Gestalt Group Practice for Increasing Awareness of University Students

The aim of this study is to increase university students’ awareness and support their personal development through “Gestalt Group Program” that is predicated on Gestalt Therapy. Twelve university students in the second, third and fourth grades of the faculty of education participated in the study. Group study consisted of eight sessions. Each session was determined as 120 minutes. In this study, one of the qualitative research methods, content analysis method was used. To collect data for the study, researcher created “Personal Information Form” and “Gestalt Group Program Evaluation Form” and used on participants. Obtained qualitative data was examined via content analysis method. Finally, “Gestalt Group Program” was found to have a positive impact on raising university students’ awareness.

___

  • Akça, F., Şahin, G., Vazgeçer, B. (2011). An Investigation of the Relationships Among Self Perceptions, Gestalt Contact Styles and Anxiety Levels of the University Students. Mersin University Journal of the Faculty of Education, 7 (1), 18‐28.
  • Akkoyun, F. (2001). Gestalt therapy: The move of our growth and development force. Ankara: Nobel Yayın Dağıtım.
  • Balkaya, F. (2006). Relationship between anger and anxiety related to gestalt contact styles at the university students. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Ankara University, Ankara.
  • Bozkurt, S. (2006). Investigating the relationship of gestalt contact style with attachment styles and interpersonal schemas. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Ankara University, Ankara.
  • Coffey, J. I. (1986). A short‐term gestalt therapy group approach to the treatment of bulimia. Doctoral dissertation. The University of North California, Chapel Hill.
  • Daş, C. (2009). Gestalt therapy: Integration and growth (2. Edition). Ankara: HYB Yayıncılık.
  • Gülol, Ç. (2005). A structured personal‐development‐centered gestalt contact styles group therapy program and its effectiveness. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Hacettepe University, Ankara.
  • Gürdil, G. (2014). The assessment of vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress of a group of trauma workers within the frame of Gestalt contact styles. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Ankara University, Ankara.
  • Gürsoy, Ü. (2009). Relationship between university students? Lifesatisfaction with gestalt contactstyles. Unpublished MA Thesis, Marmara University, İstanbul.
  • Houston, G. (2003). Brief Gestalt therapy. U.S.A.: SAGE Publications. Joyce, P. & Sills, C. (2001). Skills in Gestalt counseling & psychotherapy. U.S.A.: SAGE Publications.
  • Korkut, F. (1991). The effects of Gestalt therapy applied individually with students in the Orphanage on trait anxiety and the locus of control. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Hacettepe University, Ankara. Kuyumcu, B. (2005). The relation between marital satisfaction and gestalt contact styles attachment styles, coping styles. Unpublished MA Thesis, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon.
  • Latner, J. (1986). The Gestalt therapy book. U.S.A.: The Center for Gestalt Development.
  • Leininger, E. (1992). Ego deffense mechanisms and gestalt resistance styles in a group of female survivors of childhood incest. Doctoral dissertation.The Fielding Graduate University, California.
  • Maher, A., Robertson & R., Howie, L. (2011). The experience and development of awareness in gestalt therapy training groups: A phenomenological study. Gestalt Journal of Australia and New Zeland, 8(1), 36‐56.
  • McGarth, E. W. (1989). The Impact of Gestalt Awareness Training on Women’s Self‐Esteem. Unpublished Dissertation, University of California, U.S.A.
  • Myers, M. E. (1996). Police stress and gestalt contact styles. Doctoral dissertation. Kent State University Graduate School of Education, Ohia.
  • Özhan, G. (2001). The Effect of the individual psychological counseling based on the Gestalt approach on the level of anxiety and adaptability of the mothers with educatible mentally retarded children. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Gazi University, Ankara.
  • Perls, F. (1973). The Gestalt approach & eye witness to therapy. U.S.A.: Science and Behavior Books.
  • Polster, E. & Polster, M. (1974). Gestalt Therapy Integrated: Contours of Theory and Practice. New York, NY: Vintage.
  • Voltan‐Acar, N. (2015). Gestalt therapy: How aware are we? Ankara: Nobel Yayın Dağıtım.
  • Yalom, I. (2002). Theory and Practice of Group psychotherapy. İstanbul: Kabalcı.
  • Wheeler, G. (1991). Gestalt Reconsidered: A New Approach to Contact and Resistance. New York, NY: Gardner.