Psychotherapy

“Psychotherapy” is the treatment of the emotional, physical, and relational aspects (i.e. the bio-psycho-social parts) of an individual through the treatment of the psyche. The word therapy is from the Latin word therapīa, from Ancient Greek θεραπεία (therapeía, “service, medical treatment”), from θεραπεύω (therapeúō, “I serve, treat medically”).  It is the attempted remediation of a health problem following a diagnosis, usually synonymous with treatment.

In therapy, also known as “people-making”, according to Virginia Satir, the therapist views their client as a work of art. Just as a musician or painter uses their medium to create something beautiful, the therapist uses their client’s unique characteristics – both positive and negative – to help them grow and develop.

Gestalt therapy, in particular, encourages creativity in the therapeutic process. The therapist uses experimentation to explore new ways of thinking and behaving, even if it seems unconventional. This approach allows clients to break through resistance and transform their rigidity into a more flexible mindset.

The therapist takes on various roles during the therapeutic process, from historian to phenomenologist, choreographer to the theologian. They guide their client through this creative journey, exploring the different parts of themselves that may have been hidden or repressed. The experiments used in therapy don’t have to be severe or precise; they can be lighthearted and playful or transcendent and profound.

In conclusion, therapy is a form of creative expression that allows the therapist and client to explore and discover new parts of themselves. Gestalt therapy, in particular, encourages experimentation and playfulness in the process, permitting clients to be whoever they want to be.