Therapy Toronto Psychotherapy Definitions

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Chris Rookwood (midtown Toronto)

Gestalt

An ever-evolving experiential psychodynamic therapy with eclectic roots founded by Fritz Perls, M.D., a refugee from the Holocaust and erstwhile psychoanalyst.

In its purest form, Gestalt therapy is concerned only with what is being manifested in the moment which will includes signs, perhaps subtle, of what is unfinished from the past. This focus on the present removes the client's dependence on their life story, explanations and intellectualizations that stand in the way of being fully alive in relation to others. In the supportive context of the relationship with the therapist, anxiety arising signifies the growing edge for change. In contrast to goal-focused therapies, Gestalt seeks to restore connection to the client's own resources for emotional regulation as a basis for great autonomy.

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