The Necessity of Gestalt Therapy in Trauma Healing

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There are numerous psychotherapy options available to help ease mental and emotional distress. To narrow down which therapy option may work for you, it is essential that you recognize what you are looking to get out of treatment and what options are available for you.

When it comes to healing from trauma, wouldn’t it be nice if there were a therapy option available that wouldn’t cause you to revisit your traumatic experience? Luckily, there is. Gestalt therapy offers a treatment experience to heal from trauma without having a client deliberately work through and discuss their experience. It focuses on the present moment, fostering self-awareness and emotional awareness that will last well beyond your treatment experience.

What Is Gestalt Therapy?

Gestalt Therapy for Trauma Healing

Gestalt therapy is a holistic, clinical approach to treating mental health distress and trauma. This client-centered form of psychotherapy encourages clients to find present challenges in their lives that pertain to their life challenges instead of necessarily diving into their past. This therapy approach emphasizes how important it is to understand a person’s life in a greater context while fostering client responsibility.

The term “gestalt” refers to the form and shape of something, suggesting that there is more value in a whole rather than the sum of its parts. Gestalt therapy focuses on how a person places and gives meaning to their life experiences as they try to make sense of the world around them.

An essential part of gestalt therapy is assuming the uniqueness and subjectivity of a client’s experience. In other words, this also helps one to understand that we are thoroughly influenced by our subjective experiences alongside our external environments.

What Does a Gestalt Therapy Session Look Like?

In a gestalt therapy session, a trained therapist places value on their clients to tell their own truth. A therapist knows not to impose any judgment and fully accepts what their client says to be true. A client and therapist must build upon their trust for one another and establish safety for the client.

Focusing on the Present Moment

Different from other therapies, gestalt therapy purposefully neglects to have clients target their past experiences. This therapy recognizes that increasing self-awareness will lead to a client overcoming their present life challenges.

The main focus, and benefit, of gestalt therapy is the focus on the present moment. A therapist will know how to bring a client back to the present if they sense that they are focusing too much on their past experiences or anxiety for the future.

Experimental Exercises

Another factor that sets gestalt therapy apart from other psychotherapies is that a client-therapist pair is likely to engage in experimental exercises. These exercises are meant to increase awareness and help a client to process new experiences.

While some sessions will be deliberate, intentional conversation, other sessions may include exercises such as role-play or guided imagery to foster experiences of communication. When feelings and experiences surface as unpleasant, a client is encouraged to address and work through their feelings instead of avoiding them.

The Benefits of Gestalt Therapy

There are various benefits of gestalt therapy, especially when it comes to evaluating the present moment. In addition to increased self-awareness, the benefits of gestalt therapy include:

  • Increased emotional regulation
  • Increased mindfulness (including elements of acceptance, objectivity, and non-judgment)
  • Increased tolerance for adversity
  • Greater awareness of individual needs
  • Greater sense of perspective
  • Improved communication

Gestalt Therapy and Trauma

Gestalt therapy is used to treat many conditions as well as the symptoms associated with distressing mental health disorders. It has profound effects on various mental health concerns such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mood disorders, addiction, and even relational issues.

Unresolved trauma, distress, and anxiety contribute to prolonged and negative emotional, mental, and physical effects. Gestalt therapy can help to remove any physical, mental, and emotional blocks from the past while staying focused on the present moment. It helps clients hold themselves accountable for the things they can control while simultaneously encouraging clients to let go of past experiences that seem to control their behavior today.

Clients who experience this form of therapy tend to struggle with current behaviors as they were shaped from previous traumatic experiences. Therapy sessions aim to help clients remove unwanted thoughts and pre-programmed responses that had become a habit at the cause of their past trauma.

Gestalt therapy works because it emphasizes mindfulness. When a client becomes grounded in their present moment, they become more aware of the control they have over themselves and their emotions and behaviors. This treatment approach promotes personal growth by tuning into a client’s subjective sensations and needs. This is essential when establishing feelings of safety in one’s environment as well as in their own body.

Gestalt therapy is a holistic, client-centered approach to treating mental health distress. Unlike other forms of therapy, gestalt therapy focuses on identifying a client’s current life challenges rather than addressing their past. Gestalt therapy emphasizes the importance of understanding a person’s life in context rather than solely the issue at hand. It focuses on establishing self-awareness, which eventually enables a client to overcome their present life challenges. Gestalt therapy is likely to include experimental exercises to help a client foster greater communication and understanding through role play. When it comes to treating trauma, gestalt therapy works because it allows a client to remove emotional, mental, and physical blocks put up from their past. At Sabino Recovery, we believe in the power of gestalt therapy when addressing and treating trauma. We offer a safe and trustworthy treatment environment that will foster and guide you on your healing journey. For more information, call us today at (844) 227-7014.

The Necessity of Gestalt Therapy in Trauma Healing

Mar 18, 2022

Mental Health

Shara Turner, LPC, MSC, NCC, NARM

There are numerous psychotherapy options available to help ease mental and emotional distress. To narrow down which therapy option may work for you, it is essential that you recognize what you are looking to get out of treatment and what options are available for you.

When it comes to healing from trauma, wouldn't it be nice if there were a therapy option available that wouldn't cause you to revisit your traumatic experience? Luckily, there is. Gestalt therapy offers a treatment experience to heal from trauma without having a client deliberately work through and discuss their experience. It focuses on the present moment, fostering self-awareness and emotional awareness that will last well beyond your treatment experience.

What Is Gestalt Therapy?

Gestalt Therapy for Trauma Healing

Gestalt therapy is a holistic, clinical approach to treating mental health distress and trauma. This client-centered form of psychotherapy encourages clients to find present challenges in their lives that pertain to their life challenges instead of necessarily diving into their past. This therapy approach emphasizes how important it is to understand a person's life in a greater context while fostering client responsibility.

The term “gestalt” refers to the form and shape of something, suggesting that there is more value in a whole rather than the sum of its parts. Gestalt therapy focuses on how a person places and gives meaning to their life experiences as they try to make sense of the world around them.

An essential part of gestalt therapy is assuming the uniqueness and subjectivity of a client's experience. In other words, this also helps one to understand that we are thoroughly influenced by our subjective experiences alongside our external environments.

What Does a Gestalt Therapy Session Look Like?

In a gestalt therapy session, a trained therapist places value on their clients to tell their own truth. A therapist knows not to impose any judgment and fully accepts what their client says to be true. A client and therapist must build upon their trust for one another and establish safety for the client.

Focusing on the Present Moment

Different from other therapies, gestalt therapy purposefully neglects to have clients target their past experiences. This therapy recognizes that increasing self-awareness will lead to a client overcoming their present life challenges.

The main focus, and benefit, of gestalt therapy is the focus on the present moment. A therapist will know how to bring a client back to the present if they sense that they are focusing too much on their past experiences or anxiety for the future.

Experimental Exercises

Another factor that sets gestalt therapy apart from other psychotherapies is that a client-therapist pair is likely to engage in experimental exercises. These exercises are meant to increase awareness and help a client to process new experiences.

While some sessions will be deliberate, intentional conversation, other sessions may include exercises such as role-play or guided imagery to foster experiences of communication. When feelings and experiences surface as unpleasant, a client is encouraged to address and work through their feelings instead of avoiding them.

The Benefits of Gestalt Therapy

There are various benefits of gestalt therapy, especially when it comes to evaluating the present moment. In addition to increased self-awareness, the benefits of gestalt therapy include:

  • Increased emotional regulation

  • Increased mindfulness (including elements of acceptance, objectivity, and non-judgment)

  • Increased tolerance for adversity

  • Greater awareness of individual needs

  • Greater sense of perspective

  • Improved communication

Gestalt Therapy and Trauma

Gestalt therapy is used to treat many conditions as well as the symptoms associated with distressing mental health disorders. It has profound effects on various mental health concerns such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mood disorders, addiction, and even relational issues.

Unresolved trauma, distress, and anxiety contribute to prolonged and negative emotional, mental, and physical effects. Gestalt therapy can help to remove any physical, mental, and emotional blocks from the past while staying focused on the present moment. It helps clients hold themselves accountable for the things they can control while simultaneously encouraging clients to let go of past experiences that seem to control their behavior today.

Clients who experience this form of therapy tend to struggle with current behaviors as they were shaped from previous traumatic experiences. Therapy sessions aim to help clients remove unwanted thoughts and pre-programmed responses that had become a habit at the cause of their past trauma.

Gestalt therapy works because it emphasizes mindfulness. When a client becomes grounded in their present moment, they become more aware of the control they have over themselves and their emotions and behaviors. This treatment approach promotes personal growth by tuning into a client's subjective sensations and needs. This is essential when establishing feelings of safety in one's environment as well as in their own body.

Gestalt therapy is a holistic, client-centered approach to treating mental health distress. Unlike other forms of therapy, gestalt therapy focuses on identifying a client's current life challenges rather than addressing their past. Gestalt therapy emphasizes the importance of understanding a person's life in context rather than solely the issue at hand. It focuses on establishing self-awareness, which eventually enables a client to overcome their present life challenges. Gestalt therapy is likely to include experimental exercises to help a client foster greater communication and understanding through role play. When it comes to treating trauma, gestalt therapy works because it allows a client to remove emotional, mental, and physical blocks put up from their past. At Sabino Recovery, we believe in the power of gestalt therapy when addressing and treating trauma. We offer a safe and trustworthy treatment environment that will foster and guide you on your healing journey. For more information, call us today at (844) 227-7014.

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