Stories from the Gestalt Way of Life

Melisa's Writings
How Childhood Experiences Create Adult Reactions

How Childhood Experiences Create Adult Reactions

Childhood is such a mixed bag for most of us. Certainly our memories are stored and sometimes reviewed later in life. I'm fascinated with perspective and how it shapes the memories into our own version and reality of all that happened. Even though an older sibling or...

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What Does it Mean to be a Gestalt Coach?

What Does it Mean to be a Gestalt Coach?

As the field of coaching quickly grew in the 1990s, many therapists became coaches. At that time, I could see that the basic tenants of Gestalt were a perfect fit for me as a coach because they offered a unique and highly effective form of coaching. I started my work...

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Understanding Temperament

Understanding Temperament

Learning the principles of typology and understanding temperament is fundamental to becoming an effective coach. Although not yet demonstrated by the scientists who study DNA, it is commonly thought in the typology community that we bring our preferences (temperament)...

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Self Compassion

Self Compassion

Not long ago, an interviewer asked me if there was a common denominator in all of my work, since it all looked so creative and different to her. Assuredly, I responded, it is always to assist the person in finding self-compassion and peace. We grow up having unique...

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Unfinished Business

Unfinished Business

Many things in life can lead to unfinished business, which involves life experiences that have not been adequately processed, integrated, or resolved and are therefore incomplete. Often, these experiences have been suppressed and are outside the person’s awareness....

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Gestalt: Beyond the Conscious Mind

Gestalt: Beyond the Conscious Mind

Thousands of scholars over the centuries have attempted to quantify and define what consciousness is. There is no agreement on definition or explanation of why or how it occurs. Although there is a strong debate between science and philosophy about it, many of us in...

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Books by Melisa Pearce