Psychoanalysis, similarities and differences to Gestalt

Dorothy - If you have time, you could do no better than to get a copy of the book: Gestalt Therapy, Excitment and Growth in the Human Personality by Frederick Perls, et al, and read, particularly, the Chapter entitled, "Differences in General Outlook, and Differences in Therapy."

My own perception when comparing the psychoanalitic approaches with Gestalt Therapy is that in Psychoanalysis the focus is on reconstructing past experiences; experiences which linger and hide in the "unconscious" symbolism of surealistic dreams, and find disguised expression in neurotic symptoms which cripple us as we face the "real world." Uncovering the meanings of our "unconscious" symbols is one of the primary goals of Psychoanalysis.

The Gestalt approach wants to focus our attention not on recovering the hidden and the "unconscious," but rather on more fully experiencing the actual conscious and felt situations as they unfold before us in daily life - in and out of the therapist's office. In GT we discover how we can be in touch with the totality of all of our lives as we live them - in knowing and feeling our existence - our sadness, lack and regret if it comes to that; our joy and fulness if that.

When we do that our creative skills can be enlivened and actualized, and we can leave our past traumas and unassimilated garbage behind. We can then be free to face the future - but here and now - with great excitement and with beautiful growth.

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