Therapeutic Psychology
PYC4809
Assignment 2
Unique Number 733726
Student Number: 61117145
Due Date: 15 July 2021
0|Page
,PLAGIARISM DECLARATION
1. I know that plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is using another’s work and pretending
that it is one’s own work
2. I have used the American Psychological Association (APA) as the convention for
citation and referencing. Each significant contribution to, and quotation in, this
assignment from work, or works of other people has been attributed and has been cited
and referenced
3. This assignment is my own work
4. I have not allowed, and will not allow anyone to copy my work with the intention of
passing it off as his or her own work
5. I acknowledge that copying someone else's assignment or part thereof is wrong, and
declare that this assignment is my own work.
SIGNED BY: Student DATE: 15 July 2021
1|Page
,Table of Contents
SECTION A ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
GESTALT THERAPY......................................................................................................................................... 3
BACKGROUND AND KEY FIGURES ................................................................................................................. 3
BASIC PHILOSOPHY ....................................................................................................................................... 3
CENTRAL CONSTRUCTS ................................................................................................................................. 4
THERAPUETIC GOALS .................................................................................................................................... 5
THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP ....................................................................................................................... 6
SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................................... 6
QUESTION 2 .................................................................................................................................................. 7
HOW DID THIS APPROACH CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR UNDERSTANDING? ...................................................... 7
QUESTION 3 .................................................................................................................................................. 8
DISCUSS HOW YOUR CHOSEN APPROACH COULD BE UTIIZED IN THE ORGANIZATION WHERE YOU DID
VOLUNTEER WORK ....................................................................................................................................... 8
REFERENCE .................................................................................................................................................... 9
SECTION B ................................................................................................................................................... 10
SECTION C ................................................................................................................................................... 11
SECTION D ................................................................................................................................................... 12
2|Page
, SECTION A
GESTALT THERAPY
BACKGROUND AND KEY FIGURES
The Gestalt Therapy (GT) was influenced by Frederick Pearls, Laura Pearls, the late
Mariam Polster and Enving Polster. The therapy puts it focus on the here and now,
where all parts of an individual’s personality is seen as a whole and not separately. Its
other focus is to try and find out the “what and how” of a certain behaviour. it looks into
the past of the individual and how it affects their present behaviour (Corey, 2017).
BASIC PHILOSOPHY
GT therapists strongly believe that human beings are growth orientated. They believe in
a concept of holism. This means that an individual has to be viewed and evaluated
holistically, where they cannot be separated from their environment or inherited traits. In
simple terms, the physical and psychological functioning of an individual are related.
They call this organism, the inseparability of physical and psychological (Murdock,
2013).
GT is a humanistic/existential approach. In other words, the approach preaches
individual choice and responsibility. Humans are seen as neutral beings who are striving
for growth and actualization. Therefore, the GT approach is orientated on growth, not
pathology and cure. The growth process is what therapy focuses on (Murdock, 2013).
GT therapists believe that individuals need to be understood from their present
environment and also the relationship they have with the environment. The individual is
believed to be a being who is able to feel, sense and interpret situations on their own. In
other words, growth is able to occur through I/thou relationship and not through the
therapist or therapy approach techniques (Corey, 2017).
3|Page
PYC4809
Assignment 2
Unique Number 733726
Student Number: 61117145
Due Date: 15 July 2021
0|Page
,PLAGIARISM DECLARATION
1. I know that plagiarism is wrong. Plagiarism is using another’s work and pretending
that it is one’s own work
2. I have used the American Psychological Association (APA) as the convention for
citation and referencing. Each significant contribution to, and quotation in, this
assignment from work, or works of other people has been attributed and has been cited
and referenced
3. This assignment is my own work
4. I have not allowed, and will not allow anyone to copy my work with the intention of
passing it off as his or her own work
5. I acknowledge that copying someone else's assignment or part thereof is wrong, and
declare that this assignment is my own work.
SIGNED BY: Student DATE: 15 July 2021
1|Page
,Table of Contents
SECTION A ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
GESTALT THERAPY......................................................................................................................................... 3
BACKGROUND AND KEY FIGURES ................................................................................................................. 3
BASIC PHILOSOPHY ....................................................................................................................................... 3
CENTRAL CONSTRUCTS ................................................................................................................................. 4
THERAPUETIC GOALS .................................................................................................................................... 5
THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP ....................................................................................................................... 6
SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................................... 6
QUESTION 2 .................................................................................................................................................. 7
HOW DID THIS APPROACH CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR UNDERSTANDING? ...................................................... 7
QUESTION 3 .................................................................................................................................................. 8
DISCUSS HOW YOUR CHOSEN APPROACH COULD BE UTIIZED IN THE ORGANIZATION WHERE YOU DID
VOLUNTEER WORK ....................................................................................................................................... 8
REFERENCE .................................................................................................................................................... 9
SECTION B ................................................................................................................................................... 10
SECTION C ................................................................................................................................................... 11
SECTION D ................................................................................................................................................... 12
2|Page
, SECTION A
GESTALT THERAPY
BACKGROUND AND KEY FIGURES
The Gestalt Therapy (GT) was influenced by Frederick Pearls, Laura Pearls, the late
Mariam Polster and Enving Polster. The therapy puts it focus on the here and now,
where all parts of an individual’s personality is seen as a whole and not separately. Its
other focus is to try and find out the “what and how” of a certain behaviour. it looks into
the past of the individual and how it affects their present behaviour (Corey, 2017).
BASIC PHILOSOPHY
GT therapists strongly believe that human beings are growth orientated. They believe in
a concept of holism. This means that an individual has to be viewed and evaluated
holistically, where they cannot be separated from their environment or inherited traits. In
simple terms, the physical and psychological functioning of an individual are related.
They call this organism, the inseparability of physical and psychological (Murdock,
2013).
GT is a humanistic/existential approach. In other words, the approach preaches
individual choice and responsibility. Humans are seen as neutral beings who are striving
for growth and actualization. Therefore, the GT approach is orientated on growth, not
pathology and cure. The growth process is what therapy focuses on (Murdock, 2013).
GT therapists believe that individuals need to be understood from their present
environment and also the relationship they have with the environment. The individual is
believed to be a being who is able to feel, sense and interpret situations on their own. In
other words, growth is able to occur through I/thou relationship and not through the
therapist or therapy approach techniques (Corey, 2017).
3|Page
