Biography of Fritz Perls and his contributions to psychology.

We review the life and work of the creator of Gestalt Therapy.

The Gestalt Therapydeveloped by Fritz Perls, Laura Perls y Paul Goodman in the 1940s, is a humanistic-existentialist model of therapy that was originally designed as an alternative to conventional psychoanalysis.

Gestalt therapists use experiential and creative techniques to enhance the patient's self-awareness, freedom and self-direction. The German word Gestalt can be translated into English as "form" or "contour".

In a previous article we talked in depth about the Gestalt Psychology. If you have not yet read it, we invite you to do so:

"Gestalt Psychology: fundamental laws and principles".

To talk about Gestalt Therapy is to talk about Fritz Perls.

To talk about Gestalt Therapy is to talk about its creator: Fritz Perls. Therefore, let's start by reviewing his biography.

Biography of Fritz Perls

Friedrich (Fritz) Perls was born in Berlin in 1893. He was a medical student, but shortly before the beginning of the First World War interrupted his studies. However, although at the age of 21 he enlisted in the Red Cross, this did not prevent him from continuing his studies. Thus, in 1920 he obtained a doctorate in medicine, in 1920 he obtained a doctorate in medicine and specialized in neuropsychiatry.a.

Three years later, Fritz became a globetrotter and made a series of trips (e.g. to the United States) in order to expand his knowledge of his new profession. In 1926 he meets Karen Horney, with whom he shares a close relationship. Thanks to her, he became interested in psychoanalysis and began to study it in different centers and institutes, thus becoming a psychoanalyst. Thus, he became a psychoanalyst, Fritz became interested in psychoanalytic psychology, although later, as opposed to psychoanalysis, Fritz created Gestalt Therapy..

His life in South Africa with Laura Perls

In 1930, he marries Laura Posner, later known as Laura Perls. Due to Hitler's regime and Nazi Germany, in 1933, he decided to emigrate to Johannesburg (South Africa). There he founded the South African Institute of PsychoanalysisIn 1942 he published his first book, "Ego, Hunger and Aggression"; and from 1942 to 1946 he worked as a psychiatrist in the South African Institute of Psychoanalysis, worked as a psychiatrist in the South African Army..

Journey to the United States and the consolidation of Gestalt Therapy.

In 1946, he moved with his family to New York where he worked for a while with Wilhelm Reich and Karen Horney, but soon after he started working with Paul Goodman in Manhattan. Together with Paul Goodman and Ralph Hefferline, published the book "Gestalt Therapy: Excitement and Growth of the Human Personality" based on Fritz Perls' research and clinical data..

In 1951 he founded the New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy and began to train psychologists interested in his therapeutic model. It was then that Fritz Perls spread his ideas throughout the United States and began to conduct seminars and workshops in different countries around the world.

In 1964, Fritz Perls moved to California to teach Gestalt Therapy as a way of life rather than as a therapy model at the Esalen Institute in California, with which he became associated, and Laura Perls took over the direction of the New York Institute. In 1969 he moved to Canada and established a community for therapists.. On March 14, 1970 he died in Chicago.

Fritz Perls' contribution to psychology

Fritz Perls will always be remembered as the father of the Gestalt TherapyGestalt Psychology, a therapeutic model that not only has its roots in Gestalt Psychology, but is also influenced by psychoanalysis, Reich's character analysis, existential philosophy, Eastern religion, phenomenology and Moreno's psychodrama.

Gestalt Psychology affirms that the mind is a self-regulating and holistic unit, and is based on the principle that "the whole is more than the sum of its parts"..

If you want to learn more about Gestalt Therapy, we invite you to read our article:

"Gestalt Therapy: what is it and what principles is it based on?"

Gestalt Therapy, more than just psychotherapy

Gestalt Therapy is considered a model of humanistic psychotherapy and emphasizes the present moment and the self-awareness of the emotional and bodily experience, generally censured in Western culture.experience, generally censored in Western culture.

One of its particularities is that is not considered a simple psychotherapy, but an authentic philosophy of life, which influences the way the individual perceives relationships with the world.It influences the way the individual perceives his or her relationship with the world. Therefore, and following the Gestalt principle of "the whole is more than the sum of its parts", the human being is seen from a holistic and unifying perspective, integrating at the same time, its sensory, affective, intellectual, social and spiritual dimensions, and understanding it in its global experience. global experience.

In search of self-awareness

His practice utilizes insight into the patient's experiences, encouraging the patient to explore creatively how to find his or her own satisfaction in the different areas of his or her life.. The basis of this therapeutic model is the patient's self-awareness of his or her behavior, emotions, feelings, perceptions and sensations. Therefore, it is not only focused on explaining the origins of the difficulties and Pain that the individual may feel, but it allows experimenting and experiencing new solutions. It is more important the how than the why, that is, when an individual understands how he does what he does, he can understand why he does it.

The therapist does not tell the patient what to do, but rather uses the educational uses the educational capacity of dialogue, and is more concerned with the bond of trust with the patient, in order to increase the authenticity of the relationship.. Although Fritz studied medicine, Gestalt Therapy is an educational rather than a medical approach.