Suspended from Shaky Scaffolding, / We Secure Ourselves with Our / Fixations. A Phe-nomenological and Gestalt Exploration of Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Journal title QUADERNI DI GESTALT
Author/s Gianni Francesetti
Publishing Year 2018 Issue 2017/2
Language Italian Pages 32 P. 25-56 File size 295 KB
DOI 10.3280/GEST2017-002003
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This article presents an approach to obsessive-compulsive disorder based on the Gestalt therapy theory, Gestalt psychology and psychiatric phenomenology. After establishing a diagnostic framework, the experiences of patients are explored, starting from the experience of space and time, of the relationship between details and the whole, of boundaries, and of materiality. In the light of the Gestalt theory of perception, the obsessive-compulsive symptom is framed as a creative adjustment protecting the patient from more severe suffering in a situation in which the bodily sensorial ground is permeated with terror. After describing how the obsessive-compulsive field is aesthetically actualized in therapy, a number of issues are highlighted that can help therapists in their journey with the sufferers.

Keywords: Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Gestalt therapy, phenomenological psychiatry, Gestalt psychology, perception, psychopathology, psychopathological field, language, aes-thetics.

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Gianni Francesetti, Sospesi su ponteggi vacillanti, / ci sosteniamo con le nostre / fissazioni. Il disturbo ossessivo-compulsivo: una esplorazione fenomenologica e gestaltica in "QUADERNI DI GESTALT" 2/2017, pp 25-56, DOI: 10.3280/GEST2017-002003