Biography Of Fritz Perls And His Contributions To Psychology
The Gestalt Therapy developed by Fritz Perls, Laura Perls and Paul Goodman in the 1940s, is a humanistic-existentialist therapy model 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 It can be translated into Spanish as “form” or “contour”.
In a previous article we talked in depth about the Gestalt psychology If you have not read it yet, we invite you to do so:
“Gestalt psychology: fundamental laws and principles”
Talking about Gestalt Therapy is talking about Fritz Perls
Talking about Gestalt Therapy is talking about its creator: Fritz Perls Therefore, let’s start by reviewing his biography.
Fritz Perls Biography
Friedrich (Fritz) perls was born in Berlin in 1893. He was a medical student, but shortly before he began First World War He interrupted his studies. However, although at the age of 21 he enlisted in the Red Cross, this was not an obstacle for him to continue his studies. So, In 1920 he obtained a doctorate in Medicine and specialized in Neuropsychiatry to
Three years later, Fritz begins his journey as a globetrotter and makes a series of trips (for example to the United States) in order to expand his knowledge regarding his new profession. In 1926 he met Karen Horney, with whom he would share 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. Therefore, Fritz became interested in psychoanalytic psychology, although later, in contrast to psychoanalysis, Fritz created Gestalt Therapy
In 1930, he married 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 Psychoanalysis; In 1942 he published his first book, “Ego, Hunger and Aggression”; and from 1942 to 1946, He worked as a psychiatrist in the South African army
Travel 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 time with Wilhelm Reich and Karen Horney, but soon began working with Paul Goodman in Manhattan. Together with him and with Ralph Hefferline, published the book “Gestalt Therapy: Arousal and Growth of Human Personality” based on the research and clinical data of Fritz Perls
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 spread his ideas throughout the United States and began to hold 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 assumed directorship 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 Gestalt Therapy 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 states that the mind is a self-regulating and holistic unit, and is based on the principle that “he “Everything is more than the sum of the parts.”
If you want to know 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 is more than just psychotherapy
Gestalt Therapy It is considered a model of humanistic psychotherapy and places its emphasis on the present moment and self-awareness of the emotional and bodily experience generally censored in Western culture.
One of its peculiarities is that It is not considered a simple psychotherapy, but an authentic philosophy of life, which influences the individual’s way of perceiving relationships with the world. Therefore, and following the Gestalt principle of “everything 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 this one in his global experience
In search of self-awareness
His practice uses “insight” regarding the patient’s experiences, encouraging him to creatively explore ways to find his own satisfaction in the different areas of his life The basis of this therapeutic model is the patient’s self-awareness regarding his behavior, his emotions, his feelings, his perceptions and his sensations. Therefore, the focus is not only on explaining the origins of the difficulties and pain that the individual may feel, but also on allowing people to experiment and experiment with new solutions. The how is more important 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 capacity of dialogue, and is more concerned with the bond of trust with it, with the aim of increasing the authenticity of the relationship Although Fritz studied medicine, Gestalt Therapy is more of an educational approach than a medical one.
