Court Ruling Declares Gestalt Therapy a Pseudoscience Amid Sect-Like Practices
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The ruling follows years of legal battles after Santamaría and his colleagues published a 2022 report with the Institute Salud Sin Bulos, in which they argued that Gestalt Therapy is not only ineffective but also financially and psychologically harmful to those who undergo it.
(ZENIT News / Madrid, 03.02.2025).- A landmark court ruling in Spain has reaffirmed that Gestalt Therapy lacks scientific validity and operates in ways that resemble sectarian structures. The decision, handed down in 2025, dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Spanish Association of Gestalt Therapy (AETG) against researcher Luis Santamaría and his co-authors, journalist Ricardo Mariscal and psychologist Carlos Sanz. The lawsuit, which sought financial compensation and a retraction of their critical report on Gestalt Therapy, instead resulted in the association being ordered to pay court costs.
The ruling follows years of legal battles after Santamaría and his colleagues published a 2022 report with the Institute Salud Sin Bulos, in which they argued that Gestalt Therapy is not only ineffective but also financially and psychologically harmful to those who undergo it. In an interview with “Alfa y Omega”, Santamaría described the court’s decision as a victory for public interest, emphasizing that “the judge recognized that this is a matter of public concern, making freedom of information take precedence over the right to honor.”
One of the core criticisms presented by Santamaría is that Gestalt Therapy is practiced without the necessary psychological training. The Spanish Association of Gestalt Therapy, he pointed out, consists of individuals who simply complete specific courses—none of which require a background in psychology. He described the approach as a mix of psychoanalysis, Eastern spiritual traditions, and vague self-help philosophies, lacking any solid foundation in scientific research.
The association’s aggressive legal response raised further concerns. “A serious professional organization would have engaged in debate, discussion, and clarification of positions,” Santamaría argued. Instead, the association sought to suppress criticism by demanding the removal of the report and a public retraction, along with a financial compensation of 57,000 euros. The court’s ruling, however, rejected their claims and reinforced the importance of exposing pseudoscientific practices.
Perhaps the most disturbing revelations from the case came from witness testimonies, which highlighted the extreme and coercive nature of some Gestalt Therapy practices. During the trial, former members recounted their experiences within groups that exhibited sect-like behaviors, including psychological pressure, financial exploitation, and even physical harm.
One particularly harrowing case involved a man who suffered severe health consequences due to Gestalt Therapy’s disregard for medical science. Under the influence of his therapist, he abandoned essential medical treatments, which ultimately led to vision loss in one eye and serious cardiac issues. It was only when he found himself in a life-threatening emergency that he decided to leave the group.
Content retrieved from: https://zenit.org/2025/03/02/court-ruling-declares-gestalt-therapy-a-pseudoscience-amid-sect-like-practices/.
