Gestalt Therapy and Gestalt Theory

I found this forum through the GTA web site. While there I was reading a number of rather critical articles written by Gestalt psychologists, some of whom don't seem to have gotten over a sense of hostility that Fritz and Laura Perls (initially) appropriated some of Gestalt psycholgy's ideas and adapted them to psychotherapy. In the process, the opinion of some of the writers seems to be that Perls "distorted" the meaning of those concepts and that, fundamentally, Gestalt therapy as formulated by Fritz Perls- and specifically Fritz- has "nothing substantive" to do with Gestalt theory. The article I found was by Henle ( http://rdz.stjohns.edu/~gerhard/gta/henle.html). My impression was that Henle- and some of the other authors both in the fields of Gestalt therapy and Gestalt psychology- have committed the logical error of confusing the messenger with the message, i.e., that Gestalt therapy and Fritz Perls are identical. The discussion I am hoping to generate is ways in which Gestalt psychology continues to inform Gestalt therapy. How do advancements in the Gestalt psychology research of the past 40 years affect the theory and application of Gestalt theory? Or do they? Does Gestalt therapy pay any attention to Gestalt psychology?

• Article on Gestalt Therapy & Gestalt Psychology by Joe Wysong - Editor, The Gestalt Journal, 2/11/97
  • Further comments and thoughts by Timothy C. McNamara, 2/11/97
    • On Henle & Introjection by Joe Wysong - Editor, The Gestalt Journal, 2/12/97
      • A clearing image! by Timothy C. McNamara, 2/12/97
• Relationship Indeed! by Philip Brownell, 2/12/97
• Gestalt theory has to offer more than criticism by Gerhard Stemberger, Society for Gestalt Theory and its Applications (GTA), 2/17/97
  • Following the thread to Gestalt psychology by Timothy C. McNamara, 2/18/97
    • Gestalt Psychology Sources and Barlow Article by Joe Wysong, Editor, The Gestalt Journal, 2/19/97
      • Gestalt psychology sources, some suggestions by Gerhard Stemberger, Society for Gestalt Theory and its Applications (GTA), 2/20/97
        • Another article on Gestalt therapy/Gestalt Psychology by Joe Wysong, Editor, The Gestalt Journal, 3/2/97
  • Not two parts, but a new whole by Philip Brownell, 3/2/97
    • Emergent Reality by Ed Riemann, 3/2/97
  • Gestalt Psychology is not the Only Root of Gestaltherapy by Afonso H Lisboa da Fonseca, 3/6/97