Philosophy of Counseling

During my time in the counseling program at Chadron State College, I have been developing my theoretical orientation. This process began when I began the counseling program and has continued throughout my internship. My theoretical orientation started to form in the summer of 2020 when I completed the Counseling Theories class. This class showed me that my theoretical orientation leaned towards Gestalt therapy, which I discovered was a counseling theory matching my own attitudes, values, and beliefs. I adopted Gestalt therapy as my theoretical approach and will integrate it into my personal counseling style as I develop as a counselor. Gestalt therapy is a part of the humanistic school of thought alongside person-centered therapy and existential therapy for which I also have a strong preference.

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The main idea of Gestalt therapy is that people are seen holistically. Individuals are not viewed in their separate parts, but, instead, as a whole person. The word “gestalt” means “whole or completion” (Cory, 2021, pg. 201). While Gestalt therapy focuses on the present, it does not exclude the past. Gestalt therapy aims to bring the past into the present and have individuals act and express their past feelings in the present. The role of the counselor in Gestalt therapy is one of a collaborative partnership between the counselor and client, where the counselor is the expert who guides the client to explore their issues and life experiences. As a Gestalt therapist, I will guide the client on a journey of self-discovery and exploration to help them achieve a resolution to those issues which brought them to counseling.

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Gestalt therapy, like most therapeutic approaches, places a close emphasis on the client/counselor relationship. As such, I would want to develop a close therapeutic relationship with my clients. Such a relationship will focus on the present in order to help the client achieve greater self-awareness. As a gestalt counselor, I will always stress the importance of my relationship with the client because I believe that therapeutic techniques will be less effective if I do not have a strong therapeutic relationship with the client.

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As I continue my development as a counselor, I intend to continue to develop my theoretical orientation in Gestalt therapy. This means incorporating Gestalt therapy techniques into my skill set and developing my knowledge of Gestalt theory. The main goal is to become the best counselor I can be so I am best able to guide my clients though their issues and find solutions.