Is Gestalt Therapy Evidence-Based? What Research Tells Us

Is Gestalt Therapy evidence-based? Research increasingly supports its effectiveness, placing it on par with other therapy models despite past skepticism (Raffagnino, 2019). Researchers have developed the Gestalt fidelity scale to enhance research quality (Fogarty, 2015).

Studies evaluating whether Gestalt Therapy is evidence-based confirm that it is as effective as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) (Saxon et al., 2017). The client-therapist relationship significantly influences outcomes, often more than the therapy type (Bordin, 1979).

How Does Research Define “Evidence-Base”?

When discussing whether Gestalt Therapy is evidence-based, it’s essential to define what “evidence-based” means. Typically, therapies are considered evidence-based when they meet criteria established by clinical research, demonstrating effectiveness across different studies, populations, and treatment settings.

Why Some Therapies Are Favoured Over Others

A key factor in determining whether a therapy is recognised as evidence-based is the use of randomised controlled trials (RCTs)—widely seen as the gold standard in research. Therapies supported by RCTs are often prioritised because these studies compare treatment outcomes in a controlled environment. However, this approach tends to favour modalities like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) while excluding therapies that rely more on case studies and qualitative research, such as Gestalt Therapy.

The Future of Gestalt Therapy Research

This bias in research methods means that some therapies gain broader recognition, while others—despite their effectiveness—are underrepresented in mainstream clinical guidelines. However, more Gestalt Therapists are conducting research to strengthen its empirical foundation.

What Research Tells Us About Gestalt Therapy?

Recent studies confirm that Gestalt Therapy produces meaningful psychological benefits. For example, research highlights its effectiveness in treating depression, PTSD, and interpersonal struggles, reinforcing its status as an evidence-based therapy.

• Assists with interpersonal challenges (Watson et al., 2003)
• Benefits individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress (Nazari et al., 2014)
• Proves effective for those experiencing cancer (Nazari et al., 2023)
• Offers support during divorce and separation (Saadati and Lashani, 2013)
• Aids survivors of childhood sexual abuse (Paivio and Nieuwenhuis, 2001)
• Alleviates symptoms of depression (Rosner et al., 2000)
• Lowers levels of anxiety and distress (Mulder et al., 1994; Paivio and Greenberg, 1995)
• Enhances well-being in the elderly (Saadati et al., 2013)

Why Don’t You Talk About Gestalt Therapy More?

There are still many misconceptions about Gestalt Therapy, and explaining what it is and how it works often requires a lot of words. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, in practice, I’ve found that talking more broadly about counselling and psychotherapy makes the conversation clearer and more accessible for everyone.

Although my training is rooted in Gestalt Therapy, I consider my approach broader because I’ve pursued additional training in various modalities. In practice, I integrate EMDR, trauma-informed approaches, and other evidence-based therapeutic techniques to create a flexible and adaptive way of working that best supports the needs of each client.

References

• Bordin, E.S., 1979. The generalizability of the psychoanalytic concept of the working alliance. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice 16, 252–260. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0085885
• Fogarty, M., 2015. Creating a fidelity scale for gestalt therapy. Gestalt Journal of Australia and New Zealand 11, 39–54. https://doi.org/10.3316/informit.339683196452717
• Mulder, C.L., Emmelkamp, P.M., Antoni, M.H., Mulder, J.W., Sandfort, T.G., de Vries, M.J., 1994. Cognitive-behavioral and experiential group psychotherapy for HIV-infected homosexual men: a comparative study. Psychosomatic Medicine 56, 423.
• Nazari, I., Makvandi, B., Saraj Khorrami, N., Heidari, A., 2023. Effects of Gestalt Group Therapy and Reality Therapy on Perceived Self- Efficacy in Women with Breast Cancer. Women’s Health Bulletin 10, 52–60. https://doi.org/10.30476/whb.2023.97501.1210
• Nazari, I., Mohammadi, M., Nazeri, G., 2014. Effectiveness of Gestalt therapy on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms on veterans of Yasuj city. Armaghane Danesh 19, 295–304.
• Paivio, S.C., Greenberg, L.S., 1995. Resolving “unfinished business”: Efficacy of experiential therapy using empty-chair dialogue. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 63, 419–425. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.63.3.419
• Paivio, S.C., Nieuwenhuis, J.A., 2001. Efficacy of Emotion Focused Therapy for Adult Survivors of Child Abuse: A Preliminary Study. J Trauma Stress 14, 115–133. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007891716593
  Raffagnino, R., 2019. Gestalt Therapy Effectiveness: A Systematic Review of Empirical Evidence. Open Journal of Social Sciences 7, 66–83. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2019.76005
• Rosner, R., Beutler, L.E., Daldrup, R.J., 2000. Vicarious emotional experience and emotional expression in group psychotherapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology 56, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4679(200001)56:1<1::AID-JCLP1>3.0.CO;2-7
• Saadati, H., Lashani, L., 2013. Effectiveness of Gestalt Therapy on Self-efficacy of Divorced Women. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, The 3rd World Conference on Psychology, Counseling and Guidance, WCPCG-2012 84, 1171–1174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.06.721
• Saadati, H., Younesi, J., Foroghan, M., Lashani, L., 2013. Effectiveness of Gestalt Therapy on Happiness of Elderly People. Iranian Journal of Ageing 8, 7–15.
• Saxon, D., Ashley, K., Bishop-Edwards, L., Connell, J., Harrison, P., Ohlsen, S., Hardy, G.E., Kellett, S., Mukuria, C., Mank, T., Bower, P., Bradburn, M., Brazier, J., Elliott, R., Gabriel, L., King, M., Pilling, S., Shaw, S., Waller, G., Barkham, M., 2017. A pragmatic randomised controlled trial assessing the non-inferiority of counselling for depression versus cognitive-behaviour therapy for patients in primary care meeting a diagnosis of moderate or severe depression (PRaCTICED): Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 18, 93. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-017-1834-6
• Watson, J.C., Gordon, L.B., Stermac, L., Kalogerakos, F., Steckley, P., 2003. Comparing the effectiveness of process-experiential with cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy in the treatment of depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 71, 773–781. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.71.4.773