C atherine Hervais practices the Gestalt therapy in which she was trained. Her methods are those of Fritz Perls, the creator of this psychotherapy that integrates Freudian psychoanalysis, Willem Reich’s character analysis, phenomenology, Gestalt psychology, existential analysis, and Morenian psychodrama.
“What are you doing now?” “How are you feeling at this moment?” “What are you trying to avoid?” “What do you want, what do you expect from me?”. (...) Everyone is responsible for themselves and their therapy, which promotes autonomous behavior and decision-making. Gestalt therapy is not coddling, but confrontational. «I’m not responsible for who I am, but I am responsible for what I do with who I am.» J.P. Sartre . The subject in therapy is not a passive patient who submits to medical treatment or an esoteric method, but is a partner, even an active co-therapist. Whereas some therapies focus on the past, Gestalt therapy substitutes the experimental search for solutions: “testing things out”, through metaphoric or symbolic efforts: 1 - To feel, by opening up one’s sensory channels and full consciousness; Over time, Gestalt therapy stopped being practiced in this way. The way it is practiced today, influenced by other humanistic therapies like Carl Rogers’ approach, is no longer as effective. It is too welcoming, too coddling, too focused on creating a therapeutic alliance that is not viable with this type of personality. People with addictive personalities need to work on authenticity, even a certain level of transparency. Those who are authentic have to learn how to manage their difficulties in affective relationships. They do not need to tell their life stories from A to Z, but to discover who they are: to take responsibility for their feelings and become emotionally conversant. Therapists are generally too gentle, too friendly, and too protective. It is better not to coddle these patients, which can lead to progress for those who are still looking for a mother figure, or those who have given up looking, but feel disappointed by their failed search… I have attended many groups led by Catherine Hervais, who is quick to confront participants in her groups. This is not done violently, sometimes it is even done warmly, but authenticity is the principle axis in therapy for these patients. The therapeutic process teaches them not to escape into rationalization or seduction. They practice identifying their emotions in the present moment of the session, and expressing them. Catherine is always careful to be totally authentic… To conclude, classic Gestalt therapy in groups like those of Catherine Hervais’ practice seem to me to be the best solutions for the deep-rooted personality troubles, which are linked to psychic regression to the oral stage of psychological development, of eating disorders. Charles Gellman |
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The process of Gestalt therapy is phenomenological, and privileges description more than explanation. Of interest is not only the “why?” of things, but also the “how?”. “Here, now, and how?".