Suppressive Gestalt Techniques

Elimination of the "we" (Oversimplifications) and assumption of the "I".

In gestalt therapeutic work, language is a direct indicator of the degree of responsibility that the patient assumes over his own existence.

One of the first barriers to break down are the "overisms", which consist of speaking in the plural ("we") to refer to personal experiences.

When a partner says: "We feel frustrated with this situation", he is diluting his own emotion into a collective entity, avoiding taking charge of his individual feelings.

The suppressive intervention consists of stopping the speech and asking the client to rephrase the sentence in the first person. The therapist might say, "Please repeat that using the word 'I'."

By changing "we think" to "I think," the individual separates from the symbiosis with the partner and appropriates his or her truth.

This is crucial in joint therapy to avoid one speaking for the other, fostering the differentiation necessary for real and honest contact between two autonomous adults.

Changing "I must" to "I want to" (Debeisms)

Another linguistic structure to be suppressed is "debeísmo". The frequent use of words such as "I must", "I have to" or "I need to" signals an alienation from one's own desires, suggesting that the person acts under the coercion of external rules or introjected mandates, rather than by choice.

This generates victimization and resentment, as the person feels that life is an imposed burden.

The therapist invites the client to substitute "I have to" with "I want to" or "I choose to". For example, if a client says "I have to visit my in-laws on Sunday," the client is asked to say "I choose to visit my in-laws."

If the client feels that this is not true ("I don't want to go"), the technique reveals the internal conflict and allows renegotiating the action from responsibility: "I choose to go because I value peace with my partner, even if I don't enjoy it".

This semantic shift transforms the obligation into a conscious decision, returning personal power to the individual.

Confronting Manipulation and Avoidance

Manipulation in session manifests itself through behaviors designed to avoid deep contact or divert attention from painful issues.

It may present as over-intellectualization, constant questioning of the therapist ("what would you do?"), or minor disruptive behaviors (looking at the clock, asking to go to the bathroom at a critical time).

These maneuvers are attempts by the ego to stay in the comfort zone and not face the distress of growth. The gestalt approach requires confronting these behaviors in the "here and now."

If a patient begins to excessively praise the therapist just when a sensitive topic is touched upon, the therapist should point out, "Do you realize that you are shifting the focus to me just now? What are you trying to avoid?"

By suppressing the manipulative escape route, the patient is forced to sustain the emotional tension necessary for the real figure of conflict to emerge and insight to occur.

Summary

Gestalt seeks to make the patient take responsibility for his or her existence through language. Overisms" are eliminated, forcing to change the "we" for the "I" in order to promote differentiation.

Must-isms" alienate one's desires by suggesting that the person acts under coercion of external rules. Changing "I must" to "I choose" transforms obligation into conscious decision, restoring personal power.

Manipulation designed to avoid deep contact or deflect painful issues is confronted. By suppressing escape routes, the emotional tension necessary for insight to emerge is sustained.