TITLE:
Gestalt Couples Therapy in the Field of Trauma
AUTHORS:
Paul Jenkins
KEYWORDS:
Gestalt, Couples Therapy, Trauma
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.7 No.5,
May
19,
2016
ABSTRACT: The field of Gestalt therapy has long had a troubled relationship with
mainstream psychotherapy. The decades long assent of cognitive-behavioral and
other, more objectively oriented therapies moved Gestalt even further from
common acceptance as a valid alternative for treatment. Couple’s therapy, in
particular, has not commonly been seen as a natural “fit” for Gestalt practice.
The author’s view is that the recent rise of integrated therapy and the need
for Evidence-Based Treatment separate from issues of allegiance to a particular
school of therapy has created a new opportunity to reconsider Gestalt therapy
theory and practice in couple’s work. It is particularly relevant for work with
couples in which one or both have been traumatized. Recent developments in
Gestalt practice offers a fresh approach for such work, especially in regard to
its focus on resolving underlying shame and the need for the couple to develop
mutual acceptance at a deep level. Both these therapeutic tasks are vital in
work with traumatized clients. These Gestalt tasks can easily be integrated
with other, more mainstream models of working with trauma and working couples.
An example of this integrated approach is offered to explore the ramifications
of the theoretical assertion.