Listening as a Relational and Experientialist Praxis: Insights from Gestalt Therapy

ABSTRACT Humanistic psychology is grounded in dialogic communication and existentialist phenomenology, involving a relational philosophy and experientialist methodology. Its relative neglect within listening research is canvased before exploring the praxis of Gestalt therapy – a humanistic psychotherapy – which models integration of philosophy, theory, and practice relevant to listening. While listening research is increasingly attuned to relational aspects of communication and elements of humanistic therapies, it remains shaped by a metaphysics of atomization, compromising its capacity for integrated praxis. The value of conceptualizing listening as a praxis similar to that of Gestalt therapy is therefore elucidated, with particular reference to listening pedagogy in higher education.