Gestalt Therapy process groups can assist with the same issues that people explore in individual therapy, but also offer the learning potential of multiple perspectives and relational experiences. It can also be a more affordable option than one to one therapy.

A Gestalt therapy process group explores relational patterns and life themes by developing and deepening interpersonal relationships within the group over time. We are always influencing and being influenced by others. Thus, Gestalt therapy process groups utilises the richness of our interconnectedness to learn about ourselves through relationships with the other.

As opposed to Personal Development groups where the membership is open to all, in therapy groups the membership is constant and closed to outsiders. Members develop close attachments and experience the group as a supportive environment in which to explore emotions, current life situations and relationships. The group can become a symbolic family where issues arising from earlier life experiences might be addressed.

Many appreciate Gestalt therapy process groups as a means to enhance their awareness, learn to set and respect boundaries, utilise self and other support when required, learn effective and responsible language that is clear and present, stay with and learn to label strong emotions, to name a few. Over all Gestalt therapy process groups enables you to better understand yourself and how you are in relationship, providing you the clarity and confidence to engage in relationships in the outside world in a way that benefits you and others.

Gestalt Therapy group fees are $45.00 for an hour and a half. Group size 4 to 6 members.

Be authentic

Implied in every Gestalt group is the assumption that you will endeavour to be authentic, open and honest, and work for the good of yourself and others.

Experiment and play

Risk opening yourself to others and reducing your guard; experiment with being non-judgemental; give yourself permission to play with new ways of being you.

Act on your needs

Choose for yourself when to opt out of activities that appear wrong for you at the time; do not collude in situations that you feel are personally unhealthy for you.

Be here and now

Endeavour to engage with what is happening in the moment, share how you are currently feeling and what you are thinking – right now! (Simplify rather than construct elaborate statements that distort with explanation or avoid the immediacy of experience; specify rather than generalise)

Stay curious

Check things out rather than project your interpretations and meanings upon others; engage in exploration of what arises and how this affects you and others. 

Share and practice your reality with responsible language

Speak from the authority of your own experience, i.e. “I think…”, “I feel…”, “I observe…”, “I imagine…”, rather than “One thinks…”, “People tend to…”, etc.

Ask ‘how’ rather than ‘why’ questions

Invite others to share their observations and responses, rather than to explain their reasons. (‘Why’ questions take you out of your body into your head and into thinking. ‘How’ questions keep you in your body and with how your are feeling)

Clarify your intention

When you speak be clear if you are supporting, challenging or seeking clarification.

Respect your own and others’ privacy

Take responsibility for sharing or holding onto your secrets; don’t leak material beyond the group, nor share information about others in the group without their consent; do not report beyond the group what others have said or done, nor identify them; by all means share with family and friends what you did but keep others confidential.

Gestalt Therapy group fees are $45.00 for an hour and a half. Group size 4 to 6 members.