A Martian view of Fritz Perls and Gestalt therapy

After defining perlsisms and a more-encompassing Peris-ism, the author differentiates Perlsian Gestalt therapy from Gestalt therapy which is not necessarily Perlsian. As seen through the eyes of a Martian, not influenced by the powerful personal appeal of Fritz Perls, at least eighteen differences can be seen.     

An Analysis of How Carl Rogers Enacted Client‐Centered Conversation With Gloria

This study analyzed Carl Rogers's session with Gloria in Three Approaches to Psychotherapy (E. L. Shostrom, 1965a) to determine how Rogers's conversational style functioned to enact his core conditions of empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard. Rogers's conversational style was found to be congruent with his espoused theory as well as a catalyst for client‐centered counseling. The authors suggest that despite the film's popularity, the “client‐centeredness” of the therapeutic interaction between Carl Rogers and Gloria has been previously underrecognized.     

Current Treatment Practices for Children and Adults With Trichotillomania: Consensus Among Experts

Very little is known regarding the efficacy of pharmacological and psychosocial treatments for children and adults with trichotillomania (TTM). Given this dearth of information, the present investigation sought to examine the treatment practices of members of the nationally recognized Trichotillomania Learning Center–Scientific Advisory Board (TLC-SAB) and practitioners known by members of the TLC-SAB to possess extensive experience working with this population. The responses of 67 practitioners to an Internet-based survey were examined. Our results clearly indicate that cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) is the treatment of choice for both children and adults with TTM. In particular, several components of CBT (i.e., awareness training, self-monitoring, competing response training, habit reversal training, and stimulus control) are implemented most often. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, e.g., citalopram, fluoxetine) and serotonin-norepinepherine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs, e.g., venlafaxine, duloxetine) were prescribed most frequently; however, these results are preliminary given our small sample of prescribing practitioners (n = 11). Taken together, these findings are a critical starting point to advancing the understanding of efficacious interventions for the treatment of individuals with TTM. Clinical and research implications, future areas of research, and study limitations are discussed.     

Individual and Family Growth: A Gestalt Approach

Gestalt therapy is described as a comprehensive framework of theory and techniques for experiential family therapy. Like other experientially oriented therapies, it is systems-oriented, immediate-experience-oriented, and affect-oriented. Unlike others, this method regards the client system's emergent processes as the central focus, and it emphasizes that growth occurs as the family and its members are helped to greater self-awareness and responsibility for their own functioning.     

Serving Clients With Hearing Loss: Best Practices in Mental Health Counseling

This article examines the risk factors and characteristics of clients with hearing loss, including inequitable access to education and mental health care services, financial barriers, communication problems, and societal discrimination. Culturally specific counseling approaches and techniques for mental health counselors serving clients with hearing loss are presented, with a focus on building counselor competency and client employment skills. The use of interpreters in therapeutic settings is also discussed.     

Consulting With Teachers in Two Areas: Grief and Mourning: Relaxation Techniques

Consultation with teachers remains untried by many counselors despite mandates, role definitions, and models for consultation. Barriers include the preference for the status quo and the lack of information and preparation. Involvement and training can help overcome these barriers. Two possible consultation areas are grief management and relaxation training. Grief is the normal reaction to any kind of loss. Being aware of the various stages is the first step in helping someone through the grief process. Relaxation techniques can be learned with proper guidance. Before tying any new ideas, however, counselors and teachers must have sufficient information and training.     

Gestalt Therapy and Feminist Therapy: A Proposed Integration

A proposal is offered for integrating the Gestalt goals of self-responsibility with a feminist perspective that places value on the web of relationships in women's lives and focuses attention on the environmental constraints and socialization that affect women's choices.     

Evidence‐Based Effective Practices With Older Adults

Older persons constitute an increasingly large population with significant mental health challenges. The authors review outcome research for both diagnosable conditions and late‐life transitions as a basis for evidence‐based practice with this population. Implications for clinical practice in professional counseling, counselor education and supervision, and research are considered.     

Narcissism beyond Gestalt and awareness: The name letter effect

‘Mere belongingness to self’ is tested as a sufficient condition for the enhancement of the attractiveness of visual letter stimuli. Experimental evidence is presented that, independent of visual, acoustical, aesthetic, semantic and frequency characteristics, letters belonging to own first and/or family name are preferred above not-own name letters. The effect is obtained in the absence of awareness of the Gestalt of any name, thus challenging current understanding of fundamental affective processes.