Gestalt is essentially an optimistic approach, holding that we are all trying to do the best we can within a particular set of circumstances, and that even the most ‘unhelpful’ behaviour is serving an important purpose for us. Gestalt also holds that in an ideal world, we become aware of what we need (e.g. to feel happy, successful, satisfied), then mobilise energy to act in order to get those needs met. Sadly for most of us it’s not an ideal world all of the time and sometimes we get ‘blocked’, either in not being clear enough about what our real needs are or in our ability to find a way of acting to get our needs met. The Gestalt coach then, engages in partnership with the client in an exploration of what sense the client is making of his or her world, raising awareness of how he or she is blocking effectiveness, and seeking ways (through reflections from the coach and active experimentation) to act to become more effective in the world.
