Aiden Sisler
Counselling Therapist
- Helps with: Work and Life Balance, Anxiety, Repairing Relationships, LGBTQ2+, Grief, Loss and Bereavement, Depression, Chronic Pain
- Languages: English
- Where: Online
Gestalt
Gestalt therapy was initially developed by Fritz Perls (1893-1970). Inspired by studies of cognition which suggested that humans combine discrete elements into meaningful wholes to create the experience of perception, he applied this finding to the process of psychotherapy.
- 11 counsellors trained
- In person or online
What it helps with
Concerns gestalt can help withWhat it helps with
How it works
What a course of gestalt looks likeHow it works
Early on
Notice the here and now
In Gestalt therapy, your counsellor helps you notice what happens right now as you talk, like a tight jaw, a quieter voice or a feeling that rises.
As you go
Try it out in session
Instead of only talking about a feeling, you may try something new, such as speaking to an empty chair as if a person were there. Your counsellor follows your lead.
Over time
Carry awareness forward
Between sessions, you may practise noticing what you feel and need in daily moments. You and your counsellor decide together how long to keep going.
Gestalt may suit you if you
- Want to understand how you feel, not just what you think
- Feel stuck in grief or with things left unsaid
- Are open to trying things in session, not only talking
- Notice your body tensing up with stress or anxiety
- Want to feel more like yourself in your relationships
- Like working with whatever comes up in the moment
Something else may fit better if you
- Prefer a structured plan with worksheets, like in CBT
- Find role-play or empty-chair exercises too much right now
- Would rather talk things through than try exercises
- Are in crisis right now: call or text 9-8-8
Not sure? A free consultation can help you choose.
Where
Gestalt in person in Surrey, Coquitlam and Vancouver, or onlineWhere
About
More about gestalt
Gestalt therapy was initially developed by Fritz Perls (1893-1970). Inspired by studies of cognition which suggested that humans combine discrete elements into meaningful wholes to create the experience of perception, he applied this finding to the process of psychotherapy. Perls suggested that a sense of wholeness and vitality emerges when we are able to expand awareness to all facets of experience as they come together in the present.
At No Fear Counselling, our experienced therapists use Gestalt Therapy to help clients improve emotional well-being, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful personal growth.
Theory
A key tenet of Gestalt therapy is that the whole is more than the sum of its parts. People are seen as indivisible from the facets that make them up, including environment, relationships, perception, memories, emotions, and sensations. The unique coming together of all of these elements is considered to be what comprises experience. Rather than analyzing thoughts, feelings, or other organizing principles individually, Gestalt therapy considers people as a whole and retains a present focus on whatever happens to be showing up in the foreground of one’s attention in the interest of integrating the parts of the self that may have been “disowned”.
Techniques
Gestalt therapy aims to bring greater awareness to people’s subjective experience in the here-and-now with the goal of integrating thoughts, feelings, perception, and behaviour into an overall greater understanding of oneself as a whole. Therapists avoid judgement or interpretations and instead try to understand how clients experience things, focusing on process rather than content. Gestalt therapy is experiential, meaning that new experiences are created in session and not just talked about. This can include activities such as empty-chair dialogues to process unfinished business and bringing attention to body language to promote greater self-awareness.
What Can Gestalt Therapy Help With?
Gestalt Therapy can help individuals navigate a wide range of emotional, relational, and mental health challenges. It is commonly used to support people experiencing:
- Anxiety and depression
- Trauma, grief, and emotional distress
- Relationship and family concerns
- Stress, burnout, and life transitions
- Low self-esteem and personal growth challenges
Many clients also combine Gestalt Therapy with other counselling approaches to support their overall emotional well-being, improve relationships, and develop healthier coping strategies. This approach can be particularly helpful for those seeking support with anxiety counselling, trauma therapy, couples counselling, and personal development.
Gestalt Therapy at No Fear Counselling
At No Fear Counselling, our compassionate therapists provide Gestalt Therapy for individuals seeking greater self-awareness, emotional healing, and personal growth. We believe that meaningful change occurs when people develop a deeper understanding of themselves and learn to fully engage with their present experiences.
Our team supports clients facing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship concerns, stress, and other life challenges. Therapy is tailored to your unique goals and experiences, creating a safe and supportive environment for growth and healing.
We offer both in-person and online counselling services to make support accessible wherever you are in Canada.
Start Your Healing Journey Today
If you are looking for Gestalt Therapy in Canada, No Fear Counselling is here to help. Our experienced therapists provide compassionate support to help you gain self-awareness, improve emotional well-being, and build healthier relationships.
Whether you are seeking support in Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, Langley, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack, or through online counselling across Canada, our team is ready to support your journey.
Book a free consultation today and take the first step toward greater self-understanding, emotional balance, and lasting personal growth.
References
Perls, F. (1973). The Gestalt Approach & Eyewitness to Therapy. Palo Alto: Science and Behavior Books, Inc.
Counsellors trained in gestaltTrained in gestalt
Aman Mann
Counselling Therapist
- Helps with: Depression, Minority Groups, Codependency, Existential Concerns, Identity, Loneliness, Pre-Marital Counselling, Spirituality, Guilt/Shame, Emotional Regulation, Life Transitions, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Sleep Concerns, Anxiety, Self Esteem, Immigration & Acculturation, Purpose, Relationship Concerns, Stress Management, ADHD and ADD, Social Anxiety
- Languages: English
- Where: Vancouver · Surrey · Online
Angie Kleinfelder
Counselling Therapist
- Languages: English
- Where: Online
Carolina Rosa-Crespo
Counselling Therapist
- Helps with: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Grief, Loss and Bereavement, Depression, Complex Trauma, Anger Management, Assertiveness/Boundaries, Parenting, Minority Groups, Perfectionism, Guilt/Shame, Codependency, Acute Trauma, Attachment Concerns, Personal Development/Growth, Relationship Concerns, Abuse, Immigration & Acculturation, Life Transitions, Emotional Regulation, Self Esteem, Stress Management, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Anxiety, Improving Communication, Building Healthy Parent/Child Connections
- Languages: English, Portuguese
- Where: Coquitlam
Damian Dym
Counselling Therapist
- Helps with: Youth/Adolescence Counselling (12 to 17 years), Assertiveness/Boundaries, Men's Concerns, Goal Setting, Body Image, Christian Counselling, Grief, Loss and Bereavement, Identity, Addictions / Substance Use, Anger Management, Perfectionism, Guilt/Shame, Personal Development/Growth, Work and Life Balance, Burnout, Stress Management, Anxiety, Self Esteem, Fears, Work Stress
- Languages: English, Polish
Diana Magallón-Romero
Counselling Therapist
- Helps with: High Sensitivity, Life Transitions, Minority Groups, Identity, Existential Concerns, Codependency, Career Counselling, Depression, Chronic Pain, Assertiveness/Boundaries, Self Compassion, Marginalization, Women's Concerns, Spirituality, Purpose, Health, Geriatric, Body Image, Divorce/Separation, Immigration & Acculturation, Work and Life Balance, Coping with Injury/Loss, Sleep Concerns, Anxiety
- Languages: English, French, Spanish
- Where: Pitt Meadows
A Gestalt therapy session is a conversation that stays close to what you notice right now. Gestalt is a German word meaning a whole, so your counsellor looks at your thoughts, feelings, body and actions together, for example asking what a change in your breathing feels like. You might also try an exercise, such as speaking to an empty chair as if someone you miss or feel hurt by were there. You can say no to any exercise.
No, you choose what to share and when. Gestalt therapy focuses on the present, so even old memories are explored through how they show up for you today. Your counsellor works at your pace and helps you feel steady before any deeper work. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8, call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433), or call 911 if you are in danger.
Gestalt therapy focuses on noticing your feelings, body and actions in the moment, while cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on changing unhelpful thoughts and habits with structured tools. In CBT you might fill out a worksheet about a worrying thought; in Gestalt therapy you might notice your fists clench as you talk about work. Some people find one approach suits them better, and some counsellors draw on both.
Yes, you can meet your counsellor in person or online from anywhere in BC. Many Gestalt exercises, like noticing your breathing or speaking to an empty chair, can be done over video from a quiet, private room at home. If you feel more at ease in the same room, you can choose to meet in person instead.
It may be, depending on your plan and your counsellor's credentials. Many extended health plans cover Registered Clinical Counsellors and Canadian Certified Counsellors (RCC/CCC), and our team includes RCCs, so check the details of your own plan. We also offer sliding scale rates for eligible people, and our fees and funding page explains your options.