Final Exam Counseling Theories

Fritz Perls (1893 – 1970)
later Laura Perls (1905 – 1990).

This is one of the foundational principles of Gestalt therapy. These therapists are interested in the whole person, as in a client’s thoughts, feelings, behaviors, body, and dreams. The emphasis is placed on integrating these parts

The present is the most significant tense for Gestalt therapists. They ask many “what” and “how” questions, as opposed to “why” questions. Gestalt therapists believe that focusing on the past is a method of avoiding the present.

Gestalt therapists focus on bodily experience based on the belief that unexpressed feelings result in undesirable physical symptoms, even blockages, in the body. These past unexpressed feelings can usually complete themselves in terms of preoccupations, compulsive behavior, oppression, or other self-defeating behaviors.

Phony
Phobic
Impasse
Implosive
Explosive

A

A

A

A

A

Introjection
Projection
Retroflection
Deflection
Confluence

passively accepting others’ beliefs and/or standards without analyzing or restructuring them to make them our own.

Actually the reverse of introjection. One disowns the personal attributes that may be inconsistent with his/her self-image, and puts them onto other people, in order to avoid taking responsibility for his/her feelings.

Basically, the act of turning aggression inward. This could be wished aggression toward someone else, or what one wish someone might do to him/her.

People who use the deflection technique are experts at distraction. They may make an overuse of humor, make abstract generalizations, or ask many questions to avoid making a direct statement.