This paper aimed to explore professionals‟ perspectives on attachment issues experienced by child... more This paper aimed to explore professionals‟ perspectives on attachment issues experienced by children placed in Maltese out-of-home care placements. This research required a qualitative approach, namely Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) which allowed semi- structured interviews to be held and thus produced in-depth discussions and substantial amounts of data. The recruited participants were psychologists who had experiences with children in either foster care or residential homes. The data analysis of the participants‟ narratives, through IPA, in this research produced four major themes. The investigation delved into the understanding of attachment issues and the concept of the secure-base while analysing their effect on the development of the child. Consequently, this led to the discussion of other factors which influence the child‟s development and ability to form attachments, such as the adequacy of the environment, the age at which these issues are experienced and the ability of the primary caregiver to adapt to the child‟s needs, among other factors. Together, these findings suggest that these issues could have detrimental effects on the children and therefore, psychological support is highly beneficial and recommended.
This paper aimed to explore professionals‟ perspectives on attachment issues experienced by child... more This paper aimed to explore professionals‟ perspectives on attachment issues experienced by children placed in Maltese out-of-home care placements. This research required a qualitative approach, namely Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) which allowed semi- structured interviews to be held and thus produced in-depth discussions and substantial amounts of data. The recruited participants were psychologists who had experiences with children in either foster care or residential homes. The data analysis of the participants‟ narratives, through IPA, in this research produced four major themes. The investigation delved into the understanding of attachment issues and the concept of the secure-base while analysing their effect on the development of the child. Consequently, this led to the discussion of other factors which influence the child‟s development and ability to form attachments, such as the adequacy of the environment, the age at which these issues are experienced and the ability of the primary caregiver to adapt to the child‟s needs, among other factors. Together, these findings suggest that these issues could have detrimental effects on the children and therefore, psychological support is highly beneficial and recommended.
This paper will reflect on the possible relationship between Gestalt Psychotherapy and Autism. It... more This paper will reflect on the possible relationship between Gestalt Psychotherapy and Autism. It expands on how the phenomenological approach that Gestalt therapy is based on can offer a richer understanding in the reality experienced by clients with Autism. This paper also explores some personal reflections and experiences of the author and Gestalt Therapy. This paper aims to raise awareness and interest on the link of these two worlds and how the relationship can be a symbiotic one.
This paper aimed to explore professionals‟ perspectives on attachment issues experienced by
child... more This paper aimed to explore professionals‟ perspectives on attachment issues experienced by children placed in Maltese out-of-home care placements. This research required a qualitative
approach, namely Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) which allowed semi- structured interviews to be held and thus produced in-depth discussions and substantial
amounts of data. The recruited participants were psychologists who had experiences with children in either foster care or residential homes. The data analysis of the participants‟ narratives, through IPA, in this research produced four major themes. The investigation delved into the understanding of attachment issues and the concept of the secure-base while analysing their effect on the development of the child. Consequently, this led to the discussion of other factors which influence the child‟s development and ability to form attachments, such as the adequacy of the environment, the age at which these issues are experienced and the ability of the primary caregiver to adapt to the child‟s needs, among other factors. Together, these findings suggest that these issues could have detrimental effects on the children and therefore, psychological support is highly beneficial and recommended.
This assignment will delve into the concept of field theory related to the human organism and its... more This assignment will delve into the concept of field theory related to the human organism and its environment. Field theory is a complex theory originating from multiple fields of study, especially scientific ones. In Gestalt therapy, the field is the bits and pieces which make the human organism a whole, even if he or she is unaware of certain pieces. The field includes our influences, beliefs, character, thoughts, emotions and much more. Field theory therefore is anything , or rather, everything related to an organism and how that field interacts, or is influenced by, its surrounding environment.
[The essay explores work of Yontef and Schulz (2015) and others on the relation between the
parad... more [The essay explores work of Yontef and Schulz (2015) and others on the relation between the paradoxical theory of change, the psycho-therapeutic dialogical method experiments. The paradoxical theory of change focuses on the contradiction that the change happens when one becomes what he is not when one becomes what he is not. The psychotherapeutic dialogue is the best means of contact with the client. It creates a working relationship between the client and the therapist and through the use of experiments the therapist can guide the client towards exploring and being aware of his field. The dialogic methodology, therefore, is not against Gestalt therapy experiments, rather is enhanced by it.
In this assignment I will be discussing my views, based on research, on critical psychology. I wi... more In this assignment I will be discussing my views, based on research, on critical psychology. I will be focusing on the essence of the subject and what I consider to be its basic principles or concepts. When this is completed I will attempt to pinpoint what advantages and disadvantages it brings with it. I decided that the best way to start off this assignment is with a standard definition of critical psychology so that I can expand on the following definition. "Critical psychology is a branch of psychology-the study of the mind and behavior-based in critical theory. Critical theory involves the critical examination of society and culture with the aim of discovering the nature of problems afflicting society…Critical psychology is different from conventional psychology in several ways; these differences are many of the defining aspects of this branch of psychology. While traditional psychology is, generally speaking, neutral toward society and only concerned with society as far as it affects a given individual, critical psychology is not so accepting. Critical psychologists tend to look for societal causes for psychological problems while conventional psychologists generally seek problems in the individual or in the individual's life." From this definition one can understand that critical psychology's ultimate goal is to help bring about a radically better society. For such studies to happen, critical psychologists reject mainstream psychology's values, assumptions and practices. It is important that such studies are unbiased, uninfluenced and remove themselves from any form of oppression implied within certain theories. Mainstream psychology generally portrays itself as progressing through objective, scientific, "value-free" progress. Critical psychology claims that in fact the latter statement is only partially true. The priority of studies depends on the interest, or rather funds, allocated to the certain area of research. Automatically, a high-funded project would demand a higher rate of quantitative
The paper examines the philosophical origins of Gestalt Therapy. The evolution of the
philosophy... more The paper examines the philosophical origins of Gestalt Therapy. The evolution of the philosophy of perception revolutionalised the way we see the world and how we interact with it. It has been found that the influences of phenomenology and existentialism had a powerful impact on the foundations of Gestalt psychology leading to a new form of therapy focused holistically on awareness and self fulfilment. The basis of Gestalt therapy with theories such as the figure and the ground was formed via the awareness and evolution of our perception. This identified the therepeutic need to be aware of the client's needs, both personally and socially. This need creates an imbalance in the organism and Gestalt therapy aims to restore that balance and lead the client to a state of equilibrium.] Keywords: [Philosophy, Phenomenology, Existentialism, Gestalt Psychology, Gestalt Therapy, Perception]
Before we begin explaining the content of our article we would like to elaborate on why we chose ... more Before we begin explaining the content of our article we would like to elaborate on why we chose to discuss this topic. As general students studying philosophy and psychology simultaneously, we have spent half our time discussing topics surrounding philosophy. Philosophy has taught us that it has a very strong relationship with reason, although if we must be more specific, the relationship between reason, emotions and the will. The other half of our time was spent analysing psychological theories including certain conditions and whilst studying the enigmatic topic of addiction, we came to the realisation that it is actually the opposite of our previous definition of philosophy. This connection struck us and motivated us to go deeper within the topic.
Descartes discovers that most of his current beliefs are false or based on uncertainties. The phi... more Descartes discovers that most of his current beliefs are false or based on uncertainties. The philosophers tries to destroy the foundations of his current beliefs and start all over again with things he can only be certain of. He tries to prove Mathematics, God and even his own body!
This paper aimed to explore professionals‟ perspectives on attachment issues experienced by child... more This paper aimed to explore professionals‟ perspectives on attachment issues experienced by children placed in Maltese out-of-home care placements. This research required a qualitative approach, namely Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) which allowed semi- structured interviews to be held and thus produced in-depth discussions and substantial amounts of data. The recruited participants were psychologists who had experiences with children in either foster care or residential homes. The data analysis of the participants‟ narratives, through IPA, in this research produced four major themes. The investigation delved into the understanding of attachment issues and the concept of the secure-base while analysing their effect on the development of the child. Consequently, this led to the discussion of other factors which influence the child‟s development and ability to form attachments, such as the adequacy of the environment, the age at which these issues are experienced and the ability of the primary caregiver to adapt to the child‟s needs, among other factors. Together, these findings suggest that these issues could have detrimental effects on the children and therefore, psychological support is highly beneficial and recommended.
This paper aimed to explore professionals‟ perspectives on attachment issues experienced by child... more This paper aimed to explore professionals‟ perspectives on attachment issues experienced by children placed in Maltese out-of-home care placements. This research required a qualitative approach, namely Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) which allowed semi- structured interviews to be held and thus produced in-depth discussions and substantial amounts of data. The recruited participants were psychologists who had experiences with children in either foster care or residential homes. The data analysis of the participants‟ narratives, through IPA, in this research produced four major themes. The investigation delved into the understanding of attachment issues and the concept of the secure-base while analysing their effect on the development of the child. Consequently, this led to the discussion of other factors which influence the child‟s development and ability to form attachments, such as the adequacy of the environment, the age at which these issues are experienced and the ability of the primary caregiver to adapt to the child‟s needs, among other factors. Together, these findings suggest that these issues could have detrimental effects on the children and therefore, psychological support is highly beneficial and recommended.
This paper will reflect on the possible relationship between Gestalt Psychotherapy and Autism. It... more This paper will reflect on the possible relationship between Gestalt Psychotherapy and Autism. It expands on how the phenomenological approach that Gestalt therapy is based on can offer a richer understanding in the reality experienced by clients with Autism. This paper also explores some personal reflections and experiences of the author and Gestalt Therapy. This paper aims to raise awareness and interest on the link of these two worlds and how the relationship can be a symbiotic one.
This paper aimed to explore professionals‟ perspectives on attachment issues experienced by
child... more This paper aimed to explore professionals‟ perspectives on attachment issues experienced by children placed in Maltese out-of-home care placements. This research required a qualitative
approach, namely Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) which allowed semi- structured interviews to be held and thus produced in-depth discussions and substantial
amounts of data. The recruited participants were psychologists who had experiences with children in either foster care or residential homes. The data analysis of the participants‟ narratives, through IPA, in this research produced four major themes. The investigation delved into the understanding of attachment issues and the concept of the secure-base while analysing their effect on the development of the child. Consequently, this led to the discussion of other factors which influence the child‟s development and ability to form attachments, such as the adequacy of the environment, the age at which these issues are experienced and the ability of the primary caregiver to adapt to the child‟s needs, among other factors. Together, these findings suggest that these issues could have detrimental effects on the children and therefore, psychological support is highly beneficial and recommended.
This assignment will delve into the concept of field theory related to the human organism and its... more This assignment will delve into the concept of field theory related to the human organism and its environment. Field theory is a complex theory originating from multiple fields of study, especially scientific ones. In Gestalt therapy, the field is the bits and pieces which make the human organism a whole, even if he or she is unaware of certain pieces. The field includes our influences, beliefs, character, thoughts, emotions and much more. Field theory therefore is anything , or rather, everything related to an organism and how that field interacts, or is influenced by, its surrounding environment.
[The essay explores work of Yontef and Schulz (2015) and others on the relation between the
parad... more [The essay explores work of Yontef and Schulz (2015) and others on the relation between the paradoxical theory of change, the psycho-therapeutic dialogical method experiments. The paradoxical theory of change focuses on the contradiction that the change happens when one becomes what he is not when one becomes what he is not. The psychotherapeutic dialogue is the best means of contact with the client. It creates a working relationship between the client and the therapist and through the use of experiments the therapist can guide the client towards exploring and being aware of his field. The dialogic methodology, therefore, is not against Gestalt therapy experiments, rather is enhanced by it.
In this assignment I will be discussing my views, based on research, on critical psychology. I wi... more In this assignment I will be discussing my views, based on research, on critical psychology. I will be focusing on the essence of the subject and what I consider to be its basic principles or concepts. When this is completed I will attempt to pinpoint what advantages and disadvantages it brings with it. I decided that the best way to start off this assignment is with a standard definition of critical psychology so that I can expand on the following definition. "Critical psychology is a branch of psychology-the study of the mind and behavior-based in critical theory. Critical theory involves the critical examination of society and culture with the aim of discovering the nature of problems afflicting society…Critical psychology is different from conventional psychology in several ways; these differences are many of the defining aspects of this branch of psychology. While traditional psychology is, generally speaking, neutral toward society and only concerned with society as far as it affects a given individual, critical psychology is not so accepting. Critical psychologists tend to look for societal causes for psychological problems while conventional psychologists generally seek problems in the individual or in the individual's life." From this definition one can understand that critical psychology's ultimate goal is to help bring about a radically better society. For such studies to happen, critical psychologists reject mainstream psychology's values, assumptions and practices. It is important that such studies are unbiased, uninfluenced and remove themselves from any form of oppression implied within certain theories. Mainstream psychology generally portrays itself as progressing through objective, scientific, "value-free" progress. Critical psychology claims that in fact the latter statement is only partially true. The priority of studies depends on the interest, or rather funds, allocated to the certain area of research. Automatically, a high-funded project would demand a higher rate of quantitative
The paper examines the philosophical origins of Gestalt Therapy. The evolution of the
philosophy... more The paper examines the philosophical origins of Gestalt Therapy. The evolution of the philosophy of perception revolutionalised the way we see the world and how we interact with it. It has been found that the influences of phenomenology and existentialism had a powerful impact on the foundations of Gestalt psychology leading to a new form of therapy focused holistically on awareness and self fulfilment. The basis of Gestalt therapy with theories such as the figure and the ground was formed via the awareness and evolution of our perception. This identified the therepeutic need to be aware of the client's needs, both personally and socially. This need creates an imbalance in the organism and Gestalt therapy aims to restore that balance and lead the client to a state of equilibrium.] Keywords: [Philosophy, Phenomenology, Existentialism, Gestalt Psychology, Gestalt Therapy, Perception]
Before we begin explaining the content of our article we would like to elaborate on why we chose ... more Before we begin explaining the content of our article we would like to elaborate on why we chose to discuss this topic. As general students studying philosophy and psychology simultaneously, we have spent half our time discussing topics surrounding philosophy. Philosophy has taught us that it has a very strong relationship with reason, although if we must be more specific, the relationship between reason, emotions and the will. The other half of our time was spent analysing psychological theories including certain conditions and whilst studying the enigmatic topic of addiction, we came to the realisation that it is actually the opposite of our previous definition of philosophy. This connection struck us and motivated us to go deeper within the topic.
Descartes discovers that most of his current beliefs are false or based on uncertainties. The phi... more Descartes discovers that most of his current beliefs are false or based on uncertainties. The philosophers tries to destroy the foundations of his current beliefs and start all over again with things he can only be certain of. He tries to prove Mathematics, God and even his own body!
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children placed in Maltese out-of-home care placements. This research required a qualitative
approach, namely Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) which allowed semi-
structured interviews to be held and thus produced in-depth discussions and substantial
amounts of data. The recruited participants were psychologists who had experiences with
children in either foster care or residential homes. The data analysis of the participants‟
narratives, through IPA, in this research produced four major themes. The investigation
delved into the understanding of attachment issues and the concept of the secure-base while
analysing their effect on the development of the child. Consequently, this led to the
discussion of other factors which influence the child‟s development and ability to form
attachments, such as the adequacy of the environment, the age at which these issues are
experienced and the ability of the primary caregiver to adapt to the child‟s needs, among
other factors. Together, these findings suggest that these issues could have detrimental effects
on the children and therefore, psychological support is highly beneficial and recommended.
environment. Field theory is a complex theory originating from multiple fields of study,
especially scientific ones. In Gestalt therapy, the field is the bits and pieces which make the
human organism a whole, even if he or she is unaware of certain pieces. The field includes our
influences, beliefs, character, thoughts, emotions and much more. Field theory therefore is
anything , or rather, everything related to an organism and how that field interacts, or is
influenced by, its surrounding environment.
paradoxical theory of change, the psycho-therapeutic dialogical method experiments. The
paradoxical theory of change focuses on the contradiction that the change happens when one
becomes what he is not when one becomes what he is not. The psychotherapeutic dialogue is the
best means of contact with the client. It creates a working relationship between the client and the
therapist and through the use of experiments the therapist can guide the client towards exploring
and being aware of his field. The dialogic methodology, therefore, is not against Gestalt therapy
experiments, rather is enhanced by it.
philosophy of perception revolutionalised the way we see the world and how we interact with it.
It has been found that the influences of phenomenology and existentialism had a powerful impact
on the foundations of Gestalt psychology leading to a new form of therapy focused holistically
on awareness and self fulfilment. The basis of Gestalt therapy with theories such as the figure
and the ground was formed via the awareness and evolution of our perception. This identified the
therepeutic need to be aware of the client's needs, both personally and socially. This need creates
an imbalance in the organism and Gestalt therapy aims to restore that balance and lead the client
to a state of equilibrium.]
Keywords: [Philosophy, Phenomenology, Existentialism, Gestalt Psychology, Gestalt
Therapy, Perception]
children placed in Maltese out-of-home care placements. This research required a qualitative
approach, namely Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) which allowed semi-
structured interviews to be held and thus produced in-depth discussions and substantial
amounts of data. The recruited participants were psychologists who had experiences with
children in either foster care or residential homes. The data analysis of the participants‟
narratives, through IPA, in this research produced four major themes. The investigation
delved into the understanding of attachment issues and the concept of the secure-base while
analysing their effect on the development of the child. Consequently, this led to the
discussion of other factors which influence the child‟s development and ability to form
attachments, such as the adequacy of the environment, the age at which these issues are
experienced and the ability of the primary caregiver to adapt to the child‟s needs, among
other factors. Together, these findings suggest that these issues could have detrimental effects
on the children and therefore, psychological support is highly beneficial and recommended.
environment. Field theory is a complex theory originating from multiple fields of study,
especially scientific ones. In Gestalt therapy, the field is the bits and pieces which make the
human organism a whole, even if he or she is unaware of certain pieces. The field includes our
influences, beliefs, character, thoughts, emotions and much more. Field theory therefore is
anything , or rather, everything related to an organism and how that field interacts, or is
influenced by, its surrounding environment.
paradoxical theory of change, the psycho-therapeutic dialogical method experiments. The
paradoxical theory of change focuses on the contradiction that the change happens when one
becomes what he is not when one becomes what he is not. The psychotherapeutic dialogue is the
best means of contact with the client. It creates a working relationship between the client and the
therapist and through the use of experiments the therapist can guide the client towards exploring
and being aware of his field. The dialogic methodology, therefore, is not against Gestalt therapy
experiments, rather is enhanced by it.
philosophy of perception revolutionalised the way we see the world and how we interact with it.
It has been found that the influences of phenomenology and existentialism had a powerful impact
on the foundations of Gestalt psychology leading to a new form of therapy focused holistically
on awareness and self fulfilment. The basis of Gestalt therapy with theories such as the figure
and the ground was formed via the awareness and evolution of our perception. This identified the
therepeutic need to be aware of the client's needs, both personally and socially. This need creates
an imbalance in the organism and Gestalt therapy aims to restore that balance and lead the client
to a state of equilibrium.]
Keywords: [Philosophy, Phenomenology, Existentialism, Gestalt Psychology, Gestalt
Therapy, Perception]