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Counselling, Psychotherapy and Community Voice |
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Illawarra Gestalt Centre |
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PHILOSOPHY - Phenomenology
Phenomenology: Process and Method Ÿ Phenomenology is the focus on the immediate "here and now" experience as a way to understand ourselves- the actual tangible experience of everyday phenomena Ÿ Explanations and interpretations are considered less reliable than what is directly perceived and felt. The goal for clients is to become aware of what they are doing, how they are doing it and how they can change themselves, and at the same time, learn to accept and value themselves Ÿ Each perspective is unique to that individual and is affected by the ground from which their phenomenological figures arise.. a KLu Klu Klansman and an afro - American both view the same burning cross but with very different meaning and feelings. Ÿ Phenomenological method is a way of learning how to listen afresh by bracketing off as much as possible, our beliefs, values theories, interpretations, “knowledge”so as to be able to describe rather than explain, thereby starting with equal value to all observations Ÿ Being able to see something fresh and new not seeing a fixed gestalt Phenomenological method Ÿ 1. To be aware of and put aside our usual way of perceiving .. what Bob resnick describes as the different prisms through which we view the world. Ÿ 2. Distinguish between what is actually being perceived and felt and what is residue from the past. Ÿ 3. To respectfully explore, use and clarify immediate perceptions.4. to see the world in a" naive" or clear way.. to re-discover novelty in each situation or experience Ÿ The phenomenologist studies not only personal awareness but also the awareness process itself. The client learns to become aware of awareness Wilson Van Dusen's (1965) description of the phenomenological process.. "the actual, existential or real can be invoked so that it stands forth in its own apparentness... By the actual in psychotherapy I mean something with its own obvious nature so that when you run into it you know you have hit something solid, living, critical. "
PRINCIPLE - Awareness Ÿ The central concept of GT is that awareness initiates therapeutic change. Out of awareness change occurs spontaneously Ÿ Most of us , at some point in our lives, have learned to avoid awareness of certain parts of ourselves and of our experience , often in an effort to avoid frightening or unpleasant feelings Ÿ Gestalt Therapy involves expanding your awareness so that you know more about yourself Ÿ It is often convenient to distinguish different areas of awareness and Awareness without systematic exploration is not ordinarily sufficient to develop insight, therefore, GT uses focused awareness and experimentation to achieve insight. Considers inner, middle and outer zones of awareness. “Reality is nothing but the sum of all awareness as you experience here and now” Ÿ Yontef& Simkin (1989) "being in touch with one's own existence, with what is." and many authors in gestalt use the word in close proximity if not almost interchangeably with the term contact "Full awareness is the process of being in vigilant contact.."(Y&S) Ÿ How one becomes aware is crucial to any phenomenological investigation. Ÿ Awareness is presence, presence is an aspect of life. another aspect is reality, awareness of contact with the other, awareness of relationship Ÿ PRACTICE - Here and Now Ÿ In order to enter the world of the client the therapist must be fully present Ÿ It is being fully available to the other person as much as possible without considerations and reservations. It requires the therapist to attend to the clients experience as well as attend to their own experiences Ÿ Our cognitive training often takes us out of present -centredness Ÿ Reflection can too easily remove us from the present moment and thrust us into the past /future, occupied more by fantasy Ÿ Present centreness is what keeps the process of therapy alive Ÿ The Therapist encourages the client to be even more present and supportive of awareness with the use of five questions - variations of “what you are aware of….” What do you want? What are you doing? What are you avoiding? What are you imagining/expect/ tell yourself What are you feeling? |