The ‘here and now’

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Gestalt emphasises the importance of the present moment. Difficult, foundational experiences may have occurred in the past, but what is important is how they are showing up and experienced here and now.  

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Embodiment and awareness

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Awareness of the breath and bodily sensations are key resources in therapy. Slowing down breathing is often supportive and can allow difficult feelings to come into view. Paying attention to what happens in the body whilst certain issues are being discussed can lead to surprising and helpful insights.

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What is unresolved?

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Are there ‘loose ends’, or unresolved issues that remain ‘in-play’ in your relationships, work-life, family dynamics or personal history? Exploring and helping to resolve ‘unfinished business’ is a key element of the Gestalt approach.

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Experiments

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Doing things differently can lead to change and novel insights. Since its inception in the early 1950’s Gestalt therapy has developed a range of 'experiments' that can be used to explore and unfold what is happening for the client. These can be simple ideas relating to language (‘Speaking from the I’), or discussions enacted spontaneously between opposing elements within the self (‘Two-chair work’).

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Patterns that no longer serve us

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Many difficulties that we encounter in the present relate to patterns that have been laid down in the past, often within the context of family or social life. They provided important protection for us at the time, but they may no longer be necessary. They were useful then, but they may be holding us back now. Becoming aware of previously 'out-of-awareness' behaviours and habits can lead to new possibilities, allowing us to exercise greater choice and freedom in our lives.