Gestalt therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on a person’s present life rather than delving into their past experiences. This form of therapy stresses the importance of understanding the context of a person’s life when considering the challenges they face. It also involves taking responsibility rather than placing blame.

Gestalt, by definition, refers to the form or shape of something and suggests that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. There is an emphasis on perception in this particular theory of counseling. This form of  therapy gives attention to how we place meaning and make sense of our world and our experiences. Gestalt therapy was developed by Fritz Perls, with the help of his wife at the time, Laura Perls, and introduced in the 1940s as an alternative to more traditional psychoanalysis. Both Fritz and Laura were trained in psychoanalysis and gestalt psychology. Along with others, such as Paul Goodman, they worked together to develop a style of therapy that was humanistic in nature. In other words, the approach focused on the person and the uniqueness of their experience.

The gestalt therapist understands that no one can be fully objective and individuals are influenced by the environment and past experiences. A therapist trained in gestalt therapy holds space for their clients to share their truth, not imposing their judgment and accepting the truth of their clients’ experiences. It is important for gestalt therapists to consider the influence of their own experiences on what is happening in the session. Gestalt therapy focuses on the present. As the client shares, a gestalt therapist will help bring the client back to the present if there is a sense they are spending too much time in the past or if their anxiety may be speeding them into the future. APA