Gestalt Therapy: Excitement and Growth in the Human Personality
Also known as PHG, Gestalt Therapy (book), Gestalt Therapy: Excitement and Growth
The 1951 book by Perls, Hefferline and Goodman that founded gestalt therapy
At a glance
What it argues
Awareness first, Theory came second by accident
See all 2Key ideas
Process over content, Unfinished business, Experiments, not interpretation
See all 3Criticism and limits
Two gestalt therapies
Read next
Ego, Hunger and Aggression, Gestalt Therapy Verbatim, Empty chair technique
See all 3Connections
Fritz Perls, Ralph Hefferline and 3 others
See all 5
Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- The founding text of gestalt therapy, written by Fritz Perls, Ralph Hefferline and Paul Goodman.
- Part I is a set of self-help awareness exercises; Part II is a theory of personality and growth.
- The therapy it launched focuses on what is happening now rather than on the story being told.
- The aim is to make a person more fully alive and free of blocks and unfinished business.
Why it matters
- For anyone studying gestalt therapy or the experiential therapies that grew next to it.
- Part II holds the theory and is dense; Part I's exercises are the easier way in.
Key facts
- Authors
- Frederick S. Perls, Ralph F. Hefferline and Paul Goodman1
- Published
- 19511
- Publisher
- Julian Press, New York (1951); later Dell, Souvenir Press, Penguin, Bantam and Gestalt Journal Press (1994)2
- Pages
- 470 (Julian Press and Dell editions)2
- Structure
- Part I: experiential self-help exercises, written with Hefferline. Part II: theory, mostly drafted by Goodman from Perls' notes3
- Known as
- "PHG" in the gestalt community1
- Influence
- Isadore From taught Part II for an entire year, phrase by phrase3
- Reception
- Literature professor George Levine called it the only emotionally engaging textbook he knew1
What it argues
Key ideas
-
Process over content3
Attention goes to what is being done, thought and felt now, rather than what was or should have been.
-
Unfinished business3
Therapy helps close unfinished gestalts, such as feelings never expressed toward someone.
-
Experiments, not interpretation3
The therapist sets up experiments that lead the client to fuller awareness, instead of interpreting for them.
Criticism and limits
-
Two gestalt therapies3
After Perls moved to California a split opened between a theory-focused East Coast gestalt and a West Coast "way of life" version.
Read next
-
Perls' first book, where the ideas started.
-
Perls' later talks and session transcripts: the method in action.
-
The best-known gestalt method, later taken up by emotion-focused therapy.
Connections
Written by
- Fritz PerlsPerson
- Ralph Hefferline
- Paul Goodman
Links
Sources
Last checked against its sources today
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