Shame in Gestalt Psychotherapy

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Essay: Working with Shame Consider the following quote then answer the questions below with reference to literature, both the readings suggested and your own literature research. “Support allows the person to take risks, and shame (perhaps in the form of embarrassment . shyness or mild disappointment ) allows the person to pull back where there is no immediate support.” ( Lee, 1995) 1.Discuss the Nature of Shame from a Gestalt perspective In his article ‘The foundation for a clearer understanding of field dynamics’ (1995 pp 14-22) Lee explains shame in the following way :“Shame is a relational or field variable that is continually ready to inform us of the perceived possibility that our desires and urges are not supported by others who are important to us” As this indicates, the part that shame plays in Gestalt is one of a regulator. Shame acts as a balancing act not only to provide an indication of what is ok and what is not ok in our day to day lives, but to also direct experiences with ourselves and others. Shame also acts as a protector or boundary to know when ones behaviours or actions may not be appropriate, or well received in a social context; shame is a necessary and natural emotion that can at best protect deepest our yearnings as humans. Shame can give us an indication of how we are being received and accepted by others. As a regulator of contact shame has the ability to modify our contact experience dependant to the relative field conditions. It is important to look at the effects of shame at the other end of the scale, Lee discuss’s Tomkins and Kaufmans thoughts in detail ‘The foundation for a clearer understanding of field dynamics’ (1995 pp 14-22): “ shame binds ( otherwise known as an introject in gestalt terms) form when a persons, feelings, needs or sense of purpose ,( i.e the building blocks of ways of being in the world”) are
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