Module: The Fundamentals of Gestalt Therapy part 2
2 - 6 January 2002 Jane Jameson-Milner
Day Eight 2 January 2002
We considered what the basics of gestalt therapy were. Working in pairs then brainstorming as a group to list all aspects of the theory we had dealt with and touched on to date. Those then highlighted (green) will be considered in more depth over the coming days.
As a group we considered what is we do as therapists ...
Day Nine 3 January 2002
We considered a number of aspects of effective therapy
Ways of being an effective therapist
Interventions
Awareness Experiments
Day Ten 4 January 2002
The theory continued from yesterday and dealt with attention to body language, shift of body, movement of hands, nuances of expression, gestures, breathing rhythms and their alterations.
Changes will suggest the polarities in the figural.
Raising awareness remains the fundamental requirement. This awareness deals with both what the client 'wants to do' and 'not want to do'. Each represents a polarity, each is valid. Acceptance and attention to each will lead towards integrating the polarities to allow the whole self to decide 'to do' or 'not to do'. Thus each part is respected and a choice made with awareness.
Day Eleven 5 January 2002
Contact and confluence
Confluence is part of the contact process.
Contact, contacting, over a period of time is a constant flow of contact and withdrawal.
Getting stuck at the withdrawal polarity is isolation; getting stuck at the contact polarity is confluence
Confluence:
Whatever you want to do will make me happy . . . we'll do what you want . . .
When two people share it is easy for the intimacy of sharing to slide into confluence. By enjoying the sharing the Self becomes blurred and becomes We. The Self can be so easily lost.
Healthy Confluence: working together with an agreed goal. Within a team healthy confluence allows each member to bring qualities to the team. Whilst the team is working to a common goal, each member takes their own journey to this goal.
Mother and child allows for healthy confluence. The mother is confluent in anticipating hte baby's needs.
Confluence is healthy when you are able to step out of, withdraw.
Within full contact there is confluence. The full contact may be confluent, or maybe an 'I-Thou' moment
Day Twelve 6 January 2002
Today I felt that I was finally present which heightened my anxieties on the issue of the last day and the need to close, say goodbye, at the end of the day.
The group process was so much more intense and real for me, this meaning also that I hurt with the accounts being put forward.
The day also produced other difficulties for me which, on balance, I believe I dealt with more than fairly for my part.
I closed the day with considerable anxiety for my self, my place and my acceptance in the group. This was a good ending for me with so much support forthcoming. Within myself I both felt and saw a core of bright solidity and this maintains me.
The theory session today revolved around observations that might indicate the interruptions to contact.
AND I am conscious of the danger of reading this prescriptively, so DON'T
Confluence:
mannerism exhibited - eyes attentive - wide eyed. Person is receptive, quietly spoken (so as not to become centre stage). Will use 'we' in place of 'I'. Prone to indecision, 'what should I do?' 'Which do you think is right for me?'
Retroflection:
body stiff, tense. Facial expression is tense, or pained looking. Body posture of turning away; eyes are not expressive. Breathing tends not to be relaxed, or rhythmic, perhaps shallow, sighing.
Desensitisation:
operates on auto-pilot, generally calm looking. Lacking emotion, or the display of emotion.
This interrupt will often be associated with deflection
Deflection:
little eye contact, eye movement, generally scattered.