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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by profiles on March 9, 2004, at 1:58:22
What is Gestalt Therapy? Is it commonly used to treat anxiety/panic disorders? Does it have a lower or higher rate of success than cognitive therapy?
Posted by Apperceptor on March 9, 2004, at 10:29:27
In reply to Gestalt Therapy?, posted by profiles on March 9, 2004, at 1:58:22
According to the research, much lower. I don't know that it's used very often for anxiety and panic...seems more geared toward depression.
That said, some people absolutely love it...and the research is certainly not the be all/end all in my opinion. If you've the time and resources, it may be worth a try.
Posted by shortelise on March 9, 2004, at 12:30:14
In reply to Re: Gestalt Therapy?, posted by Apperceptor on March 9, 2004, at 10:29:27
I use gestalt dream analysis and love it.
ShortE
Posted by Poet on March 9, 2004, at 19:44:22
In reply to Gestalt Therapy?, posted by profiles on March 9, 2004, at 1:58:22
Hi Profile,
My therapist does a combination of a bunch of therapies, the only Gestalt therapy I know we did was "the empty chair."
What she told me to do is imagine that my inner child was sitting in the office in an empty chair. I should talk to her, make her feel safe. I have anxiety over my childhood issues, and as silly as it seemed, talking to little me and making her feel safe, helped grown me feel safer. I haven't talked to that empty chair in awhile, but I've avoided my childhood for months and last week agreed to talk about it again this week. Hope the chair is comfortable.
Poet
Posted by gardenergirl on March 9, 2004, at 23:53:14
In reply to Re: Gestalt Therapy?, posted by Poet on March 9, 2004, at 19:44:22
Gestalt therapy is a more experiential and humanistic approach. It uses a lot of techniques, such as dream work and empty chair mentioned by others, to help a person become more "whole" by integrating unconscious aspects of themselves into the conscious self. It usually involves dialoguing with that part, either in the form of an inner voice (such as that critical voice we all seem to have in some way) or the inner hurt we try not to acknowlege. It takes all these parts, both positive and negative and melds them together into the whole self. Sometimes it has "objects" from a person's dream or environment be a part of the dialog as they are thought to also represent a part of the person.
The approach came out of the 60's and/or 70's I think, when encounter groups were big. When used purely, it does still have that flavor about it.
Hope this helps,
gg
Posted by ryan312 on March 10, 2004, at 0:43:51
In reply to Re: Gestalt Therapy?, posted by Poet on March 9, 2004, at 19:44:22
I love Gestalt. However, I did it at a time in my life when I wasn't truly suffering to a great extent and didn't have urgent needs.
For a person who has really serious immediate concerns I would suggest another modality or a therapist skilled enough to utilize several techniques. I love therapy..
Posted by profiles on March 13, 2004, at 0:13:38
In reply to Re: Gestalt Therapy?, posted by ryan312 on March 10, 2004, at 0:43:51
This is the end of the thread.
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