Violet Oaklander Gestalt Child Therapy Video Clip

[bobthemage]

because experiment ist the first choice of methods in Gestalt therapy. If a client tries to do things, he never did before -lacking the knowledge of the own abilities- what would you name it? Nothing but experiment.

[jamespro95]

@bobthemage

Why call it 'experiment' with the association of legitimacy attached to that? In the 1951 text Gestalt Therapy (Julian Press), Fritz et al also state that the therapist is a catalyst for the 'patient' like a catalyst in a chemical reaction. Then, in the same book, Perls also discusses the origins of experience and experiment - stretching the definition. Why bring up science - why not say that this therapy is not under the same criteria or burden of evidence required in a science?

[jamespro95]

Oh...so many questions - why not be a bit skeptical? At about 0.33 there is mention of "...to sort of plan...suggest". Please, let's remember the lessons of the Recovered Memory Therapy fiasco in the early 1990s (read Elizabeth Loftus's book). And by experiment at 1:31 - why label a technique an 'experiment'? Perhaps it is to provide a veil of sorts - to sound scientific or valid or weighty. Hmm - what about 'controlled experiment? There is nothing 'experimental' in Gestalt - it is situational