Integrative Therapy Explained

Integrative therapy combines techniques from more than one therapeutic tradition rather than working within a single model.

What is Integrative Therapy?

Integrative therapy is an approach that combines therapeutic methods from more than one tradition, selected to suit the individual client. Rather than applying one model to everyone, the therapist draws on a range of psychological theories and attends to the psychological, physical and emotional aspects of a person's wellbeing.

The approach rests on the view that no single form of therapy addresses everything a person brings to treatment. It places the therapeutic relationship at the centre of the work and incorporates techniques from cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, humanistic and other traditions as the work requires.

How Does Integrative Therapy Work?

Integrative therapy rests on a set of principles that shape how treatment is planned and adjusted. The main ones are:

• Holistic treatment: the approach attends to the cognitive, emotional, behavioural and physiological aspects of a person, rather than to a presenting symptom alone.
• Personalised care: treatment is shaped around the individual's needs, circumstances and preferences, with the therapist drawing on a range of theories and techniques when planning the work.
• Therapeutic alliance: the relationship between therapist and client is treated as central to the work, with an emphasis on collaboration and mutual respect.
• Flexibility and adaptability: integrative therapists move between approaches during treatment, so the work can change as the client's needs change.
• Grounding in researched methods: integrative therapists generally select techniques from models that have been studied for the difficulty at hand. How far that research carries over into a combined approach is harder to establish, and remains a matter of debate in the field.

What Techniques Does Integrative Therapy Use?

Sessions vary between individuals, but several elements are common:

• Assessment and goal setting: early sessions usually involve a thorough assessment covering the client's history, current difficulties and what they want from therapy. Client and therapist then agree on objectives.
• Techniques from different traditions: depending on the agreed goals and how the client responds, the therapist may use cognitive-behavioural exercises for examining unhelpful thinking, psychodynamic work to explore the influence of earlier experience, or mindfulness practices for present-moment awareness.
• Ongoing review and adaptation: the plan is reviewed and adjusted as the work proceeds, based on the client's progress and feedback.
• Collaborative exploration: sessions are exploratory and collaborative, with the client taking an active part. Discussion, experiential exercises and reflection are all used.

Who Can Benefit From Integrative Therapy?

Integrative therapy may suit people who:

• Have difficulties that do not fit neatly into a single diagnosis or a single treatment approach.
• Want treatment that can be adjusted as their needs change over time.
• Prefer an approach that considers physical and social circumstances alongside psychological ones.
• Prefer a therapist who can draw on more than one set of techniques.

The Pros and Cons of Integrative Therapy

Like any approach, integrative therapy involves trade-offs, and both are worth weighing before starting.

Strengths of Integrative Therapy

• Breadth: because it draws on several traditions, the work can take in emotional, cognitive, physical and social factors rather than addressing a presenting symptom in isolation.
• Treatment shaped to the person: the work can be aligned closely with the client's needs, goals and preferences.
• Flexibility: strategies can be adjusted as circumstances change, so the direction of the work can shift without starting over.
• An active role for the client: the approach gives the client a part in setting direction and reviewing progress.
• Techniques drawn from studied models: the individual methods used are usually taken from approaches that have been researched for particular difficulties, though how far that evidence carries over to a combined approach is harder to establish than it is for a single, manualised therapy.

Limitations of Integrative Therapy

• It asks a great deal of the practitioner: delivering integrative therapy well requires training across several approaches and the judgement to combine them. Finding a therapist with that breadth of training and experience can be difficult.
• Treatment planning is more complex: the range of available techniques can make planning harder, and it takes deliberate effort to keep the work coherent and focused.
• Technique can crowd out process: there is a risk of attending to individual techniques at the expense of the overall direction of the therapy.
• Cost and time: given its individually planned and often exploratory nature, integrative therapy may take longer and cost more than a shorter single-modality treatment.

Integrative therapy draws on more than one therapeutic tradition to fit the individual.

Is Integrative Therapy Right for You?

If you are considering integrative therapy, it is worth thinking about what you want from treatment and how you feel about working across different methods. Some practical steps:

• Consider your needs: think about whether an approach that draws on several traditions matches what you are bringing to therapy.
• Research therapists: look for therapists trained in more than one modality with experience of working integratively. Ask how they decide which methods to use, and when.
• Consultation: an initial consultation gives you a sense of how a therapist works and how they would approach your concerns. Use it to discuss your goals and any hesitations you have.

Conclusion

Integrative therapy tailors treatment to the individual, drawing on methods from different therapeutic traditions. It proceeds from the view that no single therapy fits everyone, and it treats the therapist-client relationship as central. It may suit people who want treatment planned around their own circumstances rather than around a single model.

Key Takeaways

• Integrative therapy adapts treatment to the individual rather than applying one model to everyone.
• It attends to emotional, cognitive, physical and social aspects of a person's difficulties.
• The client takes an active part in setting the direction of the work and reviewing progress.
• The work can change as the client's goals and circumstances change.
• Drawing on several models widens the range of techniques available, and asks more of the therapist's training.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a therapist trained in Integrative Therapy?

Start by reading therapists' profiles and looking for those who describe an integrative approach or training in several modalities. Ask about their training and how they work during an initial consultation.

Is Integrative Therapy covered by insurance?

Coverage varies widely depending on your country, your health system and your insurer or medical scheme. Check directly with your provider for specifics on cover for integrative psychotherapy.

Can Integrative Therapy be conducted online?

Yes, many therapists offer integrative therapy online, which can widen access where local options are limited. Whether online work suits you depends on your circumstances and is worth raising with the therapist at the outset.

How long does Integrative Therapy usually last?

The duration varies considerably depending on the person's goals and circumstances. Some people work in short-term therapy, while others continue for longer where the work calls for it.

Further Reading

• Psychology Today. Integrative Therapy. Sussex Publishers.
• ScienceDirect Topics. Integrative Therapy: an overview. Elsevier. Draws together excerpts on integrative approaches from Elsevier's psychology books and journals; some linked source chapters sit behind a paywall.