Theories - Chapter 6

Front 1

The term mental metabolism refers to:

Back 1

The process of taking in and mentally digesting ideas.

Front 2

The purpose of “feeling the actual” is to help clients:

Back 2

Wake up to their here-and-now physical-sensory experience.

Front 3

Which of the following did not have a significant influence on Gestalt Therapy?

Back 3

Behavior Therapy

Front 4

List existential-humanistic psychology, Gestalt theory holds that individuals have a(n) _______________

Back 4

Self-actualizing

Front 5

Gestalt therapy is best described as:

Back 5

A therapy that integrates parts of psychoanalysis, existentialism, field theory, and anarchist rebellion.

Front 6

According to Gestalt theory, we cannot begin to self-regulate until we have:

Back 6

Self-awareness

Front 7

Gestalt is a German word that means:

Back 7

“The Unified whole or complete form”

Front 8

Gestalt theory is phenomenological. Therefore, Gestalt therapists encourage clients to:

Back 8

Report their direct experience and Be authentic in therapy.

Front 9

Field theory states that __________ and the _____________ are together within a field of constant interaction.

Back 9

Individuals; environment

Front 10

During counseling, Gestalt therapists are primarily concerned with:

Back 10

What is happening in the here-and-now moment in the room.

Front 11

During guided meditation, participants are often asked to shift their awareness from their breath to surrounding sounds, and even to specific points in the body. Gestalt theory would likely consider this to be an example of:

Back 11

The figure-formation process

Front 12

Which of the following would best characterize the relationship between a Gestalt therapist and client?

Back 12

Therapist seek to connect deeply and collaborate with clients through a warm, authentic, and compassionate relationship.

Front 13

In therapy, the figure-formation perceptual process works to:

Back 13

Shift perception in order to illuminate issues that were previously in the background of awareness.

Front 14

Deviating from psychoanalysis, Perls believed the only way to access the past was to focus on:

Back 14

The present, or “the now”

Front 15

Borrowing an idea from Freud, Perls said those individuals who were afraid of taking responsibility for their life and living in the moment were suffering from:

Back 15

Stage fright

Front 16

Gestalt theory focuses on __________________ over _________________

Back 16

Process; content

Front 17

Out on a first date, you notice the other person seems to avoid any discussion of himself or herself, and every inquiry into his or her personal life is met with a joke or a deprecating remark. This person might be resisting contact by employing which boundary disturbance?

Back 17

Deflection

Front 18

What are some of the reasons why Gestalt therapists are reluctant to use formal assessment or diagnosis:

Back 18

Gestalt theory focuses more on the growth of the individual rather than on specific psychopathology. Gestalt therapy encourages self-assessment through the development of self-awareness & self-regulation.

Front 19

Which three types of clients does Beutler (2009) identify as poor candidates for Gestalt therapy?

Back 19

Clients with depression w o are sensitive to feedback, clients with depression who tend to externalize, clients who condition deteriorates with expressive-experiential treatment.

Front 20

As much as possible, Gestalt therapists try to refrain from using:

Back 20

Interpretations

Front 21

Gestalt theory states that client resistance is revealed:

Back 21

Physically

Front 22

Without ____________, Gestalt techniques should not be employed in therapy.

Back 22

An established and authentic I and Thou relationship between client and therapist; AND, a thorough and accurate informed consent.

Front 23

In order to help clients get in touch with every part of their personality, Gestalt therapists sometimes ask clients to behave in ways that seem antithetical to their normal behavior. This technique is called:

Back 23

The reversal technique

Front 24

A key component of Gestalt dream work involves:

Back 24

The dreamer retelling the dream in the present tense, the dreamer acting out the dream, and the dream using the pronoun “I” to identify with each object in the dream.

Front 25

In regards to empirically supported science, Fritz Perls was known for:

Back 25

Generally disregarding the practice importance of evidence-based scientific approaches.

Front 26

Discuss what Perls means by the statement: “Lose your mind and come to your senses.”

Back 26

Captures the physical and experiential nature of Gestalt therapy. Goal is self-awareness.

Front 27

What does the term character armor describe?

Back 27

Muscular resistance through which clients defended their libido.

Front 28

Give a few examples that illustrate how Fritz and Laura Perls used the term mental metabolism.

Back 28

When people eat, they bite off what they can chew. When they are exposed to ideas, they take in what they can and mentally chew it to digest the ideas.

Front 29

What was the unfortunate effect of Fritz Perls and his use of live group demonstrations as the primary means of teaching about Gestalt therapy?

Back 29

Perls’ “arouses” was a perception of Gestalt therapy as, ironically, significantly less than the sum of its parts. Became known as a therapy of techniques, quick cures, or even gimmicks.

Front 30

List five primary factors that contributed to the development of Gestalt therapy.

Back 30

Psychoanalysis, developmental psych, Gestalt psychology, field theory, existential philosophy, WWII/fascism/and anarchist rebellion, Reich’s focus on body awareness, experiential learning during workshops/demos.

Front 31

What are the five steps of self-regulation?

Back 31

An initial state of equilibrium; disruption of equilibrium through emergence of a need, sensation, or desire from the background; development of awareness o the need, sensation, or desire; taking actions or making contacts to deal with dis-equilibrium; return to equilibrium

Front 32

What does the idea that Gestalt therapists consider repression to be a muscular phenomenon come from and what are its implications for therapy?

Back 32

Comes from Reich’s influence on Perls. Views mind-body as an inseparable whole, physical-mental-emotional theory. Therapists actively comment on clients physical positions, postures, gestures and so on as these moto movements represent emotional and cognitive events.

Front 33

What is the overarching (or foundational) concept related to field theory?

Back 33

Individuals and t he environment are together within a constant interaction, holistic concept.

Front 34

Provide an example of figure formation process that might occur during a therapy session?

Back 34

Shift of cognitive or perceptual focus – in therapy turn up background notice by shifting focus/awareness so you can evaluate whether whatever is bubbling in the background might be meaningful or useful.

Front 35

What nine words does Yontef (2010) use to describe Gestalt therapy?

Back 35

I and thou; here and now; what and how

Front 36

Discuss the difference between “here and now” and “there and then.”

Back 36

Here-and-now = all there is that’s worth of focus VS. There-and-then = more dead, less alive. There and then is the opposite of here and now operation of there and then is to distance ourselves from ourselves. Can tell stories about an experience rather than accessing experiences directly.

Front 37

How is the concept of “stage fright” related to Freudian theory and how does the Gestalt therapist deal with it?

Back 37

Stage fright is the fear of taking responsibility for oneself in the now, “thinking is trial work” (Freudian) thinking about ourselves and the future is simply a rehearsal for the main event of living. Instead of thinking we need to actually step on stage.

Front 38

What do Gestalt therapists avoid using “why” questions?

Back 38

Because it is viewed as promoting intellectualization. Instead use “What” “What would your feet tell you right now if they could speak?” “How” “How would you describe the sound of your voice as you say that?”

Front 39

How is resistance to contact related to psychopathology?

Back 39

Because learning is a big product of contact, repeatedly interrupting or resisting contact constitutes pathology. Introjection, projection, retroflection, reflection, confluence. (definitions pg 201)

Front 40

How might a person who is exhibiting confluence act during a counseling session?

Back 40

Excessively over-accommodating behavior because they desperately want to be liked and approved by others. Feeling of not knowing where client ends and counselors begins.

Front 41

How might a person who is exhibiting deflection act during a counseling session?

Back 41

Involves distraction designed to diffuse/reduce contact. Can include: avoiding psychical contact, using excessive humor, talking about others instead of self. Perls referred to it as “Aboutism”

Front 42

What were Polster’s three specific therapeutic devices within the Gestalt approach?

Back 42

Encounter, Awareness, Experiment

Front 43

What are two factors that Gestalt therapists should employ to reduce the potential for negative client outcomes or client risk?

Back 43

Emphasizing collaboration and clinical training guidelines related to goodness of fit.

Front 44

What client characteristics are associated with negative Gestalt treatment outcomes?

Back 44

Clients with depressive symptoms who are also highly reactive or sensitive to feedback. Clients with depressive symptoms who also have tendencies to externalize their problems (blame others, environment). Clients who exhibit observable deterioration when engaging in an expressive-experimental, emotionally activating treatment.

Front 45

What is the position regarding interpretation advocated by Gestalt therapy and therapists?

Back 45

Avoid using interpretations-can leave clients feeling disempowered and pushed around by an expert therapist.

Front 46

What are some common examples of language and voice use that can be used to enhance client awareness?

Back 46

Moving clients from using “it” or “you” to “I”, moving clients from taking in the past tent to the present tense. Having clients transition their questions into statements. Noticing when clients use passive language, notice client voice tone and quality.

Front 47

What is the purpose of Gestalt therapy experiments?

Back 47

Creates new opportunities for acting in a safely structured situation. Included are suggestions for trying one’s self out in a manner not readily feasible in everyday life.

Front 48

What are some strategies or techniques therapists can employ to help clients “stay with the feeling?”

Back 48

Persistently and repeatedly ask questions like “What are you aware of now?” Clients are instructed to give “voice” to their feelings/sensations. Clients are encouraged to act on or act out their feelings in the where and now. Sometimes therapists say “stay with that”.

Front 49

In what type of situation is the “I take responsibility for” technique useful?

Back 49

Especially useful when clients are externalizing symptoms. Use it as a prefix to what they are saying in therapy.

Front 50

What counseling situations might call for the use of “playing the projection” or “the reversal technique?”

Back 50

Playing Projection: especially useful in group therapy. When a group member makes a statement about another member that seems to have more more to do with him/herself – have them they “try that on”. Reversal: designed to get clients in touch with parts of themselves they ordinarily minimize, deny, or ignore.

Front 51

What are the two different versions of the empty chair dialogue?

Back 51

Working out internal conflict and working out interpersonal conflict.

Front 52

How do Gestalt therapists work with client dreams and what is the therapist’s role in the dream work process?

Back 52

The therapist facilitates, but does not interpret. (pg 212)

Front 53

How might clients from collectivist cultures respond to emotionally expressive therapy techniques like the empty chair?

Back 53

The emotional focus can be inconsistent with collectivist cultural values and with cultural rules about emotional expression.

Front 54

How has the allegiance effect influenced Gestalt therapy treatment outcomes?

Back 54

It has shown them to be slightly less effective than they may actually be (allegiance of researchers to CBT)

Front 55

Write two statements: one that supports the empirical efficacy or effectiveness of Gestalt therapy and one that does not support Gestalt therapy efficacy or effectiveness.

Back 55

Although there is some evidence that Gestalt therapy is effective, the research is minimal. Emotion-focused therapy, an approach that integrates person-centered therapy with empty chair dialogues, has shown empirical promise.