Gestalt Psychotherapy: A Brief introduction
- Bevan Morley
- Aug 29
- 3 min read
What Is Gestalt Psychotherapy?
Gestalt psychotherapy is based on the principle that people are best understood in the context of their ongoing relationships with their environment. Developed by Fritz Perls, Laura Perls, and Paul Goodman in the mid-20th century, it focuses on:
Living in the present moment.
Increasing self-awareness.
Integrating thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations.
Recognising unfinished business from the past that influences current experience.
Key Features of Gestalt in Individual Therapy
Focus on the present - Clients are encouraged to notice what is happening right now rather than analysing past events in isolation.
Holistic awareness - Emotions, physical sensations, and thoughts are all valued equally.
Dialogue-based therapy - The therapist and client engage in authentic, collaborative conversations.
Creative experiments - Role-play, guided imagery, and movement are often used to deepen awareness.
Clarkson’s Cycle of Experience
Gestalt therapy often draws on Clarkson’s cycle of experience to map how people engage with needs, feelings, and actions. The cycle helps identify where difficulties arise in meeting one’s needs.
The cycle includes:
Sensation - The very beginning of a need or desire. A dry mouth
Awareness - Recognising the need more fully.
Mobilisation - Energy builds to address the need.
Action - Acting to meet the need.
Contact - Fully engaging with the experience.
Satisfaction - The need is met.
Withdrawal/Rest - Returning to a state of equilibrium.
Problems often occur when the cycle is interrupted, resulting in 'unfinished business'. This can lead to pattern repetition, emotional unease, and defence mechanisms being activated.
A simple example
Alex feels tightness in their chest (sensation). They realise it happens at work when overwhelmed (awareness). Energy builds to change things (mobilisation) and Alex books a meeting with their manager (action). In the meeting, Alex voices their concerns (contact) and tasks get adjusted to suit Alex's needs (satisfaction). Alex leaves feeling lighter and more balanced (withdrawal).
If the cycle breaks (e.g., Alex notices the sensation but never acts), stress and unfinished business remain. This is where therapy supports completion.
Integration of Mindfulness in Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt therapy naturally integrates mindfulness practices:
Attention to present moment – Clients are invited to notice bodily sensations, breathing, and emotional shifts.
Non-judgmental awareness – Encouraging clients to observe experiences without rushing to interpret.
Grounding techniques – Helping individuals manage anxiety by focusing on sensory input (e.g., noticing feet on the ground).
Somatic Awareness in Gestalt Psychotherapy
Gestalt therapy views the body as central to experience. Somatic interventions often include:
Breathing exercises to release tension.
Posture and movement awareness to explore emotional blocks.
Using the “empty chair” technique with embodied awareness.
This integration of the mind-body connection allows clients to resolve emotional difficulties stored in the body.
FAQs About Gestalt Psychotherapy
Q1: How is Gestalt psychotherapy different from CBT?
While CBT is structured and problem-focused, Gestalt is experiential and emphasises awareness over technique.
Q2: Is Gestalt psychotherapy effective for trauma?
Yes. Its focus on body awareness and present experience is particularly helpful for trauma processing.
Q3: What does a typical Gestalt session look like?
Sessions often include dialogue, mindfulness, and creative experiments tailored to the client’s needs.
Q4: Can Gestalt therapy be combined with mindfulness training?
Absolutely. Many therapists integrate formal mindfulness exercises into Gestalt sessions.
Q5: Is Gestalt suitable for short-term therapy?
It can be applied short-term, but many benefit from longer-term exploration for deeper integration.
Final Thoughts
Gestalt psychotherapy offers a rich, experiential approach to individual therapy. Through Clarkson’s cycle of experience, mindfulness, and somatic awareness, it provides clients with tools to live more fully and authentically, encouraging greater presence, resilience, and connection.
Comments