What is integrative psychotherapy?

N The widest sense, integrative psychotherapy is when therapists use philosophies from several therapeutic schools. The types of combinations and rigidity with which these combinations are used differ significantly. Therapists who practice in this way can be distinguished between real integration and what is called eclecticism . The latter could be defined as practical therapeutic methods from different thought schools as needed and for each client; This is considered less effective or bound by discipline than integration therapy, although it can be effective for many therapists and their clients.

There are other definitions of this form of therapy. Organizations such as Integrative Psychotherapy Institute suggest that the idea of ​​integration exists at many levels. It is not only based on a mixture of proven psychotherapeutic methods used in therapy. Instead, it refers to how this combination helps combine diverse elements in each client's personality. InWhich cases people begin with a specific theoretical orientation, but over time they can add other effective elements. For example, the emphasis on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) starting at 90 was not lost in a number of psychodynamic and development therapists. Many of them have learned CBT to hand it over to clients who are struggling with certain problems while still maintaining their primary framework. Several other therapists have learned dialectical behavioral therapy as a specific means of helping people with borderline personality disorder.

These therapists did not lose their original theoretical grounding, but expanded it with new information that could be used as needed. This differs from eclecticism, because the selection of new methods and most therapists have determined ways to integrate these new methods with the primary orientation. The decision to use one or the other therapy couldo Be predetermined by the specific needs of the client.

Integrative psychotherapy is sure that it is not limited to two theoretical models. Some therapists claim that most therapeutic schools have a lot to teach about the behavior and healing of mental illness or anxiety. How to integrate these schools then becomes a question of some debate and therapists must consider which ideas will meet to create a more perfect therapy that is focused on the client. For example, a therapist may consider whether gestalt work, unlike hypnosis or desensitization and overwhelming eyes (EMDR), is a better tool than transaction analysis for certain problems.

Those who support integrative psychotherapy can have different opinions on the best marriage of therapeutic school ideas. It should also be noted that there is a constant inspiration for accepting an integrative or eclectic approach. Most license requirements include further education, which means that therapists can explore new ideas if withI choose quite regularly. Those who are not in favor of integrative psychotherapy are welcome to complete the courses of further education that support their specific "school", but therapists who are interested in questioning the ideas they currently hold to learn new concepts or study new areas of ideas.