Exploring the effectiveness of Gestalt therapy in the management of grief and the promotion of emotional resilience

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of Gestalt Therapy in young adults from the Central University of Ecuador who recently experienced the loss of a family member. A qualitative approach was applied, using Atlas.ti to analyze data from recorded therapeutic sessions and semi-structured interviews. A convenient sample of 30 Clinical Psychology and Dentistry students was selected. The results showed that Gestalt Therapy facilitated positive emotions such as relief, gratitude and empowerment, improving the participants' emotional well-being and coping ability. Furthermore, the Analitic Hierarchy Process method (AHP) highlighted the importance of expressing and understanding emotions for the acceptance of grief. However, intense negative emotions such as anger and guilt were also observed, pointing out the emotional complexity of the process. It is recommended that mental health professionals promote an emotionally supportive environment and facilitate the expression of feelings to improve adaptation and emotional resilience in bereaved individuals. These findings contribute to the understanding and application of effective therapies in the clinical context, focusing on the importance of emotional connection and personalized treatment for each patient.

Keywords:

Grief Management, Emotional Resilience, Therapeutic Support