What are the similarities and differences among person-centered counseling, existential therapy, and Gestalt therapy?

Answer 1

Person-Centered Counseling - whereby the therapist refrains from leading and allows for the client to guide the session; utilizing therapeutic silence, reflection of meaning, and feeling, in order for the client to gain insight into what the root of the problem is. Person-centered curative factors include unconditional positive regard, congruence, and empathy- in order to encourage a safe space and non-judgement for the client to freely associate.

Existential therapy - whereby the therapist and client discuss issues centered around the meaning of life, freedom, death, and other constructs which (though outside of the client's control) may be influencing either directly or indirectly the client's ability to function and cope with daily living.

Gestalt therapy - whereby the therapist seeks to raise the client's insight (of their feelings and perhaps negative thought patterns) by direct awareness of the present moment. This therapeutic approach encourages solutions, with a goal of facilitating personal responsibility through experiential approaches such as art, drama, role-play, music, cinema, narrative and other similar interventions.