Therapists often use a lot of words to describe what their approach and style is when it comes to the therapy they offer, and many integrative counsellors are guilty of this. Lots of therapists forget that the general public often have no idea at aal what all these words mean. This can really get in the way of someone finding a therapist that suits them because its overwhelming enough already when you are looking through a list of possible therapists. That is made more complicated by the way they present their therapy. And is even more complicated if you are anxious or stressed which could be the reason you are looking for therapy in the first place!
“Integrative psychotherapy” is pretty commonly available but what does it actually mean? Basically, it’s therapy that doesn’t stick to just one way of doing things. Think of it like a playlist on Spotify that mixes genres: a little bit of this, a little bit of that, all combined to fit what you need, not some textbook “average” client.
In a first session you would probably be giving an overview of where you are currently at in life by talking about the main points from your past that got you to this point and also maybe talking about your hopes, your baggage and what you have previously done to try and achieve your goals. The therapist would use this information to create a plan, custom-made for your circumstances. This plan might draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques, psychodynamic therapy, and anything else that they think might help.
It’s not just about putting a plaster over the bad feelings; it’s shaking things up so you get both quick relief to the immediate issues as well as long-term changes. Here’s an example of what I mean… Say someone’s carrying around childhood issues that’s now showing up as adult anxiety. The therapist might talk with you about your past, using psychodynamic techniques at first, to help you figure out what’s bubbling under the surface.
But maybe you’re also stuck with some unhelpful thought patterns, so in comes CBT to help you come up with techniques for managing thoughts differently the next time they occur rather than just repeating what you know doesn’t work. People who are struggling and working with a counsellor often worry that they won’t be able to ‘do therapy’ because they see themselves as “not great at talking” That’s OK and isn’t a deal breaker. Maybe in these situations an integrative counsellor might get out the art therapy supplies to help you explore things without words being the star of the show. It’s whatever works, honestly.
So, when does this approach make sense? If you feel adrift, this kind of therapy could help you find what you actually want out of your life. Are you overwhelmed by anxiety or depression? Integrative therapy can help you tackle both what’s happening right now as well as what started it all in the first place. Do you have confidence issues? This approach can boost your self-image. Maybe you’re stressed at work… Yes, it covers that too. Going through big life changes or crises? Consider it your parachute.
It’s all about not being boxed in. Regular therapy often sticks stubbornly to just one method or perspective. It is a bit like that friend who only orders pepperoni pizza and never tries anything else. Integrative psychotherapy says, “Why not try it all and see what fits?” If you’ve seen several therapists over the years and never found one who ‘got’ you or felt that they had cookie-cutter approaches that just didn’t get you anywhere it could be that integrative psychotherapy might be an ideal alternative.
People who succeed through integrative counselling often report that as a therapy style it feels like someone’s meeting you where you are. Especially if you’ve got a knot of issues to untangle, or if you want a therapist who’ll actually adapt as you go and aren’t just dusting off the same old advice each session.
Here’s a short checklist of things to consider when you are looking for an integrative counsellor:
That is my short overview of what integrative counselling is all about. Remember: Integrative psychotherapy is not a one-size-fits-all kind of approach but it can be ideal for lots of people.
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