Chapter 7- Gestalt Therapy

Chapter 7- Gestalt Therapy

The founding therapist behind Gestalt Therapy is Fritz Perls. While Perl used Freud's model as a basis of gestalt therapy, he replaced sex/libido drive with hunger. In Gestalt Therapy, behavior is found to be driven by a hunger to satisfy a need to connect with others, biological needs and psychological needs. Unlike most of the other theories, it reflects on current issues and tries to resolve them without much reflection on the past. Clients are also expected to take suggestions learned in therapy and try them in their actual life.

When looking at this theory and thinking about my career in student affairs, I think that this method may be helpful in helping students overcome quick/small issues. In my current role, in academic coaching, I meet many students only twice a semester for 30 minutes sessions. Using this method would help attain quick wins and possibly help the student attain short term goals in improving their academic grades. While I may use this method currently, I would like to work in an environment where I help multicultural students acclimate to the college environment through reoccurring sessions. Therefore, when thinking about how this theory does not account much of the past and it is not much of a long term therapy style, I do not think I will use this theory.