Gestalt Therapy Teaches You to Stay Present

By | January 10, 2019

Much of the time we focus on the past or the future. Our troubled minds obsess about what is going to happen next, so we do not get to experience in the present moment fully. When we’re feeling depressed, we often look back on what has happened, our perceived mistakes, or on how we’ve hurt people. That isn’t staying in the present, either. It’s difficult to be present at the moment, but when you do, you will learn from it. When you are present in your body and mind and observe your feelings, you will learn from them. You can’t grow emotionally if you run away from how you feel. The trouble is that many people don’t want to explore their feelings.

Emotions aren’t always pleasant, and it’s easier to check out emotionally than feel intense feelings. That’s why people disassociate or check out from their minds and bodies. Staying in them and experiencing emotions hurts too much. When you see a gestalt therapist, you’re committing to staying in your body and facing your feelings. Gestalt therapy aims to keep us in that present moment, no matter how painful that time is. Your therapist will help guide you through the pain and show you that there’s relief on the other side.

Why staying in the present matters

One thing about living in the moment is that you can only change once you recognize where you are at this specific moment in time. So, to better your life and yourself, you need to acknowledge how you’re feeling and what you’re doing right now. You can’t get to where you want to go without knowing where you start otherwise known as where you are right now. Gestalt therapy https://goodmenproject.com/guy-talk/how-long-should-i-stay-in-therapy-dg/ focuses on that principle of mindfulness, being at peace with yourself, and accepting that you are here, in this room, talking to your therapist. You acknowledge your feelings and recognize that they are valid. Your feelings are automatically valid because you feel them.

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How a therapist can help

A therapist is there to help you grow emotionally. Learning mindfulness is one of the principles of gestalt therapy. After you stay in the moment, you’re going to focus on how you and your therapist communicate. Gestalt therapy is highly dependent on the connection between you and your counselor. You are utilizing the relationship between you and your therapist when you acknowledge therapy as the place you are where you’re working on your problems. And solving those emotional issues begins with you connecting with your therapist as a human being. They’re not and an omniscient being, but rather a person who is flawed, just like you. They can help you, but they’re a person.

Once you’ve humanized your therapist, you need to work on communicating with them. You are talking about what you feel in the moment so that your therapist understands what you are feeling. It doesn’t mean that you won’t talk about the past or face it, but it does say that you have to start by acknowledging the moment that you’re experiencing to understand the rest of your life, your pain, or your trauma on a deeper level. It can help you with whatever you are coping with. Using that principle of mindfulness, your therapist will work with you to make significant changes, but you can’t get there unless you can identify what is happening right now.

Online counseling

Working with a counselor online can help you stay present in your emotions. Online counseling can help you learn mindfulness. Whether you’re working with an online counselor or someone in your local area, you can find a counselor who practices gestalt therapy.

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