Gestalt
Gestalt comes from the German verb “gestalten,”which means “to give form” or “to shape.”
Gestalt therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach developed in the 1940s through the collaborative work of Fritz Perls, Paul Goodman, and Laura Perls. It draws on the work of Sándor Ferenczi, Otto Rank, Wilhelm Reich, and Kurt Lewin.Built upon foundations of psychoanalysis, phenomenology, and existentialism.
Gestalt therapy focuses on awareness of what is happening in the **here and now**. The present moment is understood as a complex process that brings together our history, memories, current situation, and intentions, as every relationship is an experience of contact between oneself and others.
Gestalt therapy belongs to the most widely established approaches within humanistic, existential, and relational psychology. It offers a holistic view of the human being and encourages an ongoing dialogue between thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations. Rather than reducing the person to an individualistic perspective, it explores how individuals interact with their environment—whether personal, professional, or social—and aims to foster autonomy, responsibility, and creativity.
Gestalt therapy is a well-established psychotherapeutic approach practised worldwide. If you would like to explore its principles and applications in greater depth, you may find the following organisations and institutions helpful:
=> the UK Association for Gestalt Practitioners (UKAGP), the International Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy (IAAGT), the European Association for Gestalt Therapy (EAGT), and the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland.
Bibliography:
-
Fritz Perls – Gestalt Therapy Verbatim
-
Erving Polster & Miriam Polster – Gestalt Therapy Integrated
-
Joseph Zinker – Creative Process in Gestalt Therapy
-
Gary Yontef – Awareness, Dialogue and Process
-
Dan Bloom – The Handbook of Gestalt Therapy
Positive Psychology
Positive Psychology is “the study of the conditions and processes that contribute to the flourishing or optimal functioning of individuals, groups, and institutions.” (Gable & Haidt, 2005)
The term “positive” comes from a study (Myers, 2000) based on the PsycInfo database, which shows that, on average since 1967, for every 21 articles on negative emotions, only one article focuses on positive emotions. (For example: 5,548 articles on anger, 41,416 on anxiety, and 54,040 on depression, compared with only 415 on joy, 1,710 on happiness, and 2,582 on life satisfaction.)
Today, Positive Psychology is a scientific field dedicated to the study and validation of evidence-based applications.Positive Psychology aims to restore balance by focusing on positive aspects of human functioning, without forgetting, dismissing, or ignoring toxic patterns or negative emotions.
What is a Positive Psychology Practitioner?
According to the criteria defined by the French-speaking Positive Psychology Association, a practitioner is a professional with at least a Master’s-level education (or equivalent), who has completed either:* 140 hours of certified training in Positive Psychology (delivered by universities and/or accredited training organisations), or* A minimum of 100 hours of Positive Psychology training plus 3 years of empirically validated positive interventions (based on evidence-based criteria in medicine and psychology).Practitioners may work in coaching, consultancy, education, or within organisations.
What does Positive Psychology focus on?
Positive Psychology focuses on three major areas: positive emotions, positive individual traits, and positive institutions.
Positive emotions: Understanding positive emotions involves studying satisfaction with the past, happiness in the present, and hope for the future.
Positive individual traits: This area explores character strengths and virtues such as the capacity to love and be loved, courage, optimism, resilience, creativity, curiosity, integrity, humour, self-regulation, and wisdom.
Positive institutions: This involves studying the factors that promote healthier communities, such as restorative justice, responsibility, civility, citizenship, parenting, dedication, altruism, work ethic, leadership, teamwork, purpose, and tolerance.
Link: https://enpp.eu/