¶ … Gestalt Approach There are more similarities than differences between Gestalt and Existential theories and both are based on the self. The client knows himself better than anybody else in the world. Therefore, one should start to understand the client's needs and personality along with the careful definitions of these two approaches. Gestalt Therapy takes a holistic approach to human experience by stressing individual responsibility and awareness of present psychological and physical needs (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/232116/Gestalt-therapy). The term of holistic approach should be the center of the therapy. In this approach the client needs to be evaluated analyzing his physical image, his mind, his emotions, and his environment. Although, existential approach is also concentrated on clients' needs, it can be summarized in the components of the life; death, freedom, and meaningless (http://www.existential-therapy.com/General_Overview.htm). Death would be explained by human's limits against the nature or life whereas freedom refers the responsibilities and boundaries. Meaningless is how the client reflects the world and which labels he assigns to his environment and himself. Since, these two approaches based on the theories, one very important limitation applied to the therapist can be staying in the limits of theory or trying to fit the client in the theoretical boundaries of the approach.

Taking all together, the client is the center of the therapy and it is very important to take close look at his history and personality.

Analyzing the Client

Although Patrick maintained a successful...

The first trauma is losing the older brother, most likely a role model and a friend. Another trauma, the separating of parents, followed the first one. Although, National Center for Health Statistics declared that the divorce rate was reached at the peak in 1981, it was still a big deal with separated parents in mid 80s. The remarriages of the mother could be another adaptation for him, but never the same as he had step sisters instead of a brother. These three rapid developing and unexpected situations must have separated him aside from his peers. The early marriage of the client gives some clues that he desired to have his own family to fill the gap of his childhood. However, he stopped trying, most likely to stay away from another trauma related to a relationship or a marriage. In this aspect he needs to face with his past and accommodate the past experiences adapting to the present time.
In the aspect of his education and professional life, he was a very successful student and his dream to be a firefighter came through. Until 2001, he bounded to his work and his peers to fill the gap of lacking family bounds. Now in 2010, he has no bounds. Therefore, he is very confused and cannot understand the meaning of life. He is angry the fact that he could not help his friends and was powerless against death. He has concerns about his job and his life. Therefore, he has anxiety attacks.

It is more important for him that how others think of/about him than his idea of self. Therefore, he shies away from people and acts out to the people who try to be close to him. However,…