"Stop talking about your anger," my Gestalt supervisor once said to me. "Be with it. Feel it right now. Where is it in your body?"

I'd been intellectualising—describing my anger from a safe distance rather than experiencing it. That moment taught me what makes Gestalt therapy distinct: it's not about analysing your life from the outside. It's about inhabiting your experience fully, right now, in this moment.

If you're looking for a Gestalt counsellor in London, you're seeking something specific: a therapist who works with present-moment awareness, body sensations, and direct experience rather than endless talking about problems.

This guide helps you understand what Gestalt therapy involves, how to find qualified Gestalt counsellors in London, and what to look for to ensure you're getting authentic Gestalt work.

What Is Gestalt Therapy?

Gestalt therapy, developed by Fritz Perls in the 1940s-50s, is an experiential, present-focused approach within the humanistic tradition.

Core Principles

1. Here-and-Now Focus

Gestalt emphasises present experience over past analysis. The question isn't "Why did this happen?" but "What are you experiencing right now?"

2. Awareness

Change happens through awareness, not effort. When you fully experience something—emotion, sensation, pattern—it naturally shifts.

3. Personal Responsibility

You're encouraged to own your experience ("I feel angry" not "You made me angry") and recognise your agency in creating your life.

4. Contact and Relationship

Healing happens in authentic contact between therapist and client. The real relationship in the room matters more than techniques.

5. Holistic View

Gestalt sees you as a whole: body, mind, emotions, spirit. It doesn't separate "mental" health from physical sensations or environmental context.

How It Differs From Other Approaches

vs. CBT: Less focus on thoughts, more on bodily experience and emotion

vs. Psychodynamic: Less interpretation of past, more experiencing present

vs. Person-Centred: More active therapist, uses experiments and techniques

vs. Solution-Focused: Not goal-oriented, values process over outcomes

What to Expect from Gestalt Therapy Sessions

Gestalt Techniques

Gestalt counsellors might use:

Empty Chair: Speaking to someone (or a part of yourself) in an empty chair

Two-Chair Work: Switching between chairs to explore different parts or perspectives

Exaggeration: Amplifying a gesture, phrase, or emotion to increase awareness

Body Awareness: Noticing physical sensations, posture, tension

Staying with: Remaining with difficult feelings rather than moving away

Experiments: Trying new behaviours or ways of being in session

Dreamwork: Exploring dreams as aspects of yourself

The Gestalt Therapist's Style

Gestalt counsellors typically:

Are more actively engaged than person-centred therapists
Point out what they notice ("You're smiling whilst talking about something sad")
Invite experiments ("What happens if you say that louder?")
Work with what's emerging in the moment
Use themselves authentically in the relationship
Balance support with challenge

What Sessions Feel Like

Expect:

Focus on present experience
Attention to body sensations and emotions
Less talking about issues, more experiencing them
Active participation (you're not passive)
Moments of discomfort as you sit with difficult feelings
Creative, sometimes unexpected directions

Benefits of Gestalt Therapy

Particularly effective for:

People who intellectualise emotions
Those feeling "stuck" or numb
Chronic patterns despite understanding them cognitively
Body-held trauma or tension
Difficulty experiencing emotions
Wanting deeper, more embodied change
Creative or experiential learners

Research support: Studies show Gestalt therapy effective for anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and trauma, with gains maintained long-term.

Finding a Gestalt Counsellor in London

Step 1: Use Specialist Directories

UKAGP (UK Association for Gestalt Psychotherapy)

Website: www.ukagp.org.uk

The main professional body for Gestalt practitioners in the UK. Their directory lists qualified Gestalt psychotherapists.

BACP Directory

Website: www.bacp.co.uk

Search by location (London) and filter by "Gestalt therapy" under approaches.

UKCP Directory

Website: www.psychotherapy.org.uk

Look under "Humanistic and Integrative" category, then filter for Gestalt.

Counselling Directory

Website: www.counselling-directory.org.uk

Good for detailed profiles. Search "Gestalt" in London.

Step 2: Check Qualifications

Look for:

MSc or MA in Gestalt Psychotherapy: Standard postgraduate training (typically 3-4 years)

Diploma in Gestalt Counselling: Shorter training (2-3 years)

Integrative training including Gestalt: Many therapists integrate Gestalt with person-centred, TA, or other humanistic approaches

Accredited training institutes in the UK:

Gestalt Centre London
Manchester Gestalt Centre
Metanoia Institute
Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute
Ashridge Gestalt Programme

Step 3: Consider Integration

Many excellent counsellors practice "humanistic-integrative" therapy, combining Gestalt with:

Person-centred therapy (for the relationship)
Transactional analysis (for patterns)
Body psychotherapy (for somatic work)

This isn't diluting Gestalt—it's thoughtfully expanding the toolkit. Ask how they integrate approaches whilst maintaining Gestalt principles.

Step 4: London Location Considerations

Central London: Highest concentration, widest choice

North London (Camden, Islington, Hampstead): Strong Gestalt community

South West London (Fulham, Clapham, Richmond): Good availability

East London (Hackney, Shoreditch): Growing Gestalt presence

Online: Gestalt works well remotely via video, expanding your options UK-wide

Questions to Ask Potential Gestalt Counsellors

About Their Training

"What's your training in Gestalt therapy?"

Listen for: Specific qualifications, which institute, length of training

"Do you practice pure Gestalt or integrate it with other approaches?"

Listen for: Clarity about integration, which approaches, whether Gestalt remains central

"What supervision and ongoing training do you engage in?"

Listen for: Regular supervision (all good therapists have this), continuing professional development

About Their Approach

"How would you describe your Gestalt style?"

Listen for: Words like "relational," "experiential," "present-focused," "awareness-based"

"Do you use techniques like empty chair or two-chair work?"

Listen for: Yes, when appropriate, not rigidly

"How active or directive are you in sessions?"

Gestalt therapists are more active than person-centred but shouldn't dominate. Listen for balance.

About Practical Matters

"What's your fee, and do you offer concessions?"

Typical London Gestalt therapy: £80-£120 per session

"Do you offer in-person, online, or both?"

"How long do people typically work with you?"

Gestalt therapy is usually medium to long-term (3 months to 2+ years)

What Makes a Good Gestalt Counsellor

Essential Qualities

1. Presence

They're genuinely here with you, not distracted or formulaic

2. Authenticity

They respond as real people, not hiding behind professional masks

3. Skilled Use of Techniques

Techniques serve the relationship and awareness, not used mechanically

4. Attunement

They sense what's happening for you, including what you're not saying

5. Willingness to Confront (Caringly)

They'll point out inconsistencies, avoidance, or patterns—but with care

6. Respect Your Process

They don't force experiments or push you beyond readiness

Red Flags

Using techniques rigidly without attunement
Pushing you into exercises you're clearly uncomfortable with
Analyzing or interpreting rather than facilitating awareness
Being overly confrontational without building safety first
Lack of warmth or connection

Cost and Accessibility

Typical Costs

London Gestalt therapy pricing:

£70-£90: Newer practitioners, trainee/low-cost clinics
£90-£110: Experienced counsellors
£110-£150: Senior therapists, specialist expertise

Reduced-Cost Options

Training clinics:

Gestalt Centre London offers low-cost therapy (around £40-50) with trainees under supervision

Concessions: Ask about reduced rates for students, low income, NHS workers

Sliding scale: Some Gestalt counsellors offer flexible fees based on income

Block discounts: Pre-paying for multiple sessions sometimes reduces per-session cost

Gestalt Therapy for Specific Issues

Trauma

Gestalt's body-focused, present-moment approach works well with trauma when practiced by trained therapists. The emphasis on staying with sensation safely helps process trauma held in the body.

Anxiety

Rather than analyzing anxiety, Gestalt helps you experience it fully, exploring the sensation, the underlying need, and what wants to emerge.

Depression

Gestalt views depression as energy turned inward. Through awareness and experimentation, you reconnect with aliveness and agency.

Relationship Issues

Gestalt's focus on contact, authenticity, and patterns reveals how you relate and what gets in the way of genuine connection.

Feeling Stuck

When you "know" what's wrong cognitively but nothing changes, Gestalt's experiential focus helps shift what intellectual understanding alone can't.

First Session: What to Expect

Your first Gestalt session typically includes:

Getting to know each other: Brief background, what brings you to therapy

Contracting: Discussing how you'll work together, practicalities, expectations

Initial exploration: Beginning to work in Gestalt way—perhaps noticing present moment, body awareness, or relational dynamic

Style preview: You'll get a sense of how this therapist works

You might notice:

More attention to how you're sitting, breathing, moving
Questions about what you're experiencing right now
Invitations to try something (though never forced)
A sense of active collaboration

Combining Gestalt with Other Modalities

Many people benefit from Gestalt combined with:

Person-centred: Gestalt experiments within deeply accepting relationship

CBT: Gestalt for emotional/body awareness plus CBT tools for anxiety management

EMDR: Gestalt-informed EMDR for trauma processing

Transactional Analysis: TA framework plus Gestalt experiential work

Ask potential therapists how they integrate approaches if this interests you.

Final Thoughts

Gestalt therapy offers something distinctive: a way of working that doesn't just talk about change but creates experiences that shift how you relate to yourself, others, and life.

Finding the right Gestalt counsellor means looking beyond credentials to finding someone whose presence, style, and approach truly resonate with you.

In London, you have access to some of the UK's most experienced Gestalt practitioners. Take time to find someone whose way of being feels both safe and growth-promoting.

If you're in South West London and curious about Gestalt-informed therapy, I integrate Gestalt principles with person-centred and transactional analysis approaches. I offer free 15-minute consultations to discuss whether this way of working might suit you.

Sometimes the most powerful shift isn't understanding why you do something—it's fully experiencing what you do and discovering what else becomes possible.

Finding a Gestalt Counsellor in London: Complete Guide to Gestalt Therapy Practitioners