Does your client or child often repeat phrases from their favorite shows, movies, or songs? Or have you noticed that traditional ideas about language development don’t quite match the way they express themselves? Understanding this difference takes curiosity—and a willingness to honor how your client or child naturally learns and uses language.
This brings us to an important concept known as Gestalt Language Processing (GLP), a valid and common way some individuals learn language by first absorbing and repeating whole phrases before breaking them down into smaller, more flexible parts.
Understanding the key differences in Analytic Language Processing (the opposite of GLP) and modifying tools like The Interoception Curriculum for GLPs can open up new pathways for supporting these individuals in understanding and expressing their inner experiences.
What Is Gestalt Language Processing?
Gestalt Language Processing is a type of language development that begins with the use of multiple-word phrases or “gestalts,” where the chunks of words serve as a unit with a single meaning. Often, these phrases come from sources such as songs, TV shows, movies, or core life events. Gestalt language processors use ‘echolalia,’ or echo these gestalts, as a part of their language development.
On the other hand, Analytical Language Processors (ALP) develop language through single units (or words). As they continue to develop language, these single words are used as building blocks to combine with other words to create a phrase or sentence.
Imagine you’re learning to dance. An analytic learner will break the routine into individual steps, practicing each move—like a spin, jump, or clap—until they master it. Then, the ALP will string those moves together to perform the whole routine.
A Gestalt Language Processor will learn the entire dance routine as one big flow rather than breaking it into individual steps. They might mimic the rhythm and energy of the dance as a complete “chunk,” not focusing initially on the finer details. This holistic style mirrors how GLPs learn language—not through isolated words but by absorbing meaningful chunks, like phrases or expressions, based on their rhythm, tone, and emotional context.
A Supportive Guide for Understanding Gestalt Language Processing (GLP)
This GLP Glossary of Terms was created in collaboration with Marge Blanc, Caroline Gaddy, Rachel Dorsey, and the Interoception Facebook community.
It’s designed to help you better understand key concepts in Gestalt Language Processing, including echolalia, mitigations, and the Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) stages.
Whether you’re a therapist, educator, or caregiver, this glossary is an easy-to-use reference to further your work and learning. We hope that it empowers you to honor all forms of communication and support each learner’s unique journey.
Download your free copy and keep it close—it can be valuable learning tool!
Why Do We Need to Understand Gestalt Language Processing when Supporting Interoception?
Many Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs) rely on gestalts to express their inner experiences. When others don’t understand how GLPs process and communicate, their attempts to share how they feel can often be dismissed, misunderstood, or even invalidated.
For instance, a GLP might say “Somebody call the doctor” while happily playing with a favorite toy. Or “Here comes the fire truck” when there’s not a fire truck in sight. Or “Let’s go to the park” in the middle of bedtime routine. These expressions might seem out of place or nonsensical in the observable context, but they are often the child’s way of communicating something about their internal experience. Sadly, instead of being recognized as meaningful communication, these gestalts are sometimes misunderstood or ignored.
This kind of invalidation may reduce the GLPs attempts at expressing their inner experience and doesn’t just block bodily connection—it can lead to long-term harm, creating inner confusion, mistrust of their own body, and significant mental health challenges.
Once deep curiosity and validation are onboard—with trying to figure out the meaning of the gestalts used and acknowledging them as helpful forms of communication—the next step in supporting interoception growth in Gestalt Language Learners can include using tools and resources like The Interoception Curriculum and Interoception Activity Cards.
These tools offer structured guidance for enhancing interoceptive awareness and engaging activities that help individuals explore their unique bodily sensations and emotions.
Learn How to Support GLPs with Interoception
How do we, as professionals, caregivers, and parents, interoceptively support clients or children who learn through Gestalt Language Processing? Through curiosity and validation! First, it is important to note that many gestalts are representative of a felt experience.
When a GLP expresses their inner experience through gestalts, and these expressions are ignored, or their gestalts are thought to be meaningless, it can have a negative interoceptive impact and can be very traumatizing. But, when they are explored with curiosity and validation, it can lead to interoceptive growth and felt safety!
If you’d like to learn more about how to affirm and nurture the inner experience of GLPs, I invite you to take one of our newest on-demand courses: Supporting Communication of Interoception in Gestalt Language Processors. Taught by two autistic Speech and Language Therapists, this 7-hour course delves into strategies for supporting Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs) in understanding and expressing their interoceptive experiences in affirming ways.
Discover how to tailor interoception tools, such as The Interoception Curriculum, to fit the unique processing styles of GLPs. The course also includes four exclusive resources to promote accessible and meaningful interoception learning.
A Meaningful Conversation About Interoception and Gestalt Language Processing
I recently had the absolute joy of chatting with two incredible humans—the 2 co-teachers of our Interoception & GLP course—Caroline Gaddy and Rachel Dorsey— about interoception and gestalt language processing.
Rachel and Caroline bring not only deep professional expertise as SLPs but also lived neurodivergent experiences that are so valuable to this dialogue. We talk about everything from sensory differences and emotional awareness to the importance of staying open, affirming, and curious in our interoception work—especially with clients who are gestalt language processors and/or minimally speaking. This is not a polished presentation—it’s a real conversation. One that left me thinking deeply, feeling inspired, and learning more (as I always do when I’m with them!). Best of all? This conversation is available for FREE!! I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch, reflect, and join us in continuing this important conversation.
Integrating GLP with Interoceptive Skills, the Affirming Way!
Adapting interoception supports for Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs) can be an impactful way to support the development of deeper self-awareness and meaningful communication. This process is all about helping GLPs and their supporters connect the language chunks they’ve learned to specific bodily sensations, fostering a mutual understanding of their physical and emotional experiences.
If you’re eager to explore more ways to support this life-changing work, I encourage you to dive into additional interoception resources, like The Interoception Curriculum and then learn tips for using it with GLPs in our course Supporting Communication of Interoception in Gestalt Language Processors.
These tools are designed to help you tailor strategies to meet the unique needs of GLPs, opening the door to stronger self-regulation, emotional well-being, and a deeper connection to their inner world. Let’s keep learning together!