Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Fritz Perls was a German-born psychotherapist who developed Gestalt therapy, an approach that focuses on the present moment and emphasizes personal responsibility for one's own thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Related terms
Gestalt Therapy: A form of psychotherapy that aims to help individuals gain self-awareness by focusing on their immediate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Holism: The idea that people should be viewed as whole entities rather than as separate parts or symptoms.
Existentialism: A philosophical approach that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and responsibility in determining one's own purpose in life.