Gestalt in Pastoral Care and Counseling

A Holistic Approach

Jeffrey D Hamilton

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9781317791119
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Mental Health in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

Gestalt in Pastoral Care and Counseling is the only book to provide you with an integrated model of pastoral care and counseling from the perspective of Gestalt theory. Covering all aspects of ministry, including visitation, counseling, worship, and administration, it is a valuable text for advanced undergraduate or graduate classes and small group or individual study for seminaries, church ministries, pastoral counseling training programs, and lay pastoral ministry programs. This book will increase your confidence in your work, help you understand blockages as well as avenues of change, and lead you to a more creative, yet consistent, stance in your ministry.Gestalt in Pastoral Care and Counseling makes clear that all of ministry is, in fact, pastoral in nature. It demonstrates the principles of Gestalt in pastoral ministry in a gradual manner, true to both Gestalt principles and your needs. Some of the topics you learn about include:

• key elements of Gestalt theory, from the early developers through more recent practices
• the cycle of experience--a model that provides an understanding of the various steps involved in change on all levels
• Gestalt applications in pastoral counseling, worship, and administration
• a theology of pastoral caring--a model for pastoral ministry based on the relational aspects of the Biblical narrative and its application in ministry
• ideas for continued growth based on daily life experienceWith well-developed presentations of Gestalt principles and pastoral ministry, Gestalt in Pastoral Care and Counseling provides you with a new perspective on the meaning of pastoral ministry. Not only will you learn new skills, you will also develop a new appreciation for what can occur within pastoral relationships. The theoretical basis of Gestalt embraces the whole of life experience as part of the process of change and growth and holds sacred the relationship that exists between persons. As your understanding and use of these principles increases, the quality of care and counseling you provide in your ministry will continue to improve.

PART I:
THE LANGUAGE OF GESTALT

Chapter 1

Here and Now

Whatever is actual is, regardless time, always in the present. Whatever happened in the past was actual then, just as whatever occurs in the future will be actual at that time, but what is actu-al–and thus all that you can be aware of–must be in the present. Hence the stress, if we wish to develop the feeling of actuality, on words such as “now” and “at this moment.” … Likewise, what is actual for you must be where you are. Hence the stress on words like “here.” You cannot at this moment experience any event–that is, live through it first-hand–if it takes place beyond the range of your receptors. You may imagine it, yes, but that means picturing it to yourself, and the picturing will be here where you are.¹

Our interest in the satisfaction of needs does not imply a philosophy of hedonism. It merely states that if the individual is aware of what goes on inside of him and does something about it, he will feel better about himself than the person who does not possess the awareness or postpones satisfying himself.²

Gestalt therapy emphasizes not that we live for the moment, but that we live in the moment; not that we meet our needs immediately, but that we are present for ourselves in the environment.³

What Is the Concept of Here and Now and Why Is It Important to Gestalt Theory?

The concept of here and now is a foundation piece in the gestalt frame of reference. In gestalt terms, the here and now is where awareness, indeed life, occurs. Joseph Zinker wrote, “Primacy of the present experience means the focus of attention is on the moment-to-moment experience of the individual.”⁴ The concept is that simple.

The work ofpastoral caring does not occur in the past or in the future. The work of pastoral caring occurs in the present relationship … “here and now.”

The importance of the here and now concept cannot be stressed enough. Experiences are always now. What is happening is always now. This experiment may help bring the concept to life for you.

Get comfortable in your chair. Become aware of how the chair feels. How does your back contour to it? What does the fabric feel like? What does the chair seat feel like? All of these awareness questions are in the here and now. You can answer them easily. Now, think of another chair you sat in today. What did it feel like? How did your back contour to it? How did the seat feel? All of these questions focus not upon experiences of the now. Instead, they are of memory. The experiences of the past are not as immediately powerful as experiences of the present.

We live in the here and now. People who seek our help are frequently unaware of the here and now. Our task, from a gestalt perspective, is to help them become aware of the here and now so their lives can be lived more folly.

Does the “Here and Now” Idea Discount the Person’s Past History?

It can seem like that. However, the concept does not discount history. Indeed, working in the here and now can facilitate a more personal evaluation of a person’s history.

Your task, as a pastoral carer, is to aid persons in connecting their present experience with their life story. You can do this by supporting this exploration with questions such as: “Does this feel familiar?” and “What are you aware of right now, and does it feel familiar?” Let me provide an example.

You are speaking with a gentleman who is having difficulty accepting his aging process. As he is speaking, you mention to him that his eyes seem moist. He begins to speak of his sadness, and that he does not know where it comes from. You ask, “Does it feel familiar?” “Yes,” he replies, “I feel like I did when my father died. And he died so young.”

In this case, it was the work in the here and now that allowed this man to access the memory from the past that helped create order in his present. In this way, the work of the present creates the foundation for the appreciation of memories.

Should the Language I Use Also Be in the Here and Now?

Good question. The answer is yes … and then some. The language you use needs to be present and personal. For example, allow yourself to experience the difference between these two scenarios:

You are telling a friend of a painful experience in your life. He or she appears to be listening, and replies, “It’s sad.”

In the second scenario, you are telling the same story. This time, however, your friend states, “I feel sad as you tell me this,” or perhaps, “My eyes are tearing.”

What is different for you? The first scene is rather depersonalizing. The scene speaks of an almost nonhuman, “I/It” relationship. Gestalt emphasizes the “I/Thou”–person to person, me to you. The impact of your story on me. My tears as my response to your story.

This may seem like a small point. However, try it out for a few days. See how it feels to you. It may feel more risky–because it is more revealing of you. Try it out, and experience yourself more folly.

Some Ideas for Your Growth

Pay attention to the language our culture uses. Do we speak in the here and now, or do we often miss the mark? When people speak with you, do you feel the most connected when they speak in the here and now, or in another fashion?

NOTES

1. Frederick Perls, Ralph F. Hefferline, and Paul Goodman, Gestalt therapy: Excitement and growth in the human personality (London: Souvenir Press, 1951), 31,33.

2. Joseph Zinker, Creative process in gestalt therapy (New York: Vintage Books, 1977), 94.

3. Zinker, 95.

4. Zinker, 162.

Chapter 2

Process versus Content

What Does Process versus Content Mean, and How Does It Effect My Use of Gestalt Theory?

The concept highlights how we “track” what happens in an exchange, and what we pay attention to. Paying attention to “content” means paying attention to each item as it is being discussed. It is “content based.”

On the other hand, attending to “process” means paying attention to the meanings of what is being said. It is, in essence, being aware of, or attending to, what is not always immediately seen. “Process” can entail being aware of words, messages, inflection of voice, physical (body) process, and more.

I use music as an image to understand process and content. Imagine seeing or hearing a piece of music one note at a time. You only experience one note, after note, after note. There is no sense of connection, of differences-just notes. Now, imagine seeing or hearing the notes as they are intended. This time, tempo, dynamics, and other unique characteristics are experienced. This is process.

So, content can be understood as experiencing things in relative isolation. Essentially, paying equal attention to each item. Process, on the other hand, includes experiencing the flow, message, and sometimes even the unspoken message.

I have sometimes thought that when I am tracking in a process fashion, I am. aware of experiencing the event. I can feel it, experience it, seemingly from the inside out. When I track in a content fashion, I lose energy and get caught up in the drama of the moment.

One way to illustrate process versus content is to imagine a church meeting. The meeting begins; it ends. Along the way, many “things” are talked about, but little appears to get accomplished. The meeting ends, and you ask yourself the questions, “What happened? What did the meeting mean?” The content probably was tracked fully. Items, things, were talked about individually. However, the meaning behind all that was discussed may have been lost.

To pay attention to the “process” of the meeting would mean paying attention to the flow of the ideas and allowing concepts to surface. Paying attention to process allows you to track the connections between topics discussed and find their common meaning. One marker of process thinking is the seemingly miraculous ability to say, “I sense that what we are talking about here is. …” or “I experience a theme to our work today … .” People will think you can read minds. They will think you are brilliant, arid all you have done is state the painfully obvious.

You witness this, concept frequently when working with couples in distress. You sit with them and witness their talking about “this and that.” “Well, he did … ” “Well, she did …” They are focusing upon content and would like you to do the same.

Just as Legion, we do not desire to live in isolation. By focusing upon the moment, we link ourselves with the people in our midst, the people we are car-ingfor in the moment. This is the heart and soul of pastoral caring … and gestalt.

When you experience the unfolding drama from a “process” perspective, you are able to experience the exchange, paying attention to all that occurs. The words that are used, the way they are said, the body position, and the change in communication styles all become important. You begin to understand the message behind what is being communicated.

Process allows you to experience and to share your own experience. It creates a living process. Tracking process allows you to be with the people, while tracking content allows you to observe the people. Being in the process allows you to be in the flow of the issue, and often not the “things” of the discussion.

Does Focusing on the Process Cause One to Ignore What People Say?

It may seem like that. In reality, you are listening to their message, not just the words they say. You are listening to the whole message, not only the parts that make up the message. Tracking process can allow you to identify the contrast between what is said and what is communicated in a ftiller form.

Tracking process can also help focus the work of the moment. Many times when I have given process feedback to people, the energy in the room seems to level off, and the people are able to communicate on an even playing field in the moment.

I remember a couple who would argue heatedly in their session. They had detailed memories of past fights as if they were on videotape. Each could outdo the other when it came to recalling “who said what to who and why.” After many moments of hearing what was being said and allowing myself to experience it, I said, “I am aware that the more you talk, the louder each of you gets.”

By my simply noting the pro...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Frontmatter page1
• Half Title page
• Frontmatter page2
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• About The Author
• Contents
• Forewora
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Pert I The Language of Gestalt
• Part II The Gestalt Cycle of Experience
• Bibliography
• Index