Gestalt therapy sees human psychology as an interplay of conflicting and frequently unconscious forces. Despite being a close relative of psychoanalysis, Gestalt therapy rejects one of its fundamental tenets: a Gestalt therapist is an active participant in the therapeutic process, not a dispassionate outside observer. The goal of Gestalt therapy is to help the client fulfill his desires, all while enjoying the positive outcomes and learning from the negative ones.  

Despite being one of the most popular forms of therapy, psychodynamic therapy is often somewhat misunderstood by its practitioners and their clients. Because the psychodynamic tradition was created by Sigmund Freud, psychodynamic therapy is often erroneously conflated with psychoanalysis. Also, the name itself can be misleading to many people due to its Greek roots. Let’s unpack it step-by-step.