Gestalt Therapists in S4R
I am a clinical counsellor with over 30 years of experience. I was trained in clinical pastorate through the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa and gained experience in the fields of personal counselling, marriage counselling, sex therapy, family therapy, grief and loss therapy. My training and experience were established in a variety of settings. I was involved as a counsellor in the Military and Pastoral/Congregational settings, doing marriage and family system therapy. I am also well experienced in working with challenges relating to stress, anxiety, depression, anger, PTSD, self esteem and past abuse recovery.
I am a clinical counsellor with over 30 years of experience. I was trained in clinical pastorate through the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa and gained experience in the fields of personal counselling, marriage counselling, sex therapy, family therapy, grief and loss therapy. My training and experience were established in a variety of settings. I was involved as a counsellor in the Military and Pastoral/Congregational settings, doing marriage and family system therapy. I am also well experienced in working with challenges relating to stress, anxiety, depression, anger, PTSD, self esteem and past abuse recovery.
Life can be tough, we can feel overwhelmed, confused and hurt by the situations we face. Sometimes we need a place to regroup, a place to explore and someone to listen.
Life can be tough, we can feel overwhelmed, confused and hurt by the situations we face. Sometimes we need a place to regroup, a place to explore and someone to listen.
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Gestalt Counsellors
What is gestalt therapy?
Gestalt therapy is based on the idea that to address unresolved negative feelings, emotions must be not only discussed but also actively expressed in the present moment. The term is from a German word meaning “whole,” and gestalt therapists believe that people should be considered whole entities made up of mind, body, and emotions. Gestalt sessions are rooted in the notion that a client’s total self must be discovered, explored, and confronted, so that they can take greater responsibility for themselves and their behaviour, learn to satisfy their own needs while still respecting the needs of others, and reconnect with feelings they might otherwise deny.
How does gestalt therapy work?
Gestalt therapy sessions do not just involve talking with a therapist. Clients may take part in role-playing, re-enactment, or artistic exercises like drawing and painting, with the goal of becoming more aware of negative thought patterns that limit happiness. One common gestalt exercise is “the empty chair,” in which a client sits across from an empty chair representing a partner, relative, boss, or a part of themselves—and, with the therapist’s encouragement, improvises a dialog with it. The intention is to bring the emotions raised by past conflicts into the present and work through them in the moment.
How long does gestalt therapy last?
As with most forms of talk therapy, there is no set duration or end point for gestalt therapy; people who believe that they are making progress typically continue until they feel they’ve addressed the issues that had been holding them back. New patients should understand that it may take some time to become comfortable with gestalt exercises but once they do, they should expect sessions to extend for a number of months, typically spanning at least 12 sessions.
Does gestalt therapy work?
Gestalt therapy has generally been found to be as effective as other forms of talk therapy in helping people living with anxiety, depression, phobias, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders, as well as helping individuals reduce conflict in relationships. Gestalt techniques, on their own or in combination with other therapies, can also be effective in managing physical ailments including ulcerative colitis, migraines, and back spasms. It should be noted that some people may have trouble adapting to gestalt therapy’s lack of formal structure or to a therapist’s close observations of their body language and emotions; others may struggle to commit to techniques that feel unnatural, like the empty chair exercise.