Free Essay About Psychotherapy Integration

Psychotherapy integration refers to that therapeutic approach that does not rely on a single theory or set of techniques (Strieker, 1996). The aim is to increase the applicability and efficiency of psychotherapy (Jones-Smith, 2011) to help client in living a normal life. This approach can enhance the effectiveness of cognitive learning through experiential component (Todd & Bohart, 2006). Experiential components motivate patients to identify and address hidden and subconscious issues. Experiential therapy utilizes different methods such as role-playing, guided imagery, and the usage of props. Ultimate goal of integrative therapy is to help clients according to their behavior and characteristics that are influenced by experiences.
There are different stages of change in personality and psychopathology and different psychotherapies can help in these different stages (O'Hara & Schofield, 2008). Psychotherapeutic integration uses different techniques including reframing for alternative meaning to experiences as well as problems (Clark, 1998), self-empowerment (Moodley, 1998) through a sense of entitlement, interpersonal theory to understand the meaning of personality pathology (Hopwood, Wright, Ansell, & Pincus, 2013), and motivational interviewing to increase the strength of clients to stop their abusive or addictive behavior (Malat, Morrow, & Stewart, 2011). In most cases, a therapist decides what method to rely on in their practice. This approach is useful as all therapists believe their methods and have confidence in the approach they adopt (Patterson, 1967).
As a conclusion, it can be said that psychotherapy integration is helpful in achieving a good level of success in treatment of psychological issues with the help of experiential components (Husserl, Landgrebe, Churchill, & Ameriks, 1973). It can help therapists in developing new techniques while using existing techniques to help the client.

References

Clark, A. J. (1998). Reframing: A therapeutic technique in group counseling. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 23(1), 66-73.
Hopwood, C. J., Wright, A. G., Ansell, E. B., & Pincus, A. L. (2013). The interpersonal core of personality pathology. Journal of personality disorders, 27(3), 270.
Husserl, E., Landgrebe, L., Churchill, J. S., & Ameriks, K. (1973). Experience and Judgment: Northwestern University Press.
Jones-Smith, E. (2011). Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy: An Integrative Approach: SAGE Publications.
Malat, J., Morrow, S., & Stewart, P. (2011). Applying Motivational Interviewing Principles in a Modified Interpersonal Group for Comorbid Addiction. International journal of group psychotherapy, 61(4), 556-575.
Moodley, R. (1998). ’I say what I like’: Frank talk (ing) in counselling and psychotherapy. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 26(4), 495-508.
O'Hara, D., & Schofield, M. J. (2008). Personal approaches to psychotherapy integration. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 8(1), 53-62.
Patterson, C. (1967). Divergence and convergence in psychotherapy. American journal of psychotherapy, 21, 4-17.
Strieker, G. (1996). Psychotherapy integration: An assimilative, psychodynamic approach. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 3(1), 47-58.
Todd, J., & Bohart, A. C. (2006). Foundations of Clinical and Counseling Psychology: Waveland Press.