- Anger
- Anxiety
- Career
- Couple and Marriage
- Depression
- Grief and Loss
- Relationships
- Self-Esteem
- Shame and Guilt
- Trauma
- Stress
- Men’s Issues
A Comprehensive, Integrative Approach at Wellspring Counselling
Gestalt Therapy focuses on helping people become aware of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours in the present moment. It is based on viewing individuals as complete beings, emphasizing personal responsibility and direct experiences. This method helps clients investigate their relationships with themselves and others, fostering insight, personal development, and authentic self-expression.
At Wellspring Counselling & Psychotherapy Inc., we use Gestalt Therapy to help individuals and couples move beyond just understanding things in their minds. We focus on creating authentic experiences that lead to lasting change.
Fritz Perls, Laura Perls, and Paul Goodman created Gestalt therapy in the 1940s. This therapy focuses on the idea that healing and change happen when we fully know our current experiences.
Rather than focusing on analyzing past events or predicting future problems, Gestalt Therapy emphasizes:
Unlike traditional talk therapy, Gestalt Therapy is interactive, process-oriented, and profoundly engaging—ideal for individuals who want more than just talking about problems.
Gestalt Therapy is effective for individuals struggling with:
Gestalt Therapy helps clients connect with their emotions, thoughts, and physical feelings in the moment. It uses hands-on techniques to encourage this engagement.
The first step in Gestalt Therapy is to become aware of what is happening in your thoughts, emotions, and body right now.
Example:
Instead of asking, “Why do I always feel anxious?” a Gestalt therapist might ask:
💬 “What are you feeling in your body as you talk about this?”
💬 “Where do you sense tension or discomfort?”
Bringing attention to the physical and emotional experience at the moment helps uncover unconscious patterns and hidden emotions.
Many emotional struggles come from unresolved feelings or unfinished conversations from the past. Gestalt Therapy helps clients express and resolve these experiences safely and structured.
Example:
A client who felt unheard by a parent may still carry that pain into current relationships. In therapy, they may engage in an “empty chair” exercise where they:
By completing these experiences, clients gain closure, empowerment, and emotional resolution.
Gestalt Therapy often uses role-playing to help clients explore and connect different parts of themselves.
These exercises bring hidden emotions and internal conflicts to the surface, allowing for deeper integration and transformation.
Gestalt Therapy helps clients see how they affect their experiences, feelings, and behaviours.
Rather than focusing on external blame, clients learn to:
This shift in perspective leads to greater empowerment, self-awareness, and freedom.
Some common Gestalt Therapy interventions include:
Gestalt Therapy is different from traditional approaches because it:
If you are dealing with anxiety, past trauma, or relationship issues, using an integrative approach with Gestalt Therapy can help you reconnect with yourself. This can lead to a more fulfilling life focused on the present.
Clients Say
Mr. Gordon is someone that captures the spirit and the heart of active engagement. He is empathic, genuine and incorporates action and creative problem solving into his practice. I have no hesitation in recommending Mr. Gordon as an effective career and personal counsellor.
I had no experience with therapy and was unsure of the whole process. Alistair made everything very accessible and unintimidating. It was clear that he puts quite a lot of effort and preparation into every session. I'm so glad that I decided to do this, and could not have asked for a better person to help me with this. I would highly recommend Alistair to anyone who has ever thought that they might benefit from talking to a professional.
I am a young professional which for a long time now, has struggled with anxiety, insecurity, and difficulty in finding effective life coping mechanisms. Alistair was referred to me by a friend and upon the first meeting, I found Alistair to be empathetic, compassionate and intuitive. I have now been seeing Alistair regularly for 6 months and through that time my anxiety has significantly decreased, I have found effective methods of dealing with stress, found support dealing with identity issues, as well as finding inner strength to get through a tough break up. Alistair again and again, went the extra mile -thank you Alistair for your candor, openness and a safe space to get support. Thank you for playing such a large role in keeping me healthy and positive.
I have been working with Alistair Gordon as my counsellor at Wellspring for almost 6 months now and cannot begin to tell you how far I have come with his help. I have tried working with other counsellors and therapists in the past but never really found one that clicked for me. I always felt judged, unsupported, and rushed at those appointments until I booked my first appointment with Wellspring and with Allistair. To anyone on the fence about booking an appointment or engaging in therapy: if you are willing to do the work, you couldn't ask for a better partner in your healing journey.
When I decided to find a counsellor, I tried to find someone that I could relate to, someone that is like-minded and down-to-earth and with Alistair I really found the right person. He uses an integrative approach, showed me techniques to relax and get aware of my emotions, and helped me see things in a new perspective. Of course this is an ongoing process but I enjoy meeting and working with Alistair every time. The downtown office is a very neutral place - not too intimate, not too clinical - which is helpful to overcome apprehension, especially the first couple of times. What I find remarkable is that Alistair almost always knows what I'm trying to say, even if I can't put it into words. Working with Alistair helped me a lot and it was the right decision to put my trust in him.
Alistair really cares about you the person, and I could really feel him trying to tackle my challenges. He was also very available for off-session contact via text and email. I think he did a great job with confronting me where I needed it. Alistair always could remember the important peoples' names in my personal life, which really helped with talking about my problems. I really felt like I was talking to a friend.
Alistair is an awesome counsellor. He has been so helpful in working with me through some tough times in my life. He's always been available to chat with me in-between sessions. I'd recommend Alistair to anyone - he's really the ideal counsellor in my view.
I enjoy how sessions are collaborative where I can take the lead for the direction of what we talk about, and at the same time I know that Alistair will offer helpful guidance and insight along the way. I also like how we focus on the future instead of just the past. I find this to be empowering and helpful to move forward in life.
Alistair is an awesome counsellor. He has been so helpful in working with me through some tough times in my life. He's always been available to chat with me in-between sessions. I'd recommend Alistair to anyone - he's really the ideal counsellor in my view.
I have always felt very comfortable with Alistair. He has a calming presence, and you can tell he cares about being the best counsellor for you. He helps you with all aspects of your concern, and is always able to help me find a solution to the problem I'm having.
Alistair is an exceptionally talented counsellor and has always demonstrated strong ethics, great compassion, wisdom and respect for others. I highly recommend him as a counselling practitioner.
Affiliations
Ready to explore your emotions, relationships, and personal patterns in a new way?
🌍 Book Online: Booking Link
🔹 Wellspring Counselling & Psychotherapy Inc.
🔹 Serving Individuals Across British Columbia & Canada (where permitted)
Let’s work together to help you gain insight, clarity, and emotional freedom with Gestalt Therapy.
