What is Gestalt Therapy?
Gestalt therapy was originally created in opposition to what Fritz Perls and his wife Lore (Posner) Perls labeled the "stagnant dogmatism and determinism of psychoanalysis". In his early years in Germany, Perls, a psychoanalyst, was greatly influenced by contemporary psychoanalytic thinkers (or psychoanalytic deviants) Karen Horney, Wilhelm Reich and Otto Rank as well as others. Philosophically, he and his wife to be were attracted to and influenced by Friedlander's concepts of "differential thinking and creative indifference" which Perls later transformed into the important concept of creative adjustment in Gestalt Therapy.

Lore Perls studied psychology in Germany among many notable intellects of that time, had contact with and was greatly influenced by the Gestalt Psychologists Wolfgang Koehler, Wertheimer and existential thinkers Martin Buber and Paul Tillich. Although not given credit officially, Lore Perls is considered a major influence on Fritz Perls and on the creation of Gestalt Therapy, particularly in the areas of phenomenology, existentialism, and creativity.

Because of Nazi oppression, the Perls's fled Germany, then Holland and moved to South Africa, where they eventually met Jan Smuts, the author of a transformative book on Holism and Evolution(1926) in which the author examined issues of the ecological world from a Gestalt perspective.

Fritz and Lore Perls wrote a ground-breaking book Ego, Hunger and Aggression (1947) to which Lore Perls contributed one chapter. The topic was originally presented at the last Psychoanalytic Congress in Germany in the thirties. Originally, the Perls's wanted to label their new highly focused, experience-based therapy "concentration therapy". However, due to rather obvious limitations of such a title, particularly given the historical time and circumstances, they decided on the name of Gestalt therapy.

In the late 40's to early 50's the Perls's moved to New York where they included intellecutals Paul Goodman and Isodore From, among others, in their circle. The book Gestalt Therapy, or commonly called the "Gestalt Bible", by Perls, Hefferline and Goodman is their brain child and forms the foundation of Gestalt Therapy.

A basic premise of Gestalt therapy holds that all experience is phenomenologically based in the ongoing present. It examines how each individual perceives, interprets and makes meaning out of experiences.It is a dialogical therapy in which the client/therapist relationship is primary. Therapist/client examine how the person self-regulates at  the contact boundary, how aware or unaware the client is of the what he does and how he does it. Gestalt therapy is descriptive, non-pejorative, empowering and aimed at the client becoming fully aware - sensorially available to experience, taking appropriate actions based on full awareness of a situation which includes sound decision-making processes and full awareness of and responsibility for potential consequences and feelings. The therapy is sometimes considered bridging the gap between phenomenology and behaviorism, for it is only behavior that can be observed which is subjectively experienced by the client and therapist.

In Gestalt therapy, behavior change occurs not when the therapist tells the patient what he should do or ought to do to feel better or become different, but by allowing the client to get in touch with what he really wants, who he really is not what he thinks he should be or do. Because of Gestalt therapy's phenomenological perspective and system's orientation, it is understood by the Gestalt therapist that regardless of the troubles an individual might present, all behavior is meaningful and has purpose. Both therapist and client can work toward raising awareness by examining the "what" and the "how" of the behavior in the safety of the therapeutic setting. When the therapist removes himself as the change agent, the client has a unique organismic opportunity to reevaluate and redirect his life into a more desirable direction as well as accept his inherent strengths and limitations.

For in-depth reading on the topic, please consult with Erving and Miriam Polster's book Gestalt Therapy Reconsidered and Gary Yontef's writings in Awareness, Dialogue and Process.

Since its early beginnings fifty years ago, Gestalt therapy has constantly evolved honoring contributions and theoretical advances in cognitive, behavior and learning theories, affect, shame and relational theories, child development findings and brain research. Their individual findings consistently validate,support and enhance the philosophical and scientific foundations of Gestalt therapy. It has truly become a therapy that could be practiced effectively by most mental health practitioners of most orientations.