Gestalt Theoretical Psychotherapy
Encyclopedia
Gestalt theoretical psychotherapy is a method of psychotherapy
based strictly on Gestalt psychology
. It was developed by the German Gestalt psychologist
and psychotherapist Hans-Jürgen P. Walter and his colleagues in Germany and Austria.
One of the most striking characteristics of Gestalt Theoretical Psychotherapy is the key role of the epistemological grounding position of Gestalt theory (critical realism
) and its applicability to the fundamental, theoretical and practical problems in psychotherapy. In Gestalt Theoretical Psychotherapy this is closely bound up with the basic methodological approach (holistic
, phenomenological
, experiment
al) of Gestalt theory, its system theoretical approach, and its specific psychophysical and psychological approach.
Gestalt theoretical psychotherapy is related to but different from Fritz Perls
' Gestalt therapy
in its theoretical foundation.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
based strictly on Gestalt psychology
Gestalt psychology
Gestalt psychology or gestaltism is a theory of mind and brain of the Berlin School; the operational principle of gestalt psychology is that the brain is holistic, parallel, and analog, with self-organizing tendencies...
. It was developed by the German Gestalt psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and psychotherapist Hans-Jürgen P. Walter and his colleagues in Germany and Austria.
One of the most striking characteristics of Gestalt Theoretical Psychotherapy is the key role of the epistemological grounding position of Gestalt theory (critical realism
Critical realism
In the philosophy of perception, critical realism is the theory that some of our sense-data can and do accurately represent external objects, properties, and events, while other of our sense-data do not accurately represent any external objects, properties, and events...
) and its applicability to the fundamental, theoretical and practical problems in psychotherapy. In Gestalt Theoretical Psychotherapy this is closely bound up with the basic methodological approach (holistic
Holism
Holism is the idea that all the properties of a given system cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone...
, phenomenological
Phenomenology (psychology)
Phenomenology is an approach to psychological subject matter that has its roots in the philosophical work of Edmund Husserl. Early phenomenologists such as Husserl, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty conducted their own psychological investigations in the early 20th century...
, experiment
Experiment
An experiment is a methodical procedure carried out with the goal of verifying, falsifying, or establishing the validity of a hypothesis. Experiments vary greatly in their goal and scale, but always rely on repeatable procedure and logical analysis of the results...
al) of Gestalt theory, its system theoretical approach, and its specific psychophysical and psychological approach.
Gestalt theoretical psychotherapy is related to but different from Fritz Perls
Fritz Perls
Friedrich Salomon Perls , better known as Fritz Perls, was a noted German-born psychiatrist and psychotherapist of Jewish descent....
' Gestalt therapy
Gestalt therapy
Gestalt therapy is an existential/experiential form of psychotherapy that emphasizes personal responsibility, and that focuses upon the individual's experience in the present moment, the therapist-client relationship, the environmental and social contexts of a person's life, and the self-regulating...
in its theoretical foundation.
External links
- Gestalt Theoretical Psychotherapy
- Hans-Jürgen Walter - Founder of Gestalt Theoretical Psychotherapy
- What do Gestalt therapy and Gestalt theory have to do with each other?
- 14th international Gestalt theory conference February 2005, Graz (Austria)
- Gestalt Theory
- Gestalt Portal in Spanish of the Gestalt University of America (Mexico)
- The Pennsylvania Gestalt Center