Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt therapy – founded by Fritz Perls, Lore Perls and Paul Goldmann – was one of the booming psychotherapy methods of the 60’s to the 90’s, which, in the meantime, is fighting for survival in many places and is in danger of becoming history. Its wealth of innovation, of non-conformity, of pleasure in experimentation and unconventional thought has led to the fact that many therapists and counsellors felt very attracted to it and many other psychological disciplines allowed themselves to be inspired by it. Important elements of its theory and practice are being cultivated today and further developed in ‘new’ procedures such as schema therapy or emotional focus therapies. Gestalt therapy is so interesting for meta theory, because it very determinedly does not find its orientation in the contents of a set of problems. It attributes great importance to self-expression and self-experience, gives contact a very high rank and takes very seriously the responsibility of each person for his internal life. The unnecessary radicality in the wrong place (“Loose your mind and come to your senses!”), has made it difficult for Gestalt Therapy to achieve scientific recognition and to be adequately researched.