First I need to say that I recognise that Gestalt has attributes that are found in other fields of human and organisational theory and practice.  Fritz Perls is the name most people link with Gestalt.  One reason is that he developed it into a practical method to help individuals. 

So what is Gestalt?  First there is no English word equivalent to Gestalt, which is a German word.  In essence Gestalt looks at things as whole at macro- and micro-levels. 

It uses all sources of information - rational mind, mental and physical feelings, bodily movements, and spiritual awareness in the broadest sense. In Gestalt books the sources from which its foundations were developed are freely acknowledged. 

What attracted me

I find many aspects are helpful in both my work and personal life.  What first attracted me to Gestalt included:

• The emphasis on sharpening awareness.  It has knock-on consequences in increasing choice, accepting responsibility for oneself and potentially leading to changing habits of perceiving, feeling and doing.  Each of us chooses what we accept, reject, think, feel and how we behave.  Some choice has become habit while other choice is still conscious – through my training in Gestalt my heightened awareness of my habits and rules has increased my ability to choose;
• The importance placed on each person’s individual and unique experience and his/her own perception of that experience being true to that person - and accepting the validity of that view with no prejudgement or set expectations: this comes across to me as non-judgmental, accepting what is and working with it rather than fighting against it; and
• The significance of context (sometimes known as the ‘field’) and viewing a person in the context of his or her environment (ie content belongs in a context).  Human beings can only be understood within the system of which they are a component part: this means that even an observer is part of the context and, therefore, has an impact on it – there is so much to say about context that I am going to leave it for another newsletter.

Gestalt recognises the natural flow of experience.  Unfinished business tends to stay with you and can interfere with behaviours, perceptions and thinking.  Such distortions, impositions or interruptions are seen to be linked to different stages of the cycle.  I have found it useful to be aware of the cycle and possible interruptions when talking with people.  I can call on this knowledge to help me understand individuals and situations – or at least give me some ideas where investigation may be fruitful.

For more information …

Trevor Bentley and Susan Clayton have published an excellent small booklet called ‘Gestalt: a philosophy for change’, published by thespacebetween.  It does Gestalt justice.  Go to  http://www.suecongram.co.uk/ to find out more about this book and other great books by these two authors.

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