David Forrest
Gestaltuk
Article
Title
Summary Page
Gestalt Therapy and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Irony and the Challenge
Arie Cohen Ph.D.
Lead Author
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Short Description
The purpose of the present study is to review the theoretical, strategic, and tactical/technical contributions of Gestalt therapy to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and to examine its contributions to the professional literature.
Gestalt Therapy and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Irony and the Challenge
From a theoretical point of view, the conceptualization of PTSD as a special case of 'unfinished business' posits Gestalt therapy as a treatment of choice for this syndrome. From a strategic point of view Gestalt therapy offers phenomenology and I-Thou dialogue as effective therapeutic components. Finally, from a tactical point of view, Gestalt therapy offers unique mechanisms for surfacing trauma-related conflicts from the past and solving them in the present.