Author Archive for: NeLart

Entries by Helen McWilliam

From Presence to Spirit: Gestalt Therapy and the Sacred in Everyday Life

Introduction While spirituality is not a specific methodology in Gestalt therapy, it emerges organically through presence, awareness, and relationship. Gestalt therapy honours the human being as a whole—body, mind, emotions, and spirit. It is through this holistic lens that spirit becomes present: not as something transcendent or abstract, but as something intimate, embodied, and woven […]

The Power of Experimentation in Gestalt Therapy

Why Experimentation Matters in Gestalt Therapy Experimentation is central in Gestalt therapy, offering a dynamic pathway for clients to explore their inner world and gain new insights. This article explores the significance of experimentation, its theoretical roots, practical applications, and the therapist’s role in cultivating a creative, safe environment. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which emphasizes […]

Numbing to Knowing: Healing Trauma and Addiction through Gestalt Art Therapy

Understanding Trauma & Addiction Many people experience suffering in their lives, whether due to a difficult childhood, illness, or a traumatic event such as a horrific car accident. One common response to trauma is addiction—whether to food, alcohol, or other substances—something that provides relief or pleasure, numbing the pain. There is nothing inherently wrong with […]

Phenomenology: Understanding Human Experience

Definition and Historical Origins Phenomenology is the study of how humans give shape and meaning to their experiences. It is one of the key theoretical foundations of Gestalt therapy. In the early 20th century, phenomenology was developed by philosophers like Edmund Husserl, who introduced a method for exploring “phenomena” as they appear in consciousness, free […]

What is Gestalt therapy? Gestalt philosophy, theory and the therapy space

Gestalt Philosophy, Theory, and the Therapy Space Gestalt therapy emerged in the 1940s and 50s as a fresh, dynamic response to the limitations of Freudian psychoanalysis, which privileged the expertise of the analyst. Gestalt turned the focus back to the immediacy of human experience—the living moment between client and therapist, where insight arises naturally from […]