3 learnings from Gestalt psychotherapy that help me as a researcher

I am sure I am not the only researcher who’s sometimes felt like a therapist during an interview: those moments where you really connect with your participant, hearing about their lives… things can get deep quite quickly and I’ve always felt privileged to be able to hold that space for someone, although not always best equipped.  I discovered Gestalt therapy in 2020, whilst trying to recover from burnout in the middle of the pandemic. I was really drawn by its present-centred approach, which felt so refreshing and grounding. In Gestalt, we focus on the here and now: what is actual rather than what is potential or what is past.  I have now been training in Gestalt counselling for the past two years, alongside my work as a qualitative researcher at Humankind Research, and here are three key learnings from my training that have helped me develop as a researcher and moderator. 1. Field theory  What is it: Gestalt psychology borrows a lot from ‘field theory’ in modern physics, where all phenomena is seen as inextricably linked, part of a vast network of interaction which is called ‘the field’. In Gestalt therapy, a huge focus of the therapeutic work is the interactions which occur in the here and now of the therapy meeting. In other words, the actual relationship between the therapist and the client is an integral part of the work. How it applies to research: I see field theory as particularly applicable to my role as a researcher: I am, just as my participant is, very much part of the field when conducting an interview. And with that, not only do I bring my own field, but I also bring the power dynamic of researcher vs. participant, which ultimately influences the field of the interview. This is something that we are all aware of as researchers, and train very hard to minimise. At Humankind Research, we pride ourselves on being participant-led in order to do just that, but we obviously cannot entirely remove ourselves from the equation. So, I wonder if a big part of this process is to bring awareness to it, at all stages of the research: “The method can really only be an attempt to make you aware of your judgments and reactions to the [participant] and to the relationship in order to allow a clearer perspective and understanding.” (Latner, 2000, p21). By being aware of how we make contact with each other as researchers, and with our research participants, we can bring that into our analysis process to provide clear insights.   2. The importance of reflecting back  What is it: The most ‘basic’ and crucial tool that I’ve learned so far is how to reflect back what my client is saying to me, in my own words, with no interpretation (e.g. “What I’ve heard you say is…”; “My understanding is…”; “in a sense, what you’re saying is…”). This is not particularly a Gestalt tool, but it is very much at the core of any therapeutic work. By reflecting back to the client, you are letting them know that you are present and actively listening to them. It is also a way to ensure that you’ve understood what they’ve said and ensures that you are checking and limiting your assumptions.   How it applies to research: This is something that I was familiar with as a moderator, especially as a way to check that you’ve properly understood your participant’s point. What I’ve become more aware of is how powerful that tool is in showing your client/participant that they are heard. I see this as an essential part of creating and holding that space for your participant: being heard, or actively listened to is at the basis of building a trusting relationship between people, which is so essential to our work as researchers. This is something that I strive to do, especially at the beginning of particularly sensitive interviews to ensure that I’m establishing contact with the participant and to signal that I am actively listening to them.   3. Unconditional Positive Regard   What is it: This idea was developed by Carl Rogers, one of the founders of person-centred therapy. At its core, Unconditional Positive Regard is the idea that the therapist accepts the client as they are, and it asks of therapists that their attitudes towards their clients are deep and warm. To have Unconditional Positive Regard towards your client means that you accept your clients in their entirety, and ultimately, trust them to make the right decisions for themselves.    How it applies to research: As a researcher, and as a strong-believer in being person-led, I find this inspiring. It asks of us to let go of our assumptions, and truly trust others. I strive to practice unconditional positive regard throughout my research process: from fieldwork, to analysis, to write-up. To me, this is at the core of being a good researcher: our job is to relay stories of our participants, to stay true to them, and to do so in a caring way.   

By Lola Godeau

Project Director

Sources:  

Joyce, P & Sills, C. Skills in Gestalt Counselling & Psychotherapy, Sage, 2018  Latner & Nevis, EC. Gestalt Therapy: Perspectives and Applications, Gestalt Press, 2000 Perls, F, The Gestalt Approach & Eye Witness to Therapy, Bantam Books, 1976.  Rogers. C.R. A theory of therapy, personality and interpersonal relationships as developed in the client-centered framework. In S. Koch (Ed.) Psychology: a study of a science, vol III. Formulations of the person and the social context. New York: McGraw Hill, 1959.