ORI HARMELIN
Therapy & Counselling in Basel

Gestalt Therapeutic Counselling in Basel — in English, German, and Hebrew

 

I offer individual therapeutic counselling in person in Basel and online, for adults navigating through various psychological challenges; present-day difficulties as well as old psychic wounds, or unresolved issues from the past, seeking to overcome a feeling of stagnation, and reconnect with your own capacity for excitement and growth. 

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I provide a secure, non-judgmental space in which you can explore what causes you pain, what holds you back, and how you might begin to live more fully in the here and now.

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Gestalt Therapy — A Relational Approach

 

My work is grounded in Integrative Gestalt therapy, a relational, phenomenological, somatic  approach to therapy that uses awareness and acceptance as a vehicle for growth and change. Gestalt views each person holistically - mind, body and soul, and relationally - your relationship with yourself and your relationship with others.

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Individual Counselling for Anxiety, Depression, Relationship Difficulties and Other Challenges

 

Whether you are experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, a loss of meaning, or a persistent sense of stagnation, Gestalt therapy offers a different kind of movement: rather than staying inside the ruminating mind, you are invited to feel into your body — to notice what is happening right now, in this moment.

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I work with adults experiencing:

• Anxiety and chronic stress

• Depression and loss of meaning

• Relationship difficulties and conflict

• Developmental and complex trauma

• Adverse childhood experiences

• Loneliness and isolation

• Loss and bereavement

• Anger and emotional overwhelm

• Identity questions and life transitions

• Self-esteem difficulties

• Stagnation and feeling stuck

 

The Paradoxical Theory of Change

 

Gestalt therapy is guided by what is known as the paradoxical theory of change: “What is, may be, and once it may be, it may change.”

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For me, awareness is a vehicle of growth and change. The practice of awareness entails acceptance of what is — and it is through that acceptance, not through strain and effort, that we can begin to explore. Change and growth may then occur, not as something forced, but as something that becomes possible.

 

This is not passivity or resignation. It is a different quality of active attention — one that allows the present moment to reveal what has been frozen in the past.

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How We Work Together

 

I offer a warm, safe space for you to explore your inner world with an authentic counterpart. As a Gestalt counsellor, I help cultivate self-awareness. This is key, as meaningful change grows from truly knowing and accepting yourself. We gently reintegrate mind and body, building a solid foundation of self-acceptance. This approach particularly suits those seeking deeper connection to themselves and fostering genuine growth.

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Gestalt Therapy Basel — What I Can Help With

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• Anxiety

• Depression

• Relationship difficulties

• Loneliness and loss of meaning

• Loss and bereavement

• Self-esteem

• Anger

• Identity problems

• Stress

• Stagnation

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is Gestalt therapy?

Gestalt therapy is an open, non-dogmatic form of psychotherapy that emphasises personal responsibility and focuses on your experience in the here and now. Influenced by the relational philosophy of Martin Buber, phenomenology, Buddhism, and existentialism, it views the individual holistically and relationally. Gestalt aims to increase awareness, through which growth may be achieved — this is the paradoxical theory of change.

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What is the difference between Gestalt therapy and other approaches?

Where many approaches focus primarily on understanding the past, Gestalt works with what is alive in the present moment — your sensations, emotions, and contact with the world around you. Rather than asking why (which can keep us ruminating and defensive), Gestalt asks how — how are you doing this, right now? This brings you back into agency and self-responsibility.

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How long does therapy take?

There is no fixed answer. Some people come for a focused piece of work over a few months; others benefit from longer-term support. We can discuss what feels right for you at the outset, and review as we go.

 

Do you offer online sessions?

Yes. Online sessions are available via video call for clients who cannot attend in person or who are based outside Basel.

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What languages do you work in?

I offer therapeutic counselling in English, German, and Hebrew.

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Where is your practice located?

My practice — Therapy Space Riehenstrasse — is at Riehenstrasse 43, near Wettsteinplatz, Basel. Ring the doorbell for "K. Cohen & O. Harmelin Praxis" and you will find me on the first floor.

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What are the fees?

Each session lasts 50 minutes. We can meet in person at my practice in Basel, near Wettsteinplatz, or online. I offer therapeutic counselling in English, German, and Hebrew. Sessions are not covered by Swiss health insurance. The fee for an individual session is 140 CHF. I have a 24-hour cancellation policy.