CREATIVE RESPONDING

I feel the striking of a chord now that Mozart has been brought into this discussion re response rates and creativity (no pun intended). For example I am particularly interested to demonstrate the importance of utilising the wider field of our being in working with people in therapy, and to encourage Gestalt therapy trainees to notice the shift from trying to be overly in control of the therapy situation to being present and responding from the moment in the field...much the same as a skier or musician or actor would.

Now as the Polsters note, this does not mean giving primacy to the spontaneous whims of the therapist, as "spontaneity is no guarantee of excellence". I define authenticity as RESPONSIBLE SPONTANEITY ... the notion that who we are is not only defined within our experience of "self-as-separate" but also from our experience as "self-in-the-field". This field theoretical definition of self thus leads to a definition of authentic self that identifies not only with our own spontaneous emerging figures but also with the effect these responses have on the wider field. To again quote the Polsters ...

"Free expression attains its fullest meaning primarily within the behavior which accepts responsibility for what follows"

Polster, E. & Polster, M. "Gestalt Therapy Integrated". Brunner Mazel, New York, 1973. page 22

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