NEUROGESTALT: A PROPOSAL FOR INTEGRATING NEUROSCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES AND GESTALT PRACTICES IN ANXIETY MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The notion of perceiving the human being in a dualistic way separating mind and body can lead to a fragmented and limited understanding of the person in clinical practice. The convergence between Neuroscience and Gestalt-therapy aims to bridge this gap by integrating subjective experience with the objective understanding of brain and mind processes. This article proposes the integration of these two fields through the term NeuroGestalt. Based on the study of Gestalt and neuroscientific principles, as well as the understanding of anxiety and its pathological form, the research seeks to identify the possible clinical contributions of this integration to anxiety management. The central question guiding this study is: How can the integration of neuroscientific methods with Gestalt-therapy practices influence the treatment of anxiety symptoms? The methodology adopted was descriptive and exploratory in nature, with a qualitative approach and a narrative bibliographic review of materials available in recognized databases. A total of 427 studies were identified, and after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, five articles were selected and analyzed. The results indicate that the articulation between neuroscientific principles and Gestalt techniques can enhance emotional regulation, neuroplasticity, and the reframing of anxious experiences. The integration of mind and body, grounded in neurobiological and phenomenological principles, expands awareness and strengthens organismic self-regulation, recognizing the individual in their totality. However, the proposal remains conceptual and lacks empirical validation. NeuroGestalt thus emerges as a promising integrative approach, combining science and phenomenology to promote a broader and more comprehensive understanding of the human being.