The integrative approach to psychotherapy combines different styles of counselling so that therapy suits each client’s specific needs at any given time.
What works for one person in therapy may not be the best approach for someone else, and the integrative model allows therapy to be flexible and adaptable in line with each client’s individual needs.
Integrative therapy combines different counselling styles
An integrative therapist is trained in a number of different counselling and psychological theories and draws upon these different approaches to tailor their style to each different client. The integrative approach assumes that each person is unique and that no single approach to therapy can address the physical, social, emotional and psychological needs of all people.
Depending on the needs of the client, an integrative therapist may use person-centred counselling techniques, psychodynamic theory, existential therapy or cognitive behavioural techniques.
Just as different clients have different needs, what one client needs when they start therapy may be quite different to what they need later on. An integrative therapist may take a more person-centred approach at the outset of therapy, for example, then bring in more psychodynamic techniques once the client has settled into the work.
What are the benefits of integrative psychotherapy?
Some people consider the flexible and adaptable nature of integrative psychotherapy a significant benefit. As well as adapting to different clients and different stages of therapy, an integrative counsellor may subtly and sensitively alter their approach according to what the client is discussing or how the client is feeling that day.
Another goal of integrative psychotherapy is to integrate the many different aspects of each individual. By increasing self-awareness, integrative psychotherapy attempts to bring together the psychological, emotional, physical, social and physical parts of each client, so that these parts work together to best complete a whole, fully-integrated person.
Integrative psychotherapy can be effective for both short – or long-term therapy. It has been shown to be useful for many personal issues including:
The client is involved in shaping integrative therapy
While some clients have a clear preference for a particular type of therapy, many clients are unsure which would be best for them. Choosing an integrative therapist means you don’t have to know what approach you want in advance – you can try out different approaches and find your preferences as you go along.
Some clients want to combine aspects of different approaches. For example, they may want cognitive behavioural exercises to address one issue, but also want the insight about their unconscious processes that a psychodynamic perspective can bring. Working with an integrative therapist would give the client both.
Integrative therapy can be used in the treatment of almost all types of personal issues and for clients of all ages. The integrative therapist will consider the individual characteristics, personality, needs, ability and motivations of each client to determine which type of therapy might be most helpful at any given time.
This type of therapy can take place in one of our central London practices on online if you prefer online counselling.
Essentially, integrative psychotherapy is designed to suit the client rather than expecting the client to suit a particular type of therapy.
Integrative counselling is just one types of therapy we provide in London
While integrative counselling is a contemporary and flexible type of therapy, we also offer other kinds of therapy in central London. You may want to learn more about :
- person-centred counselling
- psychodynamic psychotherapy
- psychoanalytic psychotherapy
- cognitive behavioural therapy
- relationship therapy
- psychosexual therapy.
Taking the first step
Finding the right therapist is an important first step. If you have a preference for a certain type of therapist or a certain style of therapy, please tell us your preferences at the time of booking your appointment.
If this is your first experience of therapy, you might feel anxious and not know what to expect. Our questions and answers may put your mind at ease.
First appointments are usually available within one week. Appointments are available from 7.30 am until 8.30 pm. You may contact us or book online. We welcome all enquiries.
Our integrative therapists
If you are looking for an integrative therapist, read our therapists’ profiles. You will find that many of them work integratively.
