COUC 505 Notes (week 6)
Week 6
Gestalt Therapy Skills
Immediacy:
oIn the moment/right now.
o“Tell me what is happening for you right now”
o“I notice you are”
oI noticed that your voice went higher…
oIt seems like you are holding back in that…
oWhat do you see your client doing, what is your client saying, what are the themes
oBody and emotional awareness
“I” statements
oAbout ownership of the situation, “I feel…”, identify what you can control; changing
perspective
Challenging/confrontation
oImmediately point out discrepancies and incongruencies
oBring attention to contradictions in thoughts and actions
oAddress lack of progress
When confronting:
oClarify the impact of culture.
oWatch tone of voice
oBe inquisitive not accusing
oUse humor
oChallenging is a logical step in listening
oAttending>listening>understanding> empathy>probing>challenging
oGood way to handle discrepancies (“on the one hand____ on the other hand, ____,
how does that fit together.”)
oFollow up denial and partial acceptance with invitational and reflecting skills to help
resolve the dilemma.
Incongruency (laughing as they tell a sad story) “I’m noticing that you’re telling a sad story, but
your laughing, tell me what is going through your mind right now
Clients can be challenged to identify:
oProblems they are avoiding
oIgnored opportunities
oThings they are overlooking
oThings they’re overlooking
oThings they’re refusing to see
oThings they don’t want to do
oAssumptions they are making
oDishonesty
When thinking is distorted, irrational, or illogical
oExploring underlying beliefs leading to self-defeating patterns
oListen for exaggerated language: “never”, “always”
oListen for absolutes
oListen for a sense of entitlement
oListen for overgeneralizations
What is relevant is only their emotions and their emotional process, so you can
bring it back.
Cut off & Re-direct
oCut off:
oTiming is everything
oCutting off vs interrupting
oPay attention to your voice
oExplain it
oCan include non-verbal’s
oRedirect:
oWhat is the point?
oExamples of how to stay focused
oBe sure to validate client’s concerns
oMake a list of topics for future discussion
oQuick paraphrase to transition
oAvoid 90-degree turn
(use body language: in session use hands slowdown in person, below the waste in person and
virtual up higher)
Empty Chair Technique (talking to self)
oExplanation
oThe empty chair technique is a type of role-playing activity in which the
counselor asks the client to pretend that another person or some aspects of the
client’s self are sitting in the empty chair
oWhen and Why
oThe technique aims to help the client move away from talking about doing
something to experiencing it firsthand in the present
oWhen the counselor would use the technique
oTo help clients become aware the whole situation. To allow you to work through
interpersonal or internal conflict.
