In response

• Relation to the Larger Field by Philip Brownell, 6/24/98
  
  

Your probably quite right about Gestalt being attractive to developing therapists, but since there is still chaos in a general consensus of what Gestalt therapy is, (not to mention that it is still not taught as a degree course in any university in the whole world, that I know of any ways) I wonder how long before the world moves on and gestalt therapy gets watered down and emerges as less of a philosophy of free living in the here and now and ends up more as another science and numbers game even more devoid of that eternal spark of humanity known as "freewill choice and action" and which was the real reason that kick started the whole gestalt therapy thing in the first place. For me, heavy on the action.

In some circles I am appreciated as a gestalt therapist. In others I am simply seen as a good-hearted soul who has an undiscoverd-by-me-hole in his little bag of marbles, and have foolishly lost a few along the way. Most other therapists will only get into gestalt as a sideline to what they really do...that is, whatever degree they graduated with. That's okay, but gestalt therapy needs more than attracted and interested therapists who embrace/practice it as a sideline if it hopes to survive intact and healthy.

Then again, who's counting? Well, I am not. But the numbers guys are. I find it amazing that more people today say they understand Fritz and Gestalt Therapy now, then when Fritz was alive and he said they didn't. He is not here to say either way now. I never met the man. Bad luck for me. I would have liked him very much. He might have said to hell with me, for all I know. Even if so, I know what I like anyways.

I also feel that not so many people would be feeling so confident about what they "think and say" Gestalt Therapy is and where it is going if Fritz were alive and with us in the 1998 here and now; and he had a word or two to say back. And we all know he would say something, don't we?

Ah well. Life is a circle. Some people are on the inside and some are on the outside. Some people cross over and can't see the difference. Some people see the difference and never cross over. I kinda suspect I am the kind of human that will never cross over. If your on the other side, don't bother telling me what I am missing. I can only be thirsty and hungry for what really feeds me. Ya can't make a horse drink water. Ah, but now I wander. (Probably looking for you-know- what.... I really like the blue one's best)

In a nut shell I don't really think there is going to be much left of gestalt therapy in the next so many whatever years from now. Look how confused we are now about what gestalt is and is not. Yes, I know that great strides are being made even now to bring a consensus. But again, the consensus is being made by therapists who for the great majority of are using their orignal degree to put bread and butter on their table. Very few are using ONLY gestalt. Gestalt may one day come into its own, but it will be much different even then it is today, let alone in the good ole days.

My awareness tells me Fritz was gestalt first and last and always. Probably what made his presence felt so much. Not many like him left, if any. Anyways, what do I know? I am just a trained gestalt therapist (I like to think so anyways). I don't have any other degree. I am a sober and straight drug addict, and that means something to me and something to my fellow addicted clients. It does not mean much to the powers that be, or to the generally straight folk I meet. I am also a foster parent. You would be surprised how little our children's social workers care for the name and method of what my wife and I do with the kids, and yet how very thankful and surportive they are of the results.

Ah well. All in and all, Gestalt therapy can make a living. And a good one. Alright cash flow, I own my home, and my Aerostar still runs well. My family is happy and my wife still turns me on. My daughter is home schooled and is two grades advanced for her age. My addiction is deep in recovery and my soul is Christian through and through. My original dual-diagnoses is a thing of the past, and my post-polio syndrome is usually under control. My artificial leg needs to go into the shop for a major overhaul, but then it always does anyways. Not bad for just a guy who was "attracted" to gestalt therapy many years ago.

So ya Phil, damn right Gestalt therapy is attractive.

Have a nice day.

warmly, Dale.

• Some thoughts by Philip Brownell, 7/4/98