ERIC Number: EJ1072263
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Jul
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1037-2911
EISSN: N/A
Gestalt Therapy: Student Perceptions of Fritz Perls in "Three Approaches to Psychotherapy"
Reilly, Joe; Jacobus, Veronica
Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, v19 n1 p14-24 Jul 2009
The "Three Approaches to Psychotherapy" ("TAP") videotape series introduces students to three major schools of psychotherapy: client-centered therapy, Gestalt therapy, and rational-emotive therapy. A sample of undergraduate students viewed the "TAP" series. The students were surveyed about their observations of Gestalt therapy and Fritz Perls' interactions with and treatment of Gloria, the client. This importance of the film series is its presentation of psychotherapy as done in that time by the founders of these schools. Videotapes are routinely employed educationally to show therapy techniques and illuminate theory. This paper examines the usefulness of this video to teach gestalt therapy to psychology students in four sections--two underclass and two upper class sections--in the same term. Student perceptions of this 40-year-old film series are explored. The gender relationship of therapist and client is shown as an example of the apparent sexism of the culture and cognitive processes of the time and its participants. Results found to today's instructionally sophisticated students agreed with Perls' explanation and portrayal of gestalt therapy and interactions with Gloria, his adult client.
Descriptors: Psychotherapy, Student Attitudes, Undergraduate Students, Student Surveys, Video Technology, Gender Bias, Gender Differences, Culture, Cognitive Processes
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A