Exploring Body Language in Gestalt Counselling of Students at a Public University using Hermeneutic Phenomenology

This study explored how counsellors utilise body language Gestalt counselling techniques to assist students at a public university and to understand the experiences of counsellors and clients in this context. Based on a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, the study used an expert purposive sampling method to select 4 counsellors at a public university and 16 students who had prior exposure to the body language counselling techniques for this study. The participants were interviewed using semi-structured interviews and document analysis based on a retrospective record review employed to collect data. The data from interviews was analysed using thematic analysis. The research findings demonstrated that body language played a crucial role in the interaction between counsellors and clients, influencing the effectiveness of the counselling process. Positive results indicated that both counsellors and clients benefitted from enhanced communication and gained additional insights beyond verbal expressions, leading to increased awareness. However, some participants experienced challenges and discomfort when their body language was pointed out by the counsellor. Additionally, the study found that body language techniques were most effective when complemented by other counselling methods. It was suggested that caution should be exercised when using body language techniques, as they could potentially lead the client to become defensive and hinder progress. Nonetheless, when used correctly, these techniques could help both the counsellor and client become more cognizant of their body language and utilize it to enrich their dialogue.