Impostor syndrome as a result of an interrupted contact cycle
In Gestalt therapy the contact cycle is the natural path along which a need is realised: from the moment it arises to its full completion through the integration of experience. One of the key stages of this cycle is assimilation. It is...
The psychology of choice. A step into the future or into the past?
Every time we face the need to choose, it is worth remembering that in fact there are only two options before us. A choice in favour of the past, or a choice in favour of the future. The choice in favour of...
12 ways to sum up the year, depending on your character
Someone writes on social media: “Well then, here comes the moment to sum up the year that is ending…” Others will say: “Oh, come on, summing up the year in 2021 — that is a bit much!” We like the tradition of...
Knowing reality through the body
Alexander Lowen maintained that for every person the basic reality of their existence is their body. It is through the body that a person perceives the world, and it is with the same body that they respond to it. In his book...
What really lies behind the phrase «I don’t know what I want»?
Sometimes we say this phrase lightly, almost as a joke. But at times it sounds like a silent verdict on ourselves. Not knowing what you want means doing the right things without energy. Agreeing without taking part. Growing tired even of what...
How to communicate with people who have a well-established chemical dependency?
There is no universal answer. 1. The first thing to know is that there will be no peace in your life. If the contact is very close (you are married to them, they are your children or parents, your brothers and sisters),...
Therapeutic positions in the bodymind approach
This approach integrates gestalt therapy with attention to bodily sensations and their interaction with the mind, which play a key role in the therapeutic process. Here are some of the most important therapeutic positions in this approach: 1. The position of witness...
What do your jokes say about you? The formula of humour
Alastair Clarke, a well-known English scholar in the field of evolution, derived a universal formula of humour. The formula is fairly simple: H – the degree of pleasure taken in a good joke (humour) M – the level of incorrect information contained...
Long-term therapy or short-term counselling?
These two approaches have their own features and are used depending on the client’s needs. But it is not always easy to tell which of these formats is the one you need. Let us sort it out! Counselling is usually short-term and...
Being beside a traumatised person. How?
Supporting a person who has been through trauma calls for sensitivity, patience and understanding. Here are a few ways you can offer effective and careful support: 1. Do not rescue unless asked: Accept what the person says, without criticism or attempts to...