Basic Principles

The "Here and Now" and the "Awareness".

Gestalt therapy, defined as the art of change through awareness, is based on immediate experience.

The Here and Now principle holds that the only tangible reality is the present moment; living anchored in the past or worrying about the future generates unnecessary anguish that turns us into "anxious automatons".

The central therapeutic objective is Awareness, a continuous process of awareness that is divided into three zones: awareness of oneself (inner world, sensations, emotions), of the world (the outside, the environment) and of fantasy (intermediate zone, thoughts, prejudices).

Fritz Perls' famous "Gestalt Prayer" encapsulates this philosophy of personal responsibility and clear boundaries: "I am me and you are you", rejecting the obligation to fulfill others' expectations.

Holism and Organismic Self-Regulation

The gestalt approach is holistic; it conceives the human being as a unit where body, emotions, thoughts and culture are indivisible.

It is not just about talking ("verbiage"), but about feeling and experiencing bodily what is happening.

A key concept is Organismic Self-Regulation (homeostasis), the innate capacity of the organism to seek balance and satisfy its needs.

When a need arises (physical or emotional), the organism mobilizes to satisfy it and return to rest; therapy seeks to restore this natural capacity when it has been interrupted by neurotic blockages, allowing the person to function freely and responsibly.

Summary

Gestalt Therapy prioritizes the "Here and Now" experience, avoiding temporary anguish. Its objective is the continuous