Taking another turn: the relational turn in Gestalt therapy revisited

Abstract

"Abstract: In this paper I first depict the individualistic period of Gestalt therapy, as it became well known in the 1960s and ’70s. Subsequently, I describe the ‘relational turn’ that took place in the ’80s and resulted in today’s widespread understanding of Gestalt therapy as a relational approach. The specific understanding of relationality that is characteristic of this approach is then scrutinised and its weaknesses are pointed out. Finally a new concept, called ‘strong relationality’, is outlined and some exemplary clinical implications are proposed. En route of my argument, I also try to demonstrate that Gestalt Therapy (Perls, Hefferline and Goodman, 1951) has both individualistic and relational elements, the latter of which include aspects of both weak and strong relationality. Key words: community, developmental psychology, dialogue, history of Gestalt therapy, individualism, relational turn, relationality (weak, strong)."