Addiction ruins not only one life but a whole family. It results in selfishness, illogical thinking, job loss and broken relationships. Once hooked on a substance, one loses the ability to make sound decisions for the betterment of their life. However, all is not lost. Gestalt therapy is an effective treatment for substance abuse, or any form of addiction, and it can restore one's mind, body and life per se to a healthy state.
What Causes Addiction?
Addiction has several contributing factors, and neither of these is less harmful than the others. Regardless of a person's reason for drug or alcohol dependence, it will lead to the same ordeal. Here below are the most common causes of addiction:
- Family issues
- Environment
- Curiosity
- Peer pressure
- Trauma
- Anxiety or depression
Gestalt Therapy Defined
Gestalt therapy is a person-centered therapy that focuses on the human experience in the present moment. The therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client is the most important aspect of a gestalt therapy program, which is a form of existential therapy that involves a dialogue exchange between the therapist and the client, and a separate dialogue between the client and self.
The goal of a gestalt therapy program is to make a person completely conscious of their personal experiences, no matter how long ago they took place, in the present moment, rather than refer to them as past events. In a therapy session, the client re-experiences those issues using different techniques courtesy of the therapist to find closure.
In addition to being a holistic approach to treating a range of mental health issues, Gestalt therapy can also assist people with substance use disorders in their recovery process and regaining their sense of control in life.
Who Can Benefit From Gestalt Therapy?
Anyone who's suffering from contrasting thoughts, emotions or behaviours can benefit from a Gestalt therapy session. It can help them deal with repeating patterns in their life and piece together parts of themselves scattered in the past because of traumatic or painful experiences. This unique treatment program will help them achieve an integrated wholeness of themselves and live completely in the present.
Gestalt therapy's diverse therapeutic techniques can address a wide range of psychological, emotional and physical conditions, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Addiction
- Trauma
- Bipolar disorder
- Personality disorders
- Grief and loss
- Relationship difficulties
- Low self-esteem
- Chronic pain
- Psychosomatic disorder
How Can Gestalt Therapy Treat Addiction?
Getting an individual to exist in the present moment is the goal of Gestalt therapy. If they're stuck in the past, they won't be able to resolve their issues because they're not in touch with their senses and emotions. In a therapy session for addiction, the therapist employs gentle questions to guide their client slowly towards experiencing their bodily sensations and environment.
The therapist's questions aim to remove what Gestalt therapy founder Fritz Perls calls the five layers of neurosis, to allow the client to achieve their authentic self. A substance use disorder makes a person act in an inauthentic way, pretending everything's normal to conceal their interpersonal issues that are rooted in their internal conflicts. The therapeutic approach of Gestalt therapy allows people with substance use disorders to go through the different stages of recovery at their own pace.
Underneath the first layer of neurosis called phony, where the person pretends to be something they are not, is the phobic layer. On this second level, the person resorts to self-denial to avoid pain. At the third layer called impasse, they are adamant about changing, but their self-awareness increases at the fourth layer called implosive. After working through these four layers, the client can finally reach the explosive layer and express their true feelings regarding their addiction without inhibition.
Gestalt Therapy Techniques for Addiction
In this client-centred therapy, the practitioner uses one or more therapeutic techniques to motivate their client to address the root cause of their substance use disorder and assist in their addiction recovery. This type of therapy requires the active participation of the client in each psychodynamic approach to achieve their primary goal.
The only thing that remains constant throughout the therapy session is the usage of the present tense. The therapist will never refer to the issue that brought about the client's substance abuse disorder as a past event; they will always refer to it as something that exists in the present. They will encourage the client to use the "I" pronoun more than "it" or "they" to develop a sense of responsibility for their decisions and actions rather than put the blame on others.
However, of all the techniques used in Gestalt therapy, many people who've tried it swear by the empty chair technique. It's similar to role-playing but involves a dialogue with oneself or somebody from their past. The exchange will help the client identify the core issues of their addiction and make the necessary changes to overcome it and improve their emotional wellbeing and behaviour pattern.
If you're struggling with addiction, getting in touch with a qualified Gestalt therapist in your local area will help you put an end to it for good. You can find one through the Natural Therapy Pages' extensive list of mental health professionals, or you can also check out other natural treatments for different addictions.
Originally published on Oct 23, 2020
