There are different approaches to psychotherapy. In my work, I mainly practice gestalt psychotherapy, which I have studied for over 20 years, Gestalt therapy (GT) is a set of ideas that people will be more satisfied and function better in society if we are as self-aware as possible, accept different parts of ourselves and act (when safe) authentically in relationships with others. Gestalt therapy works on these insights/beliefs.
As a therapist, I want to support the individual in becoming aware of what he/she is really experiencing and what is the natural way for him/her to express it or, to explore together where the experience is blocked or stopped. This is usually an important realization for us.
Why is this important?
We often find that the way we act as we are is not preferable to us and so we would like to change. However, when we try to change ourselves and when others want to change us, a dialogue is created within us, where one part tries to force the other to change, but in reality we have not accepted either one of these parts.
The therapist wants to avoid this dialogue and becoming another voice pushing for change. The therapist is an individual who wants to enter into contact with us, as we are at that moment, and encourages awareness of what is. It is only from this acceptance that change that originates within us, can happen . By accepting ourselves, we connect different parts of ourselves and inner conflict is reduced.
For example: nowadays we often experience an undefined fear, which we call anxiety. With the help of therapy, the client and I come to the realization that it is difficult for him to express his needs. The client looks for a connection and remembers how a similar experience of his need being interrupted happened in the past - e.g. did not express anger to certain people, was not accepted when he was afraid, sadness could be considered shameful...
Based on this, this person can develop a pattern of holding back in similar situations and, in addition, harbours the pent-up pain that usually accompanies the feeling of being unaccepted. All this pent-up energy is felt in the present as anxiety. Anxiety is often excitement - life energy that is blocked when we don't have enough support to express it.