INTEGRATIVE THERAPY
What does that mean?
Every therapist approaches therapy in a slightly different way. We can roughly group therapists into different “theoretical modalities,” which indicates the theory of psychotherapy that informs their practice of psychotherapy. Integrative therapy is a meta theoretical approach that attempts to combine aspects of various other theoretical approaches, with the belief that different clients require unique aspects of various theoretical approaches to best address their individual needs.
The sections below provide a brief outline of some of the theoretical frameworks incorporated into integrative therapy at Prism Counselling:
RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY
This approach combines cognitive and behavioural techniques with a sound philosophical theoretical background to achieve noticeable behavioural changes and lasting improvements to cognitive and emotional functioning.
ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY
Focused on developing the capacity to accept circumstances outside of our control, and commit to behavioural changes with clearly predictable benefits.
PSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPY
This approach focuses on the individual’s past as a precursor to present-day problems, and follows the assumption that linking these aspects of individual history to unconscious thinking processes allows the individual to work past developmental blockages, and achieve their full potential.
GESTALT THERAPY
A present-focused therapy working on the assumption that the whole is greater than its parts. It focuses almost exclusively on the present moment, and the individual’s thoughts and feelings as they occur at the moment they are queried.
IMAGO THERAPY
A couple’s therapy approach based on psychodynamic principles. This modality explores the wounds of every individual’s past, and how their partners can help them to heal these hurt aspects of self, and in so doing heal themselves through their relationship.
EMOTIONS FOCUSED THERAPY
This approach emphasizes the importance of recognizing, understanding, and regulating emotional experiences. This is a primary process used to impact unhealthy thought and behaviour patterns.
FAQ
POPULAR QUESTIONS FROM CLIENTS
Many clients have questions at the beginning of our process that can be important for helping them make effective decisions about therapy.
Many other forms of therapy are developed around a particular theory, and then applied to the client in a way that may or may not fit their context clearly. Integrative therapy attempts to adapt the therapy to each individual client, drawing from various theoretical frameworks to provide the most tailor-made approach possible.
Every therapist will give you a variation of the same answer to this question – it depends! The clients needs, the severity of the issues brought to therapy, and the amount of work put into therapy homework between sessions are all important factors. Some clients report significant gain from 1 to 3 sessions, most stay for an average of 6 to 10 sessions, and some continue for 20+ sessions.
While therapy helps people with severe mental health disorders, it can also assist people in navigating relationship challenges, and it can be an avenue to explore personal growth. Anyone is likely to be able to derive benefit from attending therapy, but determining if the value of therapy is worth the time and cost for you is an individual choice.