Who would study psychology unless they had some issues?!

[Gestalt Therapy], also known as holistic therapy, is based on the psychological research theory of the [Gestalt school]. In its fundamental theory, the [Gestalt school] emphasizes the wholeness of experience and behavior, believing that the whole is not equal to and greater than the sum of its parts, advocating for studying psychological phenomena from a holistic dynamic structural perspective.

When this psychological research theory is applied to the field of psychological consultation, Gestalt Therapy develops many viewpoints, some of which are particularly useful for addressing the current situation of the visitor, Nan Zhihao.

This is also why Nan Zhubin chose this school's therapy as the primary method for the second phase of the visitor's treatment:

1. Holism and Field Theory. A person is a unified whole of mind and body; the individual cannot be understood in isolation and must be viewed within the dynamic relationship field of their environment.

2. Here and Now. Past experiences and future worries only hold significance when they impact an individual's present experience, feelings, bodily responses, and behaviors, and an individual's "experience" is superior to "memory".

3. Awareness. Healing begins when the individual perceives themselves and their environment without judgment.

4. Responsibility and Autonomy. Individuals need to take responsibility for their feelings, thoughts, behaviors, and choices, while also clarifying which responsibilities belong to themselves and which belong to the environment.

The [Empty Chair Technique] is the most well-known technique of [Gestalt Therapy]. The implementation is straightforward: place an empty chair in front of the visitor, allowing them to converse with an "externalized agent" imagined to be sitting in the chair, switch roles, and thus facilitate the release, understanding, and integration of unexpressed emotions.

This "externalized agent" can be another person, a part of the self, emotions, symptoms, etc.

This technique may seem childish, even like playing pretend, but the [Empty Chair Technique] actually deepens the application of the principle of "externalization" from psychology, converting an individual's internal, abstract psychological content into an external, perceivable dialogue partner, achieving cognitive and emotional reorganization.

It is very suitable for Nan Zhihao's current situation.

However, because this technique seems quite childish, there's an inherent degree of [resistance] when adult visitors undergo it.

This is unrelated to the depth of the consultation relationship and is purely instinctual. Individuals with more experience tend to resist some basic intervention techniques.

Overly sophisticated adults are troublesome.

Therefore, to ensure the effectiveness of this intervention, Nan Zhubin needs to find a way to engage the visitor more deeply.

This isn't too difficult.

The integration process of [Gestalt Therapy] can also be seen as a process of cognitive adjustment. To facilitate this process, breaking the visitor's existing rigid cognitions will suffice.

By coincidence, Nan Zhubin had discovered a few minor issues in the visitor's previous narration, deliberately saving them for now as a catalyst for the [Empty Chair Technique].

Looking at the visitor before him, Nan Zhubin initiated a brief [confrontation]—

Nan Zhubin first stood up, attempting to adjust the position of a single sofa in the room.

The consultation room had one double sofa and two single sofas. The single sofas were originally placed on the left and right sides of the double sofa, requiring those on the double sofa to turn their bodies for eye contact with someone on the single sofas.

After Nan Zhubin's adjustment, the sofas were positioned to the left front and right front of the double sofa, allowing the seated visitor to encompass both single sofas in their line of sight simultaneously.

The single sofas were not light, and upon seeing Nan Zhubin's actions, the visitor quickly came forward to help.

Nan Zhubin was pleased to see this scene and, as the pressure on his hands eased, he remarked as if in admiration, "Thank you—Like I've said before, you have high standards for yourself and enjoy helping others."

The visitor showed an embarrassed smile at the compliment, then quickly became bitter: "I think... it's good to be kind to others, to consider others more, and to help out when I can... But now, sometimes I feel that the 'me' who helps others actually causes them trouble, and perhaps it's better not to help..."

Nan Zhubin was aiming to draw out this sentence.

He responded, instructively yet conversationally, "Thinking this way is somewhat self-centered."

... Self-centered?

The visitor paused, staring at Nan Zhubin in confusion for a couple of seconds, seemingly not understanding why Nan Zhubin made such a level of criticism.

Soon he explained, "Sir, I'm not self-centered; I'm worried about causing trouble for others..."

But Nan Zhubin nodded insistently, "That is self-centered."

The visitor seemed to feel that Nan Zhubin didn't understand his meaning and hastily said, "Sir, what I mean is that I'm worried that if I help, the trouble caused might outweigh the help I can provide, and I think if people around them knew about my issues, they might..."

His voice abruptly ceased.

As if a lightning bolt flashed through his mind, the visitor stood with his mouth agape, frozen like a sculpture.

Nanzhubin stabilized the sofa, moved it to the desired location, and then, facing the dazed visitor, spread his hands, repeating clearly, "You, think."

The visitor slowly closed his mouth, and after a long moment squeezed out a sentence, "Is this also 'self-centered'?"

Nan Zhubin nodded.

The visitor asked again, "Because 'I think' implies that others' thoughts would be the same as mine?"

Nan Zhubin nodded, "And you've acted on this assumption of your own thoughts—despite your intentions to benefit others. But this way of thinking and behaving is indeed 'self-centered'."

...

Seeing the visitor exhibit a life-questioning expression, Nan Zhubin nodded with satisfaction inwardly.

Now it seems that this young man's cognition has been shaken, making it easier to reorganize later.

Nan Zhubin first pointed to the double sofa, indicating for the visitor to sit down, and then pointed to the two single sofas in front of the visitor.

He first pointed to the one on the left with a gray pillow: "Now, assume that sitting on this sofa is your [ideal self]."

Then he pointed to the one on the right with a green pillow: "And on this sofa sits your [real self]."

The visitor forced himself to focus, concentrating on Nan Zhubin's instructions.

He saw Nan Zhubin pull out two sheets of A4 paper and a pen from his folder and place them in front of the visitor.

"Now let's take two minutes to think. On one sheet, write down the sentence you most want to say to your [ideal self]; on the other sheet, write down the sentence you most want to say to your [real self]."