What do you think?
Rate this book
Теория гештальт-терапии
В работе "Теория гештальт-терапии" Перлз и его соавторы впервые наиболее полно и систематизированно изложили основы своей теории, которая стала революционной для своего времени и не потеряла актуальности и в наши дни.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1951
219 people are currently reading
1736 people want to read
About the author
Frederick Salomon Perls
27 books153 followersFriedrich (Frederick) Salomon Perls better known as Fritz Perls, was a noted German-born psychiatrist and psychotherapist. Perls coined the term 'Gestalt therapy' to identify the form of psychotherapy that he developed with his wife, Laura Perls, in the 1940s and 1950s. Perls became associated with the Esalen Institute in 1964, and he lived there until 1969. His approach to psychotherapy is related to, but not identical to, Gestalt psychology, and it is different from Gestalt theoretical psychotherapy.
The core of the Gestalt Therapy process is enhanced awareness of sensation, perception, bodily feelings, emotion, and behavior, in the present moment. Relationship is emphasized, along with contact between the self, its environment, and the other.
The core of the Gestalt Therapy process is enhanced awareness of sensation, perception, bodily feelings, emotion, and behavior, in the present moment. Relationship is emphasized, along with contact between the self, its environment, and the other.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 3, 2008
I read this book while I was in college, not because I had to, but because so many people were talking about gestalt therapy, I wanted to learn more about it. The three authors give a comprehensive overview of gestalt therapy, while at the same time acknowledging that what they are getting at has to be experienced: there are really no words to describe it.
November 21, 2008
The "bible" of gestalt therapy. Dense in theory in the second half, but vitally important if one wants to really understand gestalt therapy.
April 14, 2020
I am struggling with what Gestalt 'is', and after reading 250 pages I still only have hints. Reading this book was like mining for something precious. Most of the time I could not understand what I was reading and then would stumble on a sentence or paragraph that made profound sense to me, like finding a gold nugget within the ore. This book was split into two and I only read the first half (the second claimed to be more technical). I had had enough, and Tom Ryan has given me a book about Gestalt he believes is better to read. I had to remind myself this was published in 1951, so maybe what was obvious then has been lost its obviousness in time. It does get weird in a contemporary sense when it talks about masturbation as "a kind of rape"(p 238).
They define psychotherapy as self-regulation (p 70). I can agree with this superficially, but feel it is too broad to be useful. They repeatedly refer to 'contact borders", but only left me with a vague understanding of what this.... where a organism meets it's environment. Remembering it was written in 1951 it presupposed Maslow's hierarchy of needs with the discussion around a hierarchy of behaviours. I can see this work as a pillar that others built on.
"The problem of psychotherapy is to enlist the patient's power of creative adjustment without forcing it into the stereotype of the therapist's scientific conception" (p 77). This sentence encapsulates my conception of good psychotherapy. I have rejected for some time the importance of a (scientific) diagnosis. A correct diagnosis never cured anyone. I understand what they suggest but found little value in what they mean specifically to an individual. People have within them what they need to recover, it is my job to act as a form of catalyst, in the end they have all they need. "It does not follow for the analyst to reveal all his interpretations; rather to interpret very little, but to give the patient the tools of the analyst" (p 124). This reinforces the previous sentence that my job as a Psychotherapist is to keep my ideas in, whilst encouraging the person to let theirs out. This concept is further expanded upon by “the therapist does not have to get under the ‘ordinary’ behaviour or trick it out of the way in order to reveal the mechanism. His task is simply to pose a problem that the patient is not adequately solving and where he is dissatisfied with his failure; then the need of the patient, will, with help, destroy and assimilate the obstacles and create more viable habits, just as with any other learning” (p 231). Give more tools to the person, rather than use the tools on the person.
“Freud insisted that not medical men, but, (those with) with medical coloration, literary men, teachers, lawyers, social-workers make the best therapists, for they understand human nature, they mix ideas and people and have not been content to waste their youth acquiring a speciality” (p 103). Are they saying someone like me (a nurse) has a better chance because I have not been indoctrinated into the medical model? I know my employer spends a lot of time and resource to develop the medical staff. I have to do a lot of my self education on my own initiative. The higher someone is up our professional hierarchy I suspect the more they might struggle to not be an 'expert', and the 'expertness' becomes a crutch, when cultivated nativity is required.
"Theorists have gone too far in showing that the underlying drives are ‘good’ and ‘social’; they have tried too hard to be on the side of the angels” (p 128). This is almost anti-Rogarian and ties into the ‘here and now’ philosophy. Dealing with the world as it is, rather than as it ought to be. I found flavours of American Pragmatism within the Gestalt philosophy, rather than trying to move someone towards a conception of 'good', a freedom to allow them to move towards 'bad' as long as they are better at it..
I still do not feel I understand Gestalt as a therapeutic modality, but there is enough to encourage me that it hold something of value to me as a therapist. A tool worthy of learning. I will struggle away and discuss it with Tom and in time read the other book he has passed on to me.
They define psychotherapy as self-regulation (p 70). I can agree with this superficially, but feel it is too broad to be useful. They repeatedly refer to 'contact borders", but only left me with a vague understanding of what this.... where a organism meets it's environment. Remembering it was written in 1951 it presupposed Maslow's hierarchy of needs with the discussion around a hierarchy of behaviours. I can see this work as a pillar that others built on.
"The problem of psychotherapy is to enlist the patient's power of creative adjustment without forcing it into the stereotype of the therapist's scientific conception" (p 77). This sentence encapsulates my conception of good psychotherapy. I have rejected for some time the importance of a (scientific) diagnosis. A correct diagnosis never cured anyone. I understand what they suggest but found little value in what they mean specifically to an individual. People have within them what they need to recover, it is my job to act as a form of catalyst, in the end they have all they need. "It does not follow for the analyst to reveal all his interpretations; rather to interpret very little, but to give the patient the tools of the analyst" (p 124). This reinforces the previous sentence that my job as a Psychotherapist is to keep my ideas in, whilst encouraging the person to let theirs out. This concept is further expanded upon by “the therapist does not have to get under the ‘ordinary’ behaviour or trick it out of the way in order to reveal the mechanism. His task is simply to pose a problem that the patient is not adequately solving and where he is dissatisfied with his failure; then the need of the patient, will, with help, destroy and assimilate the obstacles and create more viable habits, just as with any other learning” (p 231). Give more tools to the person, rather than use the tools on the person.
“Freud insisted that not medical men, but, (those with) with medical coloration, literary men, teachers, lawyers, social-workers make the best therapists, for they understand human nature, they mix ideas and people and have not been content to waste their youth acquiring a speciality” (p 103). Are they saying someone like me (a nurse) has a better chance because I have not been indoctrinated into the medical model? I know my employer spends a lot of time and resource to develop the medical staff. I have to do a lot of my self education on my own initiative. The higher someone is up our professional hierarchy I suspect the more they might struggle to not be an 'expert', and the 'expertness' becomes a crutch, when cultivated nativity is required.
"Theorists have gone too far in showing that the underlying drives are ‘good’ and ‘social’; they have tried too hard to be on the side of the angels” (p 128). This is almost anti-Rogarian and ties into the ‘here and now’ philosophy. Dealing with the world as it is, rather than as it ought to be. I found flavours of American Pragmatism within the Gestalt philosophy, rather than trying to move someone towards a conception of 'good', a freedom to allow them to move towards 'bad' as long as they are better at it..
I still do not feel I understand Gestalt as a therapeutic modality, but there is enough to encourage me that it hold something of value to me as a therapist. A tool worthy of learning. I will struggle away and discuss it with Tom and in time read the other book he has passed on to me.
August 22, 2025
читала миллион лет, потому что внутри миллион упражнений, который я сначала обещала себе делать, а потом успокоила эту проецированную совесть и расшатала интроекты и решила просто взять и дочитать. для знакомства с гештальтом лучше взять любую другую книгу, это скорее на изучение всего корпуса текстов и экспериментов перлза
October 31, 2025
I gave this book 5 stars for no other reason than it is essential reading for someone interested in Gestalt psychology. The book was first published in 1951 so some of the thinking presented in the book can be called into question these nearly 75 years later.
The first part of the book was not easy to read being almost completely theory. The theory portion of the book could have benefited from more examples to bring concepts in the theories to life. Even with that caveat the material is accessible.
The second portion of the book contained exercises, which for some reason the authors chose to call experiments. The exercises were very understandable and the directions easy to follow. Many of the exercises are very similar to what is to be found in a mindfulness practice, which was not a common thing in 1950's America as it is in the 2020's. The physical experiments and breathing experiments are very similar to much of yoga again something not as common in the 1950's. In the second part the authors presented the results of the experiments that students had submitted. I very much appreciated they presented the negatives responses as well as the positive responses.
The first part of the book was not easy to read being almost completely theory. The theory portion of the book could have benefited from more examples to bring concepts in the theories to life. Even with that caveat the material is accessible.
The second portion of the book contained exercises, which for some reason the authors chose to call experiments. The exercises were very understandable and the directions easy to follow. Many of the exercises are very similar to what is to be found in a mindfulness practice, which was not a common thing in 1950's America as it is in the 2020's. The physical experiments and breathing experiments are very similar to much of yoga again something not as common in the 1950's. In the second part the authors presented the results of the experiments that students had submitted. I very much appreciated they presented the negatives responses as well as the positive responses.
March 29, 2025
Один із маст рідів і ре-рідів для гештальт терапевта. Експерименти та пояснення до них цікаві, особливо я люблю тему з їжею та поглинанням ідей, як ці процеси схожі
May 3, 2020
This book is a very indepth adventure on not only explaining how one perceives reality but offering the tools so you can enhances how you perceive reality. The book has a lot of really well written scenarios that are full of character but sometimes can overexplain the points. My favorite of these scenarios discusses how a man is drinking orange juice with a colleague then states "It was like i was drinking orange juice for the first time" as it shows how he has spent all these years focusing on the topic of discussions, news papers, etc. things that dull his perception of his own senses as he obtains information.
This is an amazing introduction to Gestalt principals within psychology as it discusses how one can grow holes or inconsistencies within their own personality if their perception is limited or put in danger as well as how we build our minds as tools that can either grasp this reality or completely stay within our cerebral confines. This book is one that needs to be read with patience but a good portion of the psychology can be basic at times. But sometimes knowing basic principles can remind us that we forget to practice them. I have felt this when one part of the book was saying to get a greater connection with the present state of the world, you should extend focus to looking at an object and desctribing the sensual features within your head. Like a cardboard box being brown, haveing a papery texture, etc. These are essentially building blocks for having a stronger connection with your present reality and making the most of it instead of only giving the world a piece of your mind and your sense of perception altered.
If you struggle with spacial intelligence or often find yourself stuck in your head and unable to get out, this book will assist with that. It has great practices that allows for you to better define how you see reality.
After I read this book there was something missing to me. There was something I really wanted out of it that it was not able to deliver properly. This is what was holding me back from giving it a complete 5 star rating, but it was really missing a lot on how Gestalt influences the imagination and our dreams at times. The book I am reading now, The Dreams and The Underworld is a great book to read after this one. It really itches that scratch this book can leave. Other than this, again, probably one of the best books on Gestalt out there.
This is an amazing introduction to Gestalt principals within psychology as it discusses how one can grow holes or inconsistencies within their own personality if their perception is limited or put in danger as well as how we build our minds as tools that can either grasp this reality or completely stay within our cerebral confines. This book is one that needs to be read with patience but a good portion of the psychology can be basic at times. But sometimes knowing basic principles can remind us that we forget to practice them. I have felt this when one part of the book was saying to get a greater connection with the present state of the world, you should extend focus to looking at an object and desctribing the sensual features within your head. Like a cardboard box being brown, haveing a papery texture, etc. These are essentially building blocks for having a stronger connection with your present reality and making the most of it instead of only giving the world a piece of your mind and your sense of perception altered.
If you struggle with spacial intelligence or often find yourself stuck in your head and unable to get out, this book will assist with that. It has great practices that allows for you to better define how you see reality.
After I read this book there was something missing to me. There was something I really wanted out of it that it was not able to deliver properly. This is what was holding me back from giving it a complete 5 star rating, but it was really missing a lot on how Gestalt influences the imagination and our dreams at times. The book I am reading now, The Dreams and The Underworld is a great book to read after this one. It really itches that scratch this book can leave. Other than this, again, probably one of the best books on Gestalt out there.
January 15, 2011
The second half of this book, which is actually mostly the work of anarchist Paul Goodman, is an excellent expression of a phenomenological egoist relationship with the world. Well worth reading despite the use of psychoanalytic language. Too bad the book is generally credited to Perls who really wrote very little of it. The first half is mainly Hefferline's work, the second half mainly Paul Goodman's... I highly recommend reading the second half, and then, if you want to play with the ideas, go ahead and read the first half with some friends and do the experiments as games....
Currently reading
December 19, 2008I love Gestalt's focus on the present.
April 19, 2024
Ein Teil des Klassikers zur Gestalttherapie von Perls. Im Original als ein Buch erschienen, in der deutschen Neuauflage auf zwei Bände aufgeteilt.
Der vorliegende Band enthält viele praktische Übungen zur Steigerung des eigenen Gewahrseins in den verschiedensten Kontexten. Außerdem werden ausgewählte schriftliche Reaktionen von Studierenden abgedruckt, die diese Übungen vor Veröffentlichung des Buches in einem Psychologie-Kurs an der Universität getestet haben. Ich fand die Antworten manchmal befremdlich, manchmal interessant, manchmal habe ich mich selbst darin wiedergefunden.
Das Buch wirkte auf mich im Schreibstil etwas aus der Zeit gefallen, was sicherlich daran liegt, dass es in den 40ern und 50ern des letzten Jahrhunderts geschrieben wurde. Auch bei manchen Beispielen, in denen klassische Geschlechterrollen anklingen, muss man das natürlich berücksichtigen und in dem damaligen Kontext sehen. Bemerkenswerterweise finde ich, dass die meisten gesellschaftskritischen Punkte, die angesprochen werden, auch heute noch gelten.
Wer Gestalttherapie, so wie sie in der ersten Fassung von Perls entwickelt wurde, erleben möchte, kann sich mit diesem Buch auf eine Selbsterfahrungsreise begeben. Da Gestalttherapie (für mich) sehr viel von der Beziehung mit dem Gegenüber abhängt, sind die Möglichkeiten der Erfahrung mittels Buch natürlich begrenzt, dennoch finde ich das einen schönen Einstieg oder Ergänzung.
Der vorliegende Band enthält viele praktische Übungen zur Steigerung des eigenen Gewahrseins in den verschiedensten Kontexten. Außerdem werden ausgewählte schriftliche Reaktionen von Studierenden abgedruckt, die diese Übungen vor Veröffentlichung des Buches in einem Psychologie-Kurs an der Universität getestet haben. Ich fand die Antworten manchmal befremdlich, manchmal interessant, manchmal habe ich mich selbst darin wiedergefunden.
Das Buch wirkte auf mich im Schreibstil etwas aus der Zeit gefallen, was sicherlich daran liegt, dass es in den 40ern und 50ern des letzten Jahrhunderts geschrieben wurde. Auch bei manchen Beispielen, in denen klassische Geschlechterrollen anklingen, muss man das natürlich berücksichtigen und in dem damaligen Kontext sehen. Bemerkenswerterweise finde ich, dass die meisten gesellschaftskritischen Punkte, die angesprochen werden, auch heute noch gelten.
Wer Gestalttherapie, so wie sie in der ersten Fassung von Perls entwickelt wurde, erleben möchte, kann sich mit diesem Buch auf eine Selbsterfahrungsreise begeben. Da Gestalttherapie (für mich) sehr viel von der Beziehung mit dem Gegenüber abhängt, sind die Möglichkeiten der Erfahrung mittels Buch natürlich begrenzt, dennoch finde ich das einen schönen Einstieg oder Ergänzung.
July 19, 2020
Review in progress
This book is divided in three very different parts. The first is the introduction, written by someone other than Fritz and therefore readable. The third is exercises, each designed to increase your awareness of a specific sense: sight, hearing, tasting, etc. The exercises are prefaced by the explanation of their rationale and followed by testimonials from students, some of which are quite funny (though the authors make sure you know that people who give negative feedback to their proposed exercises are all repressed or immature).
Which brings us to the main hypothesis of gestation therapy: they postulate it is the lack of true attunement of the organism with the experience of its senses that get us into trouble. This lack comes to pass because as we grow up and develop, some experiences are prevented for one reason or another from coming to fruition, creating imbalances (via repression) in the organism. I can totally get behind this hypothesis since I myself use many of the suggested exercise on a daily basis: I eat slowly, I try to be aware of bodily sensations frequently, I pay attention to my breathing, etc. I told my girlfriend that Gestalt would be easy for me to practice as a psychologist because I’d just have to teach people how to be more like me. Easy enough. The problem is I’ve lived enough to realize people don’t just start incorporating healthy habits to their lives because I told them to, that’s just not how humans work. Especially people who come to therapy, it’s not like they don’t know what they should be doing at all - it’s that they can’t.
The second part though is where the problem really lies. It is Perls’ description of the theory per se and it is fucking confusing. It’s painful. To be more accurate it is 75% pain, and the 25% enough of an oasis to refresh me a resume my journey through the desert. I almost didn’t finish it, but the completion of Sting me kept pushing me forward.
This book is divided in three very different parts. The first is the introduction, written by someone other than Fritz and therefore readable. The third is exercises, each designed to increase your awareness of a specific sense: sight, hearing, tasting, etc. The exercises are prefaced by the explanation of their rationale and followed by testimonials from students, some of which are quite funny (though the authors make sure you know that people who give negative feedback to their proposed exercises are all repressed or immature).
Which brings us to the main hypothesis of gestation therapy: they postulate it is the lack of true attunement of the organism with the experience of its senses that get us into trouble. This lack comes to pass because as we grow up and develop, some experiences are prevented for one reason or another from coming to fruition, creating imbalances (via repression) in the organism. I can totally get behind this hypothesis since I myself use many of the suggested exercise on a daily basis: I eat slowly, I try to be aware of bodily sensations frequently, I pay attention to my breathing, etc. I told my girlfriend that Gestalt would be easy for me to practice as a psychologist because I’d just have to teach people how to be more like me. Easy enough. The problem is I’ve lived enough to realize people don’t just start incorporating healthy habits to their lives because I told them to, that’s just not how humans work. Especially people who come to therapy, it’s not like they don’t know what they should be doing at all - it’s that they can’t.
The second part though is where the problem really lies. It is Perls’ description of the theory per se and it is fucking confusing. It’s painful. To be more accurate it is 75% pain, and the 25% enough of an oasis to refresh me a resume my journey through the desert. I almost didn’t finish it, but the completion of Sting me kept pushing me forward.
January 31, 2022
I rated this a 4 just because it was a really hard read, I had to keep looking up words and re-reading paragraphs but I feel it was worth sticking with and I have gained some knowledge about Gestalt Therapy.
August 12, 2018
Essential
May 24, 2019
Come funziona la gestalt e come utilizzarla: in questo manuale si spiegano i meccanismi reconditi di questa affascinante e pressocché sconosciuta tecnica di analisi.
February 10, 2022
A great review of Gestalt therapy basics and history
August 16, 2022
This has got to be one of the world's most boring books. I gave it away this morning after reading the introduction and part of the first chapter.
April 21, 2024
Painfully slow. Will reread once my brain doubles its size.
August 19, 2024
Ощущается полезно, но сложно читается
Read
September 13, 2025Too verbose for me
March 16, 2025
This was my third book by Gestalt pioneers and I liked it the most. (Another two were: “The Gestalt Approach and Eye Witness to Therapy” and “Ego, Hunger and Aggression”.) It was due to the fact that it has fewer meta-psychology. This book puts a clear message about the essence of Gestalt psychotherapy: importance of awareness combined with creative adjustment in order to finish unfinished situations and grow. The authors characterize awareness by a good contact with the actuality (figure/background) which is a part of the Self (Id, Ego, Personality).
There are a lot of dichotomies in the book. And very often it is not very clear how to integrate those two poles one into another. It's because theoretical part of the book is hard to follow due to the long structures of the sentences. On the other hand - practical part of the book looks very useful. It reminds me of some mindfulness exercises.
Alike other two books by F. Perls, this one also has a lot of criticism to S. Freud. And I think this could be avoided because it gives a feeling of a doubtful superiority show-off of the authors.
This book strengthened my belief that Gestalt is body related therapy filled with egocentricity. I liked the approach to avoid imposing on a client a “truth” of the psychotherapist and instead of that to help develop his own potentialities. A proposal to look for creativity examples in spontaneous childish behavior looked very interesting.
“The problem of psychotherapy is to enlist the patient’s power of creative adjustment without forcing it into the stereotype of the therapist’s scientific conception. <...> We do not ask the patient not to censor, but to concentrate on how he censors, withdraws, falls silent, with what muscles, images, or blanks. Thus a bridge is made for him to begin to feel himself actively repressing, and then he can himself begin to relax the repression. <...> To observe your self as action. <...> The patient is taught to experience himself. <...> Every healthy contact involves awareness (perceptual figure/ ground) and excitement (increased energy mobilization).”
I see benefits of using presented ideas of Gestalt psychology in practice, but it is not easy to stay aware (concentrated) all the time and to change your behavior which is deeply rooted in your blood. Anyway, the authors encourage you to take this action.
6 out of 10.
There are a lot of dichotomies in the book. And very often it is not very clear how to integrate those two poles one into another. It's because theoretical part of the book is hard to follow due to the long structures of the sentences. On the other hand - practical part of the book looks very useful. It reminds me of some mindfulness exercises.
Alike other two books by F. Perls, this one also has a lot of criticism to S. Freud. And I think this could be avoided because it gives a feeling of a doubtful superiority show-off of the authors.
This book strengthened my belief that Gestalt is body related therapy filled with egocentricity. I liked the approach to avoid imposing on a client a “truth” of the psychotherapist and instead of that to help develop his own potentialities. A proposal to look for creativity examples in spontaneous childish behavior looked very interesting.
“The problem of psychotherapy is to enlist the patient’s power of creative adjustment without forcing it into the stereotype of the therapist’s scientific conception. <...> We do not ask the patient not to censor, but to concentrate on how he censors, withdraws, falls silent, with what muscles, images, or blanks. Thus a bridge is made for him to begin to feel himself actively repressing, and then he can himself begin to relax the repression. <...> To observe your self as action. <...> The patient is taught to experience himself. <...> Every healthy contact involves awareness (perceptual figure/ ground) and excitement (increased energy mobilization).”
I see benefits of using presented ideas of Gestalt psychology in practice, but it is not easy to stay aware (concentrated) all the time and to change your behavior which is deeply rooted in your blood. Anyway, the authors encourage you to take this action.
6 out of 10.
May 8, 2021
It's taken me over 10 years to read this book, and I will probably spend many more years revisiting it. I'm very thankful that my dad came across this book during his years doing psychotherapy, and then kept telling me about Gestalt and how it helped him overcome toxic dynamics and reduce his levels of anxiety and stress.
This book has helped me understand key aspects of the human personality, and I consider it a very valuable body of knowledge on the subject.
It's not easy to digest; the concepts are complex, as is the human mind. Then, with time, all the pieces start fitting together. And at times it's mind blowing!
It has been of great help to me during all these years of psychotherapy, as understanding the psyche mechanisms allowed me to go deeper in my inner work. The exercises have been very useful; they facilitate an increase of awareness within oneself, and also of my understanding of the people I interact with.
This book has helped me understand key aspects of the human personality, and I consider it a very valuable body of knowledge on the subject.
It's not easy to digest; the concepts are complex, as is the human mind. Then, with time, all the pieces start fitting together. And at times it's mind blowing!
It has been of great help to me during all these years of psychotherapy, as understanding the psyche mechanisms allowed me to go deeper in my inner work. The exercises have been very useful; they facilitate an increase of awareness within oneself, and also of my understanding of the people I interact with.
October 29, 2015
4 stars for Gestalt as a therapy practice. 3 stars for the 1950's scientific writing style which can be quite a headache to read.
Separation of mind and body is not possible. We are our environment.
If you are curious on the subject, this feels like an appropriate place to start. I'm looking forward to reading another book on the subject... but where to start?
Separation of mind and body is not possible. We are our environment.
If you are curious on the subject, this feels like an appropriate place to start. I'm looking forward to reading another book on the subject... but where to start?
Read
October 30, 20105/5/5/5/5
August 29, 2016
A handbook.
November 24, 2014
Хорошая книга, временами посещали важные инсайты, однако русскому изданию и тексту не хватает аккуратности оформления.
May 19, 2015
Bis Seite 227 gelesen.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews