Abstract
The concept of the “self” in Gestalt therapy has not, to the author's mind, been fully developed, making it a “heterogenous introject,” an amalgam of theoretical concepts from different scientific sources. This may explain why some therapists of the first generation have not even attempted to define “self” at all, while others have tried to develop this concept in various directions. As a consequence, to date no concise gestalt of the “self” has emerged. The author explores some current philosophical approaches to the self as well as recent scientific research to have a more precise idea of how this concept can be understood. By taking into account the central concept of “gestalt,” we can gain more clarity regarding the fundamental characteristics of Gestalt therapy. The author concludes with a basic structure for a new configuration of theory.
