I wonder if that gestalt thing is actually useful. At least got our boy out of trouble... Also his father's disposition was left uncertain, what gives?
Edit: so I looked up that gestalt stuf and looks like pseudoscience but, given the state of psychotherapy in its current scientific development, it might be safe to say it should be OK. Now, I get why sensei doesn't want to be exposed to that: he'd basically lose what makes him himself, specially his attachment for philosophy and ethics.
That's what gestalt does to people, if I got that right: it makes them centered on the present, and by extent, to oneself. Wich might lead to narcissistic behavior, but, it doesn't look that likely. The way out new guy looks like it's doing "the gestalt thing" is more about picking yourself apart and making it better dor others rather than yourself.