1. 种存在主义的方法
2. 种现象学的方法
3. 种对话的方法
4. A种整体的方法
5. 种实用的方法
事情是这样的
不管怎样,显而易见说法是这个看上去太冗长。但是格式塔被形容为“显而易见的哲学”。这是对治疗师使用解释来帮助被卡住的人的分析方法根本性的背离。
这是因为第一,在格式塔中治疗师并不假定具有通往现实的特权通路。治疗师的任务看上去是在了解客户对世界的主观的看法,尊重体验,探索它们怎样构建生活。这种对他人视角的表面有效性的尊重并不意味着同意,两种看法的相遇会产生丰富的接触,两种观点都有存在的空间。所以,格式塔治疗既有力量又直接,同时对客户的安全界限和他们对什么对他们是正确做法的认识非常尊重。
第二,如果实际上我们功能紊乱包括了对发生事情的视而不见,对整体的重建包括了重新认识和接受真实的自己。诡辩论的改变理论主张当我们能帮助他人成为他们当下的真实自己,改变的机会和过程开始出现。但是只要我们向设定的目标努力,没有给现实应有的呈现,改变都将很少。所以在格式塔中,我们致力于发现、强化、实验,并从多方面进行评估现在和这里这个个人的真象。
这个过程的内在是对你在你的现实和我在我的现实里的基本的接受。人们带来治疗中的核心问题是他们对自己感觉不好,相信他们应该有所不同。再瘦一点、再强壮一点、更迷人一点,更直率、更释放一点,更周到一点......填空。如果治疗师有自己对一个人应该什么样的清单,可以在这些应该上增加分量。
真实的自己
所以作为格式塔方法的治疗师,我自由地做自己,毫不掩盖。同时我给你自由呼吸的空间,确信你以你的存在被接受。我作为治疗师的挑战是对自己的体验允许和负责任,同时不增加你的负担,即使是微妙的期待。George Sweet主张治疗师要提醒自己,“我没有要改变这个人任何一个方面的欲望”
这就允许了经常作为格式塔团体一个面上呈现的关系的质量,在与亲密关系有关但没有实现的深度上重新认识自己和别人。这种自发的体验通常极度地动人,会是有趣的、悲伤的或愤怒的,经常是高度创造性的。更完全地生活在团队的安全背景中的体验既本身是有效时刻,也是日常生活的实践。目的是触碰逐渐提高的那种叫做“在格式塔中”觉知状态。
Awareness (5 mins)
Dialogue (5 mins)
格式塔的起源
格式塔是有Fritz和Laura Perl发起,在1940年代的美国与Paul Goodman和其他“纽约团体”成员的共同努力下得到进一步发展。
在理论和实践上融合了东西方思想和当下的哲学和心理动力学理论。格式塔方法植根于心理分析、存在主义、格式塔心理学、现象学,部分Wilhelm Reich的理论、心理剧和禅宗佛教。大量地综合借鉴这些那些方法,Fritz和Laura Perls创造了一个新的整体叫格式塔疗法。
今天的格式塔
格式塔今天比以往任何时候都受欢迎。在澳洲有数不清的培训中心,它们连接在一起成为一个紧密结合的网络。现代科技例如互联网和视频会议都被使用,格式塔培训师之间的想法和专业技能交流越来越多。不间断的致力于在既与当今社会有关,又与我们想创造的社会有关的前沿应用中运用格式塔成熟的基础。
格式塔治疗师
格式塔治疗师重要的能力既不是华而不实的技巧,也不是聪明的干预,而是有根据的关联,在场,清晰的自我觉知,不受限制的观察,这些构成了格式塔实践的支柱。治疗师象一个助产士,在帮助一个具有天然打开节奏的过程,首要需要的是在被需要时候微妙的开始行动的能力。
就格式塔不遵循预设的规则和期望而言,格式塔是一个无政府主义的过程。从而具备了大量创造性和个性化的空间,鼓励每一位治疗师发现他们自己的独特风格。
完整性的内驱力
想象拼图只有一片找不到:我们有内在的欲望去填补这一片,并在完成拼图时,有着与生俱来的满足感。是这种完成的内驱力、完整性或者格式塔在推动我们在生活中去处理未完成事宜,体验那种不完成就使人不得安宁的不舒服。
格式塔疗法运用觉知去发现这些没有完成的部分,然后帮助人们实现完整性,用新型的行为做实验,感觉被感受和释放,思维方式回复意识和更新。这些都时在聚焦当下,允许生动新鲜进入老旧陈腐的体验时发生的。
工作中重要的部分包括整合在所谓的“撕裂的我们”中的裂缝,罪人/圣人,懦夫/横行霸道者,守财奴/浪费的人。我们能在我们自己体内整合他们,而不是一方归罪于另一方,这样就会更完整和更能平衡生活。为自己否认的(脱离的)部分负责任是非常有挑战性的,但是这最终是一段非常释放和增加主控权的体验。
健康的联系
成熟被看做能够区分环境中滋养的影响和有毒的影响,并采取相应的行动。这使得我们可以应付遇到的新的、没想到的、危险的甚至有时候是有破坏性的事件。然而通常我们的家庭背景教会我们功能紊乱的应对反应。格式塔工作发现我们特殊的曲解方法或者避免接触,从而帮助我们重建清晰的边界并与自己和他人建立健康的联系。这个过程允许每个人在他们内在智慧中重建信任,知道什么时候走近他人、什么时候放开,一个人一个人来,一个时刻一个时刻来。
格式塔为每一位治疗师提供了大量创造性和个性化的空间,力求在以往模式的挫折和对新选择的支持之间调和折中。帮助客户达到自我支持的做法被视为每一个人成长、成熟的一个潜在元素。其他元素包括对支持和关系中的滋养的吸收能力,和即使在过去错过但能在现在接受的能力。
ROHAN ~ Medical Doctor and Consultant
Steve is a truly gifted teacher and therapist who is clearly practising his calling. He brings wisdom, genuine caring and compassion to our sessions and he has helped me finally navigate a path towards a healthier and more skilful way to approach anxiety, stress and behaviours that were damaging to my relationships and my work. I have seen psychologists before and been left with little. This is the first time that I have seen genuine changes to my mental well-being that has improved the quality of my relationships, work and life.
NATALIE ~ Acupuncturist, R.N
I first met Steve through a presentation he did on Family Constellations. This was a very powerful and releasing experience. I since contacted him for personal work and professional supervision. I have benefitted greatly from continued sessions, I feel aware of the roles I play in my life, and have stopped blaming others for the decisions I have made. I feel in control of the direction my life takes now. This, amongst a myriad of other revelations, has given me greater freedom and a sustained sense of happiness.
PAUL ~ Drug & Alcohol counsellor
Four years training with Steve Gunther was life changing. I learnt so much about myself and how I am in the world, how am I with clients and how to deal with and engage any person in any situation.
I gained the skills to practice Gestalt Psychotherapy and the confidence to do it in my own style. I have gone on to expand my Gestalt training into Community Development and helping effect societal change.
Steve has a hands on assured teaching style which is just as effective as his brilliant personal counselling work - powerful and profound, yet guided by the clients and the students.
JENNY ~ Therapist
I have know Steve for 18 years, experiencing him as Gestalt teacher and therapist. I have grown to have a great deal of respect for him and have always valued all that he strives for. He is a person of great integrity, intelligence, wisdom, energy, sincerity and care.
Added to this has always been a commitment to his own personal and professional growth, demonstrating itself in humility, confidence and determination. I have always felt that he has had my best interests at heart, which resulted in me being gently guided towards taking risks, in healing my past and leaping into my future.
The 'work' that I have done with Steve over the years has helped shape my life and the person I am today, which is greatly full-filled and happy.
SHIRLEY ~ Psychotherapist
Having been a client of Steve's, I confidently recommend his services to any client who is seeking therapy. I found him to be contactful, empathic, intuitive. fully understanding of and tuned in to the issues I presented. I felt very safe in his care and professional expertise, and I experienced personal growth, increased self awareness and complete satisfaction through the consultations I had with him.
BRYANT ~ Natural therapist and Homeopath
Gestalt Therapy with Steve Gunther gave me two focal insights in particular. One was how my energy moved between my ‘introvert’ and ‘extrovert’ self, and the other how my physical body carried the demand I placed on myself as expectation.
One session I clearly remember was Steve helping me elicit an image of a ball and chain around my left leg (which was chronically arthritic). As I processed those feelings and felt images, I saw shifts including release of tension, emotionally and energetically, over the period. I am very grateful to Steve for his devotion and his art, and for his very astute processing skills. Good memories.