual has two
sides of the personality. One side is conscious that directly deals with the outer world and one
side is kept hidden that lies below the conscious mind and is completely locked under the
awareness. Counseling is defined as the rational process of helping or assisting a client
achieve a better state of mind that is done by the demonstration of a behavior that motivates
the client towards problem solving.
In this essay, the human aspects have been discussed as well as the remedies to rectify and
lighten the after effect. On further detailing of this essay, the background of psychotherapy or
counseling has been explained along with the classification and the types of counseling. The
types of issues that are encountered using psychotherapy and counseling, have been discussed
as well as the kinds of clients, depending upon whom the counseling has been diversified. To
help in better understanding of the psychotherapeutic counseling process of Gestalt Theory as
founded by Fritz Perls, a video has been used as reference. The therapy has been used on a
client namely Gloria and represented in form of a film, that has been critically analyzed in
this essay.
The purpose of this essay is understand and analyze the importance of psychotherapeutic
counseling as well as the classification and diversification of different process that is
followed by the counselor. This essay also helps in the better understanding of the Gestalt’s
theory and practice that has been used on a client during the process of psychoanalysis and
counseling.

2INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
Table of contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
About counseling.......................................................................................................................4
Evolution of Counseling........................................................................................................4
Elements of counseling..........................................................................................................5
Reason that demands counseling...........................................................................................6
Traditional style of counseling...............................................................................................6
Approaches of counseling......................................................................................................7
Stages of counseling...............................................................................................................8
Fundamental qualities needed for counseling........................................................................9
Challenges of counseling.....................................................................................................10
Ethics in counseling.............................................................................................................10
Critical analysis of the counseling session of Fritz Perls and Gloria.......................................10
Conclusion................................................................................................................................12
References................................................................................................................................14

3INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
Introduction
The diverse perception in the mindset of the people and the influence of the changes
in the outer world extensively affects the human brain and the functioning (Ballesteros,
2014). With definition to psychology, every human mind or individual has two sides of the
personality. One side is conscious that directly deals with the outer world and one side is kept
hidden that lies below the conscious mind and is completely locked under the awareness
(Rosenbaum et al., 2012). Under circumstances of stress or external stimuli the human traits
starts to exhibit symptoms of anxiety and trauma (Izard, 2013). Sometimes these cases are too
delicate for any individual to discuss it freely with anyone and everyone because of which the
anxiety or stress turns to take the form of apathy or depression (Proctor & Vu, 2012).
In this essay, the human aspects have been discussed as well as the remedies to rectify
and lighten the after effect. On further detailing of this essay, the background of
psychotherapy or counseling has been explained along with the classification and the types of
counseling. The types of issues that are encountered using psychotherapy and counseling,
have been discussed as well as the kinds of clients, depending upon whom the counseling has
been diversified. To help in better understanding of the psychotherapeutic counseling process
of Gestalt Theory as founded by Fritz Perls, a video has been used as reference. The therapy
has been used on a client namely Gloria and represented in form of a film, that has been
critically analyzed in this essay.
The purpose of this essay is understand and analyze the importance of
psychotherapeutic counseling as well as the classification and diversification of different
process that is followed by the counselor. This essay also helps in the better understanding of
the Gestalt’s theory and practice that has been used on a client during the process of
psychoanalysis and counseling.

4INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
About counseling
Counseling is defined as the rational process of helping or assisting a client achieve a
better state of mind that is done by the demonstration of a behavior that motivates the client
towards problem solving (McLeod, 2013). Counseling has a broad spectrum that deals with
behavioral science, procedures of problem solving, making crucial decisions related to career,
personal growth and prospects, marriage, familial issues and other interpersonal concerns
(McLeod, 2014).
Counseling is usually professional interaction between a trained personnel and a
client, which is usually one on one kind of interaction. In few instances, the interaction might
involve multiple persons to help in better understanding and expression about their personal
views and concerns in their lives (Van Deurzen, 2012).
Group counseling has been designed to help the clients achieve a better learning about
their personal choice that targets through a significant and enlightening choice after
successfully counteracting with the emotional and interpersonal problems (Rowan, 2013).
Evolution of Counseling
Counseling had its first period of evolution from the year of 1850 till the year of 1900
that started with the psychoanalysis movement and the setting up of the first psychological
laboratory. The second period of emergence of counseling took place from the year of 1900
till 1930. The fascinating breakthrough in the process of psychotherapeutic counseling began
from the year of 1930 till the year of 1940, with the beginning of the psychometric
movement, that involves the utilization of various psychometric tests to analyze and study the
mental attributions and the abilities of individuals. The fourth and the final stage of
counseling took place from the emergence of the Second World War and the year after.

5INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
With the gradual progress in time, the trends in counseling have changed and
modified it. The process conceptualizes the self to include various interpersonal, organized
and socio-cultural forces. The relationship with counselor being collaborative in nature along
with most of the parameters is related to the qualitative research and the evaluation of the
derived data. The psychological problems have been perceived from a speculative and
phenomenological perspective. The process elaborates and emphasize on the content of the
concern. The counseling process is initiated from the client’s end with the concern being
intensely explored that finally ends with the goal setting and the intervention. Apart from face
to face counseling, interaction with a counselor can be initiated through emails and other
internet facilities like chat rooms, video calling and websites.
Elements of counseling
Counseling has certain features and elements that defines and classifies the process.
These elements can also be determined as the features of counseling that are discussed.
Counseling is an empathetic relationship between the counselor and the client where the
counselor and the client can relate between themselves with a well-established rapport. The
counselor focuses and sticks to the issues and concerns of the client and tries to understand
and analyze it accordingly. Since the discussion is free and open, the client is provided with
the liberty to express anything and everything for the better understanding. An environment
of mutual trust and confidence needs to be established to help in better interaction without
any gap holes in the communication. In order to achieve a better communication
establishment of the rapport is essential. Sometimes the client might be in the state of
incongruence, anxiousness and vulnerability. The counselor needs to be unconditional
concerning the client’s condition to help in better understanding and creation of a comfort
zone.

6INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
Counseling can be divided and classified into certain types that have been cited.
Individual counseling, Group Therapy, Online and Telephonic Counseling and Self- help
Group Therapy.
Reason that demands counseling
Counseling is a therapeutic process that is essential for certain reasons. Individual
going through stressful stimuli or individuals looks for moral and emotional comfort retort to
counseling for better awareness and realization (Roddy, 2013). Individuals facing issues
related to family and interpersonal relationships, parenting and step parenting concerns,
crucial and major life changes and decisions (Dryden & Palmer, 2014). Stress from
separation and new bonds, concerns related to domestic violence and abuse, suffering from
depression and anxiety are also the causes to seek counseling help. Individuals undergoing
concerns due to stress, bad temperament, gambling and financial difficulties as well as
childhood trauma ask for help to overcome the painful overloading (Hanley, Humphrey &
Lennie, 2012).
Traditional style of counseling
The most common style of counseling is usually traditional in nature. They include
individual therapy, couple therapy, family therapy and group counseling.
Individual therapy is the foremost and primary style of counseling that is taken place
where the counselor is functional to understand and empathize on the client’s concern
(Mearns, Thorne & McLeod, 2013). As the name suggests, this is usually a one on one kind
of interaction. Creation of bond and rapport is necessary to conduct such counseling process.
Intimate issues related to family, relationships, career, life situations and abuse are mostly
discussed in this kind of therapy.

7INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
Couple therapy as the name suggests are most done between couples and the
counselor. Concerns related to marital affairs, mid life crisis, lack of communication, anger
and depression issues, issue due to past relationships, trust issues between partners and sexual
concerns are the most discussed topics in this type of counseling.
Family therapy are the process of therapeutic counseling that is mostly concerned
with the familial issues such as grief due to loss or separation, child aggression and ill habits,
disciplinary differences, difficulty with peers, interrupted cognitive development, teenage
concerns, drugs and alcohol abuse (McLaughlin & Holliday, 2013).
Group therapy is usually concerned with psycho educational groups and is mostly the
helping procedure that takes place in groups. Execution of skills training such as anger
management, mindfulness, relaxation training and social training skills are achieved through
this kind of counseling process. Group counseling is beneficial in its own terms since it
facilitates interpersonal learning and self-awareness.
Approaches of counseling
Counseling has certain approaches that are taken into consideration while adopting
the process of counseling clients (Dryden & Mytton, 2016). These approaches are specifically
adopted depending upon the nature and type of assessment or objectives that are to be
attained by the analysis (Holm-Hadulla & Hofmann, 2012).
The first approach is behavior eccentric approach. As the name suggests the main
purpose of this kind of approach is to change and manipulate the behavior of the clients. The
irrational, ineffective and self-critic behavior is changed and mould into an effective and
endearing one, concerning the testimony of a successful counseling. Usually the behavior
counselors do not consider or validate hypothetical concepts and theories of mental
functioning like unconsciousness as an important fundamental of psychotherapeutic

8INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
counseling. From the behavioral perspective, all the behavior adjustments and the concerns
are learnt through the same methodology. As a result, it can be modified by cultivating
suitable learning principles. This kind of approach usually drives under four learning
principles namely drive, cue, response and reinforcement. As such, it is believed that every
behavior is subjected to change and modulation with administration of appropriate
reinforcements
The second approach is the humanistic approach or person centered counseling. Carl
Rogers was the known founder of this kind of approach (Rogers, 2012). In other words, this
kind approach is also known as the indirect approach or client centered approach (Geldard,
Geldard & Foo, 2013). The change to a client centered approach reflects Rogers later on
recognized that this kind of systematic approach worked in any kind of setting where the
helper reaches out to promote the psychological growth and many of the others who are
helped (Rowan, 2015).
Stages of counseling
The process of counseling involves several stages that are incorporated to achieve
better results. This stage involves the development of relationship. In this stage the counselor
tries to establish a better rapport and relationship with the client to help in creating a
comfortable environment in order to ease the client (Cuijpers et al., 2012).
The second stage involves the defining of the problem. This stage involves the
enclosure or the revelation of the primary concern or the motive of the counseling session.
After a rapport has been set and the client feels comfortable with the counselor, the client
decides to escalate the motive to the session towards the primary objective.
The third stage is about the determination of the goals. In this stage, the counselor
chooses and decides the primary objective that needs to be attained through the counseling

9INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
session. The counselor usually considers the prioritizing of the goal along with the making of
a commitment and the decision of taking a specific action in order to achieve the objective. ‘
The fourth step involves around the decision of planning the action that needs to be
done. In order to achieve this the counselor adopts the method of assessment interview that
involves the testing, assessment and the diagnosis of the crisis. The problem is examined and
the relevant issues are prioritized. Special focus is imparted on the perspective as well as the
acceptance of the problem. Emphasis is given on the self-responsibility as well as the
analyzing and the solution of the problem.
The fifth and the final step of a counseling session completes with the follow up
process. This is the process that involves the imparting of instructions to the clients in order
to keep a check and monitor the progress on the indications of the problems as well as
imparting supportive provisions for themselves as well. Usually the counselor keeps a record
of the clients at regular intervals or the assistant can keep a check on the progress of the
clients and impart any back up support if necessary.
Fundamental qualities needed for counseling
Even though counseling has its different stages of execution, counseling requires one
of the positive and strong senses to help understand and analyze the issues. The counselor
should fully use the power of listening. The listening skill is one of the primary and crucial
skill that is fundamental in the counseling process. Listening includes four kinds of listening
such as discriminative listening, Comprehensive listening, critical listening and active
listening. In order to help counsel better it is necessary to be a motivated listener, be objective
and alert to all cues as well as the use of thinking and speaking time difference.

10INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
Challenges of counseling
Counseling has several benefits in its own terms but along wise counseling also has its
own drawbacks and pit falls. In other word, counseling also has its own limitations. The most
crucial miscommunication that can rise is due to lack of effective hearing, personal problems,
cultural differences, prejudices and connotative meaning. These limitations are the primary
barriers to an effective counseling that should be mitigated in order to achieve a better
efficiency of the session.
Ethics in counseling
Certain code of ethics needs to be followed in terms or counseling sessions. These are
important since these facilitates a safe, non judgmental space for better reflection and the
exploration of the problems and the challenges faced by the client (Bond, 2015). Certain
ethics such as conscious about racial and cultural biasness, confidentiality, proper
termination, fair judgment regarding rights and dignity should be maintained (Bond &
Mitchels, 2014). These ethics are imperative to in the development of a culturally safe and
suitable counseling environment.
Critical analysis of the counseling session of Fritz Perls and Gloria
With reference to the counseling session of Fritz Perls and Gloria as well as the
Gestalt theory some of the techniques has been demonstrated in the film have been identified
(Wagemans et al., 2012). As well as there are notable incongruity between Perls’ description
of Gestalt therapeutic process and the interview process. The similarities have been
positioned out in the Perls’ interview. At the beginning of the video before Perls speaks to
Gloria, he speaks about the contrast of the theories of Sigmund Freud’s depth psychology and
with its help the depth about the situation has been contrasted and the Gestalt’s theory has
been developed (Wagemans et al., 2012). Several aspects of Gestalt’s theory has been used to

11INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
bring out the predictable aspects of the client’s persona while undeviating the awareness
towards the non verbal behavior of the client such as directing towards the development of
the client’s fantasy while exploring the transmission (Clarkson & Cavicchia, 2013).
Throughout the film, Perls have been directing Gloria’s consciousness and her
attention towards her non-vocal behavior such as fidgeting with her feet, awareness about the
smile, eyes and the facial expression. At one point of time, Perls draws out a consolidated
meaning out of one of the gestures drawn by Gloria. Many a times several comments have
been made randomly to abruptly break the flow of the communication however as concluded
it has been done purposely to serve the concern of meeting the effort to develop the emerging
gestalt theory. However, on the notion of Gloria’s actions it has been observed that several
times she has been placed on the defensive and the confused end with the thought that Perls
did not acknowledge her by being cynical towards her. It can be observed that Gloria
gradually shifted her consciousness towards her non-verbal behavior to enlighten the
understanding about the facts she wishes to express, although Perls more than what Gloria
observed of Perls took this situation into an advantage. However, on a personal notion the
benefits of the Gestalt’s therapy could not be administered properly since Gloria did not seem
to have developed any new understanding about herself with regards to the emerging Gestalts
that rose from her non verbal behavior.
In the video the gestalt makes proper use of the fantasy on Gloria with several
question arise that encourages Gloria to elaborate about her wishes and fantasies. One the
contrary, in one instance Perls discourages Gloria from probing further into her fantasies
about as a child. Furthermore, Perls probes Gloria and tags her of being 30-year-old girl who
is afraid of him although it was pretty unclear about the fact why Perls sharps turned Gloria
away from the topic of interest without letting her investigate further. It seemed on reflection
to represent Gloria’s presence at that particular time being, with Perls. From the perspective

12INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
of Perls’ evaluation, he referred to Gloria’s withdrawing by the imagination of hiding in the
corner. It is relatively difficult to judge this fantastical aspect of gestalts demonstration and it
was a clear indication that Gloria was being overly self-protective about herself. With this
notion on personal basis, it can be said that no clear indication could be found regarding the
fact that Gloria learnt anything new about herself but it was clear that Gloria understood
about the negative reaction that Perls exhibited concerning her, being overly protective.
While Perls had a intra psychic orientation about the occurrences in Gloria’s mind,
although this was not clear initially but with re evaluation it could be justified about the tags
that has been attached to these orientations. The aim for working with Gloria’s transference
projections was for Gloria to understand and recognize her own reflected attributes onto Perls
and for her to re ingest it again. In an instance, Perls tries to reassign an attribute with an
related to respect. Following this Perls tags Gloria about demanding respect, after this while
repeating the same. Gloria seems to rearrange it and put a conclusion to the Perls’ fact that
she indeed demands respect.
Conclusion
With the help of this essay, it can be concluded that this video indeed reassures and
teaches about newer contributing attitudes while dealing with the clients. As per the film, it
can be said about the fact that the client is endeavoring through counseling through his or her
beliefs and perception about the surrounding world. It was clear that the client was trying to
build a reliable framework of understanding the concerns. It can also be concluded that
throughout the film Gloria had perceived the fact that Perls was frequently ignoring her
opinions, view and was being extremely cynical towards her. Perls responded harshly to her
opinion about being sensitive about playing dumb and stupid. Perls responded to it saying
that it was an interpersonal and strategy that Gloria would supposedly use against him.

13INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
Adding further conclusion, it was clear about the understanding of the use of Gestalt’s
therapy techniques that has been implied on Gloria. Techniques of using directed awareness,
intentional use of manipulation and trying to suppress are the indirect ways of
communication from Perls’ end. In this manner, Perls was trying to convey and communicate
with Gloria about his ideology of value biasness like self-support. The video depicts Perls’
way of communication as well as his personal style of using domination over Gloria. This
video also depicts the process in which Gloria identifies her awareness and speaks about them
to Perls as well has her interview experience. Finally, it can be concluded that this film
indeed contains huge possibilities or observation and conceptualizing the interview between a
counselor and a client.

14INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
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15INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING
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