Integrative counselling/therapy

This is when several distinct models of counselling and psychotherapy are used together in a converging way rather than in separate pieces.  (BACP)

Integrative counselling draws on mainstream theoretical perspectives, integrating knowledge and skills from different therapies.  Often insights and techniques from Person Centred Counselling, Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are used to help you understand and bring about changes in your life.

Person centred counselling

offers a non-judgemental relationship between client and counsellor in which the client can explore what they need and want and how they can achieve their goals.

Psychodynamic counselling

works by bringing unconscious thoughts and feelings to the surface; there is an emphasis on the influence of the past, and on recurring patterns of relationships.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

works by examining the ways that thought, behaviour and feeling affect each other, and how different aspects of these can be changed to solve specific problems.

These of some of the models of therapy that, combined, can become “integrative”

Integrative counselling is not tied to any single therapy since its practitioners take the view that no one single approach works for every client in every situation.

While integrative counselling is usually pragmatic in content and has no qualms about using concepts, skills or techniques from any source, provided the application of these benefits the client, this does not mean the approach is ad hoc or piecemeal in practice. Each client’s problem is tackled systemically, typically in three or more stages, and the counsellor is obliged to be disciplined and thorough, but still flexible, in interacting with clients.  The therapy must fit the client, not vice versa. Research indicates that the most probable factors determining a successful outcome to therapy are the personal qualities of both therapist and client and the relationship between them, rather than the particular approach used.