Review of Gestalt psychotherapy: Concepts and demonstrations in stress, relationships, hypnosis and addiction.

Reviews the book, Gestalt psychotherapy: Concepts and demonstrations in stress, relationships, hypnosis and addiction by Richard E. Hardy (1991). This work provides a basic explanation of the concepts of Gestalt psychotherapy. As an introductory work, the book provides clear explanations of key concepts, but errs in the direction of oversimplifying the complexities of Gestalt thinking. The author acknowledges these complexities without fully capturing them. It is obvious that Richard Hardy really knows Gestalt therapy, but if the reader is not well grounded in Gestalt theory and Gestalt psychotherapy, the depth of the concepts would easily be lost. A strength of Hardy's book is his presentation of ways in which Gestalt therapy can be utilized in areas not normally associated with Gestalt, such as hypnosis, pain management, intimate relationships, and addictions. An important criticism of Hardy's work is that he fails to follow the APA guidelines for the use of nonsexist language. Overall, the limitations of the book outweigh the strengths. Hardy appears to have difficulty choosing his audience. Beginning psychotherapists would need more basic information and case examples. Advanced psychotherapists would seek more depth and new information. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)