(a) Mind, body, soul are one. 
(b) We "own" some parts and not others

-Are you extroverted/introverted?
If extroverted, when are you introverted?
-You're both kind and mean.

a. What do you see in picture?

• Vase may be figural
• Contents may be figural
b. What does C see as figure?  What do C and T agree to treat as the figure?
c. Figure may go in and out, or just be a single figure.


-Fixed figure. Everything is seen as an exemplar of figure (for example, everything people do or say is seen as support of the idea that "people hate me.")


d. What is ground (e.g., ethnicity, friends, what you had for lunch, QPA)? How does ground change the figure?
e. If you get stuck in therapy, ask what is figural for you? For your client? Putting figures out on the table and discussing them is a way of understanding what the OP is thinking.

3. Cycle of Awareness

a. Only major goal of Gestalt Therapy is to help P become more aware.


Beginning: Sensation (of dryness in mouth)
Awareness (aware that you're thirsty) and place where we can be choiceful
Mobilization (go get water)
Middle of cycle:  Contact (water hits mouth) connect with someone. else.
End of cycle:  Withdrawal need is satisfied
      Integration (goal is met and moves into the background)
Brief period of nothingness. A second of stopping, just being.  If we don't make the whole circle, we get stuck. 


(1) Eating disorders: get stuck in sensation, but don't become aware of real needs that they satisfy. 
(2) Want to make meaningful contact with a friend, a wide variety of ways we can do this.  When we do, can integrate.  We work towards good contact with Os. But do you really want contact 24/7 and with everyone?



b. The path through the cycle should be choiceful and aware, and based on current situation, rather than early experience.
c. Contact style, rather than defense mechanisms.  (Notice the respect way that this approach accepts the style, while also challenging the person to become choiceful in using these styles?) Contact style may work for us and be an attempt to solve a problem.


• Deflection-Instead of connecting, use humor, get distracted, or make OP angry.
  
• Confluency-Match their style, connecting around similarities
  
• Differentiation-Be different from the OP: to calm them down, to take care of S, or to stimulate thought or action.
  

d. Why is contact avoided?


• All of us want more intimacy than we can stand.  Karl Whitaker 
• GT used to push for greater intimacy.  Now GTs respect both intimate contact and pulling back.  Awareness and choiceful decisions about when to make contact are now seen as more important than a compulsive search for intimacy.
• If we made constant contact, we'd be overwhelmed
  

• Use of S I am always aware that I am an influence in their own.  May share these reactions to C, if in the service of C.
• Here and now Work- be aware in the moment.
• Why do you? What makes it hard? "Do it rather than talking about it." Reasons why but find ways wondering whether you do trust me or D
• Paradox of change theory – Goal is to become more aware in the moment, just now. Give permission to be undecided, and then decide.
  
• "You don't have to tell me..."  which allows the person to feel free to tell (or not).
• In factory: To increase production, must slow down.
• In abusive relationship – Not mandating shift although acknowledging danger. Respect where they are, Here are your strengths, successes, accept them.  When you are ready, you may choose to change (or stay in the relationship).
• Sensation is anger, Contact is often ineffective (pleading, crying, yelling, etc.).  Never complete the cycle.  Needs aren't met and contact is unsatisfying.
  
• Slowing Down – must slow down and breathe to be aware of what's going on (an important goal of GT) 
• Experiments Trying something different within the session.  I don't know what the outcome will be, but may see or experience S in a new way.  If they are more comfortable with where are they can take the chance to move from where they are.  May move or choose to sit right there.
• "Would it be okay if I were to be your mom for a minute? What else do you need to hear from me?" In the moment, a here and now piece.