Category archives: Psychotherapy

In the Gestalt psychotherapy, we distinguish three spheres of awareness – all are equally important and valuable. There is even a commonly used comparison of the human being to a table with three legs (Francesseti et al., 2016). Intermediate sphere For many people, this is the most favourite sphere because it is not limited by anything – this is its potential and, at the same time, danger. The intermediate sphere of awareness are our thoughts and imagination – everything that is “produced” by our brain. It allows us to plan, reminisce, expect and learn. We use it all and it is particularly useful to scientists, all types of analysts, artists, teachers or the clergy as they often navigate abstract areas. On the other hand, thoughts are what makes it difficult for us to stay mindful in the so-called here and now. They take us not only into the realm of our dreams, but also fears. Note that we are usually afraid of what can happen, not what is happening. It is our images on the future that make us worry (or be hopeful). Where does the notion of “intermediate sphere” come from? Our thoughts mediate internal experiences (body and emotions) …

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After over twenty years of making up for the “civilisation delays” relative to the Western consumption pattern working in the society, we now have an opportunity to experience a lot of harmful consequences of the transformation. Despite the fact that the standard of life has improved for many of us, and in turn luxurious goods and services have become more available, it seems not to translate into the level of the happiness and contentment we feel. It turns out even that the level of frustration, intensity of problems and troubles which we struggle with is reaching an all-time high. If we can put aside some time, we start to think about and search for the causes of such a state. As our “longed-for development” is under way, and even accelerates at an unheard-of rate, it is more and more difficult to notice the paradox which “hides” the correct direction of searching. The existence of this paradox, especially its reference to psychotherapy, needs to be brought to attention. Happiness for money? The worship of money, being ubiquitous in the Western civilisation and driving it at the same time, makes the level of satisfaction from life and the generally understood happiness is …

Continue reading ““More means less,” or “don’t hoard, but discard””

Learn some basic assumptions of one of the leading approaches in humanistic-existential psychotherapy. Click here to learn more about Gestalt Therapy. 1 Live now – pay more attention to the present than to the past and the future. 2 Live here – take care of what is, not what isn’t. 3 Experience yourself and accept yourself as you are. 4 Stop thinking unnecessarily – instead, look and taste, see the environment as it is and get in touch with it. 5 Express yourself – don’t manipulate, don’t explain, don’t justify, don’t judge. 6 Surrender to experiencing unpleasantness and pain just like you surrender yourself to experiencing pleasure. Do not limit your awareness. 7 Don’t accept any “you should” except for those really yours. 8 Take full ownership for your actions, feelings and thoughts. 9 Be yourself and let others be themselves. 10 Open to change and growth – be ready to experiment to encounter new situations.