ABSTRACT
Humanistic psychotherapy is a rich field. Within this field there are several named specialities, each of which deserves separate treatment. The first of these is Gestalt therapy. Gestalt therapy can be carried out on a one-to-one basis, or in a group. But even in a group, it is usually one person who is the focus of attention, and the therapist is usually working with one person at a time. Traditionally, Gestalt therapists have diagnosed by paying attention to the phenomenon in the moment. At some point an aspect of behavior becomes interesting, something stands out, and a pattern emerges. The pattern might lead to a diagnostic statement such as, 'The patient appears to be retroflecting' (constricting his or her emotions). The remaining therapeutic work in that session might be focused on that retroflection. Some Gestaltists (like Isadore From) adopt the whole Freudian apparatus of Ego, Id and Superego, which seems extraordinary.
