A therapist - client dance in a difficult emotional field: How to remain stable and elegant as a therapist using the concepts of self-strenghtening, awareness and contact cycle
Abstract
This article deals with a therapeutic situation in which the client brings in such emotions that are for any reason difficult to deal with for the therapist. The focus is then on therapist's emotions and the fact that his/her own way of dealing with his/her emotions and needs inevitably influences and changes the therapeutic field.
This article analyzes such situations in the realm of Gestalt terminology and uses the metaphor of dance to seek out possible ways of how to take care and protect oneself and at the same time to not lose authentic contact and dialogue with the client. The therapist needs to deal with similar issues as a dancer - s/he struggles for a fragile balance among stability, flexibility, effectiveness and aesthetics.
The most important concepts are therapist's self-awareness, self-strengthening, and the contact cycle disruptions.