What is the primary stance of the Gestalt therapist?
According to Gertrude Krause, “Awareness is the primary consideration in Gestalt therapy since it seems apparent that genuine change is difficult to achieve without awareness.” And, “I am content to limit the degree of change I effect in a client to the change in his level or levels of awareness. Any further change is his choice and responsibility. If I assume the responsibility or the right to change anything else about his person, I run the risk of making him more dependent than when I met him, instead of helping him become more independent of outside support. Therefore, I consider myself primarily a clarifying agent, rather than a change agent. My primary tools are to give attention and respect.” (p.
