Gestalt therapy and the boundaries of the self

Boundaries between the self and the world

Abstract

Gestalt therapy, a phenomenological-existential approach, is effective in dealing with crystallized creative adjustments and contact boundary problems. These phenomena occur when adaptive patterns of behavior become rigid and repetitive, hindering personal growth and adaptation to new situations. This article explores forms of therapeutic intervention based on Gestalt therapy to help dissolve these crystallized patterns. The main interventions include awareness, which involves detailed exploration of the client's internal experiences; therapeutic experiments, such as the empty chair technique, to promote new forms of behavior; work with polarities, which facilitates the integration of opposing aspects of the personality; and broadening emotional expression, using techniques such as dramatization and art therapy. These interventions aim to restore fluidity and creativity in the client's responses to the environment, promoting personal growth and the integration of experiences.