Articulation between Psychodrama and Gestalt therapy as a possibility of exchanges from psychoterapists’ perspectives

Abstract

The epistemological multiplicity of psychotherapies raises the issue of how to articulate the diversity of knowledge implied. Despite the growing concern of mapping the possibilities of communication between different approaches, doubts remain about the scope of integration and secure criteria for conducting interdisciplinary dialogue. This article aimed to examine possible benefits and pathways to the integration between Psychodrama and Gestalt therapy from the perspective of 22 professionals of conboth approaches. These approaches were chosen based on the perception of possible epistemological affinities between them. The contents of the interviews indicated great confidence in the exercise of interdisciplinary practice in psychotherapy, and provided clear pathways for integrations that are different from those described in the literature. From a Grounded Theory analysis emerged the idea that studying other models increases the feeling of safety and competence in the face of the complex realities therapists need to deal with. The awareness that the historical development of both schools of psychotherapy involved migration of concepts fosters the hope to overcome present day difficulties through an interdisciplinary dialogue. Criteria for the articulation of integrative dialogue include the proximity between epistemological theories, the therapist’s in-session needs and the pragmatics of clinical situations. The study suggests the need for a change in the field of psychotherapy to promote better communication between these approaches.

Keywords: Gestalt therapy, Psychodrama, interdisciplinarity.