Gestalt therapy
Critics of Oaklander's method of working Gestalt therapy techniques and principles into play therapy with children and adolescents say that Gestalt therapy should not be used with children, because Gestalt therapy works primarily with the ego, and children do not have fully developed egos. In response, Oaklander has stated, “I strongly believe that Gestalt therapy is so organic that it stands to reason that it fits the development of children. As Fritz Perls used to say, ‘Lose your mind and come to your senses.’ The child's expression of emotions and the intellectual development of the child, it's all so organic and it's all basic to Gestalt therapy. So to me, how could it not be? Even with adults, it begins in childhood. You don't suddenly block your ability to express emotions as an adult. It starts way back. So, it seems to me that it is very essential and organic and obvious that the development of the child is much akin to Gestalt therapy.”