The traditional approach to change looks for the whys and puts a strong focus on the perceived pattern of change.
After four years of dynamic therapy and three years of schema therapy, I felt I had developed a deep self-awareness of my patterns and functioning, yet I could not effectively apply what I had learned in therapy. I had many interpretations and theories in my head, yet I felt no closer to my goal. All the interpretations were taking me further and further away from what I was feeling and who I was, and I was becoming more and more disconnected from myself.
We all want to change—to change our perceived bad habits, our patterns, our life situations.
How do you feel?
A question that's often asked in everyday interactions, and answers similar to the following are given:
Without knowing what I feel, how could I change life situations?
Without being able to connect to my own feelings, how can I expect to connect with others? You cannot connect to reality through thoughts alone. As long as we are only on the plane of thought, we are not able to connect with ourselves and our environment. Perception is interrupted, and no connection is made.
"I feel that my colleague does not like me."
"I feel like you shouldn't have done this to me."
These are actually thoughts, not feelings. These days, we often confuse the two.
In my view, this is the most fundamental shortcoming of therapies with a cognitive focus only: the client spends most of their time on the plane of thought, thus moving away from their body.
In Gestalt therapy, we focus on the how rather than the why.
We explore how we shape situations. We increase our awareness of our own functioning, and our main goal is to be able to connect with ourselves and our environment.
If I am able to connect with myself and my environment, change will naturally start.
Just as a blade of grass can find its way under a rock, we can discover new directions and grow if we are aware of obstacles and connect with ourselves and our environment.
As a third-year, still-in-training, Gestalt therapy student, I invite you on this journey. My goal in our work together is to support you in building a deeper connection with yourself so that you can make real, lasting changes in your life.
The services I provide are not considered health care and are not psychotherapy. I do not work with mental illness.
Book an appointment for a free 50-minute introductory chat to see how we can work together.
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Let's get in touch!
Send a few lines about yourself here, or contact me by email at tobbmintgondolat@gmail.com .
Studies & qualifications
September 2022 - ongoing: Gestalt Therapy Training, Budapest Gestalt Institute / under the patronage of the Norwegian Gestalt Institute
August 2023: Raising the awareness of contact cycle embodied - Workshop / Anne Berthelin
November 2023: Somatic Experiencing Introductory Workshop / Ariel Giarretto
September 2024 - ongoing: Gestalting - Processing Trauma with the Gestalt Approach, Workshop series / Elisabeth Helene Sæther
