Gestalt Counselling in CM23

Photo of Alison Hedger, MBACP, Counsellor
Alison Hedger
Counsellor, MBACP
Verified Verified
If you are at a point in life where you feel stuck or at a point of crisis, and it's preventing your ability to enjoy things as you have normally, you may be needing some extra help to find a way forward. Or if one or more of your relationships with others is becoming difficult, and you don't know why, then this can indicate you are struggling. If your inner world is feeling desperate or muddled and too difficult to manage alone, then counselling can be a positive step in trying to change that. To sit and explore your story and feelings with someone can be powerful in unblocking difficult feelings and to understand what you need.
If you are at a point in life where you feel stuck or at a point of crisis, and it's preventing your ability to enjoy things as you have normally, you may be needing some extra help to find a way forward. Or if one or more of your relationships with others is becoming difficult, and you don't know why, then this can indicate you are struggling. If your inner world is feeling desperate or muddled and too difficult to manage alone, then counselling can be a positive step in trying to change that. To sit and explore your story and feelings with someone can be powerful in unblocking difficult feelings and to understand what you need.
01279 598445 View 01279 598445
Photo of Stephen Aravena, MBACP, Psychotherapist
Stephen Aravena
Psychotherapist, MBACP
Verified Verified
Given the uncertainty that surrounds us, sometimes we may feel like things are unravelling all around us and inside ourselves. It is important to remember that if you ever feel like it's all getting too much, you can get the right support to help you better understand your thoughts and feelings. I can help you to make sense of some of the difficulties you face now, as well as past life experiences. Along the way, you will get to know know yourself better and start to make changes that will help you to live a happier, more fulfilled life.
Given the uncertainty that surrounds us, sometimes we may feel like things are unravelling all around us and inside ourselves. It is important to remember that if you ever feel like it's all getting too much, you can get the right support to help you better understand your thoughts and feelings. I can help you to make sense of some of the difficulties you face now, as well as past life experiences. Along the way, you will get to know know yourself better and start to make changes that will help you to live a happier, more fulfilled life.
020 3974 1922 View 020 3974 1922
Photo of Jacinta Mannion, ACC Reg, Counsellor
Jacinta Mannion
Counsellor, ACC Reg
Verified Verified
Walking through the door for the first time and speaking to a complete stranger about things you may never have discussed with anybody can feel overwhelming. My aim is to create a warm atmosphere where you feel at ease and safe. The style of therapy I use will vary from person to person. I give my best to each and every client, walking together through the valleys and sometimes the mountaintops as you work through difficult issues.
Walking through the door for the first time and speaking to a complete stranger about things you may never have discussed with anybody can feel overwhelming. My aim is to create a warm atmosphere where you feel at ease and safe. The style of therapy I use will vary from person to person. I give my best to each and every client, walking together through the valleys and sometimes the mountaintops as you work through difficult issues.
01279 598426 View 01279 598426

See more therapy options for CM23

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.