Integrative Approach To Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a field of psychology that is characterized by a diverse range of approaches and techniques. Although most of the therapeutic approaches share the same goals, they have many differences when it comes to the best way to achieve these goals. An integrative approach to counseling therapy was developed by counselors over the years to combine different techniques from different therapeutic systems so that a more complete and efficient treatment can be developed based on the client’s goals. I believe psychotherapy integration is one of the most complete counseling approaches as there isn’t only one technique or strategy that is effective when working with diverse client groups. The three therapeutic systems that will be discussed in this paper are Family Systems, Person-Centered Therapy, and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). I chose to integrate these three philosophies for counseling because they are consistent with my personality, my future career goals, and my belief system. In my opinion, integrating some aspects of each of these approaches can help the counselor and the client get to the root of the problem by evaluating how the client functions in relationships, by teaching the client to maintain a positive or healthy self-concept, and by developing a plan to modify behavior and acquire new skills to learn effective ways to cope with problems (Corey, 2013, pp. 468-478). I consider myself a multi-tasker and if I was a counselor, the idea of integrating more than one system in a treatment plan to tackle the client’s problems seems more productive and realistic. Goals of Therapy and Techniques In this integrative approach to counseling, the most important goals are to incorporate family members during the sessions so that they gain awareness of the aspects in the relationship with the client that are not working and therefore, are leading the client to have some kind of behavior problem. …show more content…
The second goal would be to help the client to recognize the obstacles preventing growth and to help the client acquire a greater trust in self and in the therapeutic process so that the client is more open to change (Corey, 2013, pp. 477,478). Lastly, the goal that will probably take longer to achieve is behavior change. Through CBT, the client can learn techniques that can be practiced on a daily basis even after treatment is over. Some of the techniques that can be used during treatment are homework assignments, keeping record of activities, role playing, active listening and reflecting on the client’s feelings, and basically being engaged during the session so the client feels heard and understood. CBT is based on the concept that to understand what we feel, we have to be able to understand what we think, so one of the techniques that can be used to make the client aware of irrational beliefs is ask the client to create a feelings-behaviors-thoughts diagram (Gillihan, 2016, p.235). For instance, if a client suffers from anxiety, thoughts of danger are constantly present which lead the client to express fear when exposed to anything that triggers anxiety. By creating this diagram, the client can see how unhealthy thinking patterns affect feelings and how feelings affect behavior. Role of the Therapist …show more content…
I would address cultural diversity via my integrating approach by focusing on the client’s family system as most people place value on the role of the family. I’d also focus on breaking cultural barriers by encouraging the client to be engaged in open dialogue. Maintaining an open and sincere dialogue allows clients to express their concerns