"I just sorta came down and just sorta took it down with a pencil, but it was all there before I came around…" (www.edlis.org)]. Meanwhile Ginger explains the practical application of Gestalt theory from the perspective of Fritz Perls: a) "we all know that each of us perceives the world from our own personal perspective…" and yet people look in vain for the objectivity that comes from science; b) we also know that the "how" is more important than the "why" and that the "spirit in which something is done is important… but we are still mostly interested in the 'bottom line'" (Ginger).

Conclusion

As alluded to earlier in this paper Gestalt has indeed been controversial and clearly it is misunderstood after years of its myriad applications. However, this paper supports the value that is Gestalt, in its many forms and applications. Thoughtful counselors and therapists -- and of course psychologists -- can come up with creative ways to embrace Gestalt, whether it be a gorilla,...

The power truly is in the ability of the therapist or teacher or psychologist to employ Gestalt in the most productive and effective application to fit the specific need.
Works Cited

Edlis. (1997). Ballad of Donald White. Retrieved September 3, 2011, from http://www.edlis.org/twice/threads/donald_white.html.

Feldman, Robert. (2009). Psychology and Your Life. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies.

Ginger, Serge, (2007). Gestalt Therapy: The Art of Contact. London, UK: Karmac Books.

Melnick, Joseph, and Fall, Marijane. (2008). A Gestalt Approach to Group Supervision.

Counselor Education & Supervision, 48(1), 48-60.

Pomerantz, James R. (2006). Colour as a Gestalt: Pop out with basic features and with Conjunctions. Visual Cognition 14(4-8), 619-628.

Rhyne, Janie. (2001). The Gestalt Approach to Experience, Art, and Art Therapy. The American Journal of Art Therapy, 40(1), 109-120.