ABSTRACT
The authors present consideration of certain epistemological and methodological preliminaries as presented by Mahrer, Rychlak, as well as Yontef. Mahrer's restrictions seem to contradict the clinical experience of many Gestaltists, who frequently use techniques borrowed from other approaches. For Gestalt theory, the past is part of the total Field and does not determine the present. In integrating psychoanalytic concepts with Gestalt therapy, certain rules must be applied. Yontef advances five recommendations that the authors intend to respect. These include speak in terms of processes to avoid returning to Newtonian and pre-Newtonian thinking, and only the complete person acts, never a part of the person. These also include action is a result of a choice, formulate concepts in a way that respects the dynamics of the Field, and better use of psychoanalytic concepts: awareness of fundamental dynamics as well as developmental factors.
