Gestalt therapy approaches with aggressive children in a day care setting

Abstract

This research study was designed to evaluate whether or not Gestalt therapy approaches could be used effectively when intervening with aggressive acts in a day care setting. Five focus children were observed at timed intervals as to whether or not they were aggressive, how the caretaker intervened, and how the children responded to the caretaker intervention. After a baseline of aggressive acts was established, caretakers were trained to use Gestalt therapy intervention methods. Comparisons were made to establish whether there were fewer aggressive acts after Gestalt therapy intervention methods were used and if the children responded more positively to these intervention methods. This study suggests that Gestalt therapy intervention methods could be used in a day care setting to effectively deal with children's aggression.