Through the eyes of Gestalt therapy: The emergence of existential experience on the contact boundary

Abstract

Existentialism, rooted deeply in philosophy, has significantly influenced therapeutic practices. Despite its relevance, recent research indicates a limited focus on existential topics in modern therapy, showing a gap in therapist training and readiness to address these concerns. Gestalt therapy focuses on the dynamic interaction between an individual and their environment and emphasizes the individual’s presence here and now. From the very beginning, phenomenology and existentialism have been a big part of gestalt therapy, but modern research has not focused much on or explored the existing parallel. Clarkson's contract cycle of experience offers a tool to understand the interaction of an individual and environment, which can be an interesting tool to address existential concerns during gestalt therapy. The study demonstrates two case analyses to explore the experiences of two female clients, focusing on their encounters with existential concerns on the contact boundary. Through these cases, the paper examines how clients navigate the contact cycle of experience, highlighting the therapist's role in facilitating this process. Discussion emphasizes the dynamic nature of existential needs, asserting that they cannot simply fade into the background like other needs but require ongoing exploration. The paper underscores the gestalt therapist's role in supporting clients through these existential experiences, recognizing the therapist's genuine presence and readiness as crucial factors in facilitating the contact cycle. The emergence of existential experience on the contact boundary is a challenging yet transformative process. This paper demonstrates the importance of integrating more existentialism in Gestalt therapy and revisiting the tight connection between Gestalt therapy and existential therapy.