Abstract
This article underscores some concepts and therapeutic attitudes already developed by Ferenczi 25 years before Perls, such as: introjection, the potential richness of the counter-transference and of the personal involvement of the therapist, the importance of the process in the here and now of each session, the role of the emotions and the body and more. Both Ferenczi's and Perls' approaches are based on a warm humanistic philosophy, far from the cold and scientific approach of Freud. They consider the client in his environment and interpsychic and social relationships.
Perls quotes Ferenczi very seldom but it's very likely that he knew his writings and theories which were quite popular in Germany in the thirties. So I consider that Perls has been unconsciously strongly influenced by Ferenczi during the elaboration of Gestalt therapy.
