Experiential

This term is used to identify approaches to psychotherapy, such as Gestalt and Psychodrama, that emphasize the client learning primarily from his/her own experience rather than from interpretations by the therapist. Of course, this is a matter of degree. Both kinds of learning take place in any therapy. In the opinion of this writer, experiential approaches reduce the chance of ending with a client who can tell you all about her/himself, but hasn’t changed a bit!!!

Gestalt Psychotherapy

Gestalt psychotherapy is based on a theory of perception and learning. Our gestalt, or complete perception, of anything we observe is made up of two elements. The first is the figure, that which seems significant, relevant, or part of the pattern. The second is the ground, that which seems insignificant, irrelevant, or not part of the pattern. As we observe any object or situation, different things take on or lose significance, i.e., parts of the figure become ground, and visa versa. This process enables us to solve problems. For example, when I want to drive a nail, the rock at my feet is irrelevant (part of the ground) unless I don't have a hammer. If I realize it could be used as a hammer it becomes relevant (part of the figure), and I can solve my problem.

Gestalt therapy is designed to restore the process of interchange between figure and ground when it gets stuck. It makes use of direct experience rather than interpretation. It focuses on the here and now, being concerned with the past and future only as they are manifest in the present through memories, fantasies and plans.

Gestalt therapists draw their clients' attention to body language, feelings and sensations, and often ask them to act out real and imagined incidents from their lives or their dreams. By the use of such techniques, Gestalt therapists try to increase their clients' awareness of aspects of themselves and their lives that they have overlooked, or from which they have become alienated.

Humanist

"Humanist" is a title that applies to a number of therapeutic orientations, including Gestalt and Client Centered, which see the goal of therapy as the development of human potential , as opposed to “curing“ an “illness“. There is a great deal of overlap between the Humanist and Existential points of view.

Psychodrama

Psychodrama is the Link trainer of psychotherapy. The Link trainer gives one the experience of flying an airplane without leaving the ground. Psychodrama gives one the experience of coping with difficult life situations without leaving the safety of the psychotherapist's office. Using psychodramatic techniques, the therapist can help one to try different roles or behaviors, and to get in touch with feelings that have been pushed aside or repressed. Therapists of varying theoretical backgrounds borrow psychodramatic techniques, but Psychodrama has its own theoretical base centered around role theory, spontaneity-creativity theory, and interpersonal relationship theory.

Transactional Analysis

We all find ourselves having conversations in our heads. Transactional Analysis provides us with a convenient system for sorting out the different "voices"