The 4 Main Characteristics Of Integrative Psychotherapy
Integrative psychotherapy is one of the most interesting and complete therapy proposals, and precisely for this reason, it is also one of the most versatile and complex.
By emphasizing the need to intervene in the whole person and not in each of their problems separately, this way of helping patients has a great capacity to adapt to various types of problems, needs and contexts.
Now… What characterizes integrative psychotherapy? Let’s see it.
Let’s start with a basic and summarized definition of the term “integrative psychotherapy”. As its name indicates, it consists of a model of psychological therapy in which there is an integration of therapeutic models (developed by various currents of psychology) both in the theory on which they are based, as well as in the techniques and strategies. that they use when intervening on patients.
That is, a way of understanding psychotherapy that focuses on the need to understand the human being as a whole, as an integral whole in which a wide variety of emotional, cognitive and behavioral processes interact.
Thus, it is a highly ambitious applied psychology proposal that involves training on all fronts of psychology and behavioral sciences in general, although not only for the pure interest in learning and knowing more and more about human beings. , but mainly to be able to offer quality professional support to patients; to each one of them, seen as individuals with their unrepeatable particularities.
Now that we have made a first approach to the concept of integrative psychotherapy, you are probably beginning to understand the logic behind how it works. However, below we will see in more detail its characteristics when used in a psychology consultation.
1. It combines tools, but it is not a purely empirical model
Applying integrative psychotherapy does not simply consist of choosing between therapeutic techniques and strategies that have been shown to be effective in the face of certain types of problems and using them arbitrarily depending on each person’s tastes.
Although it is influenced by various currents of psychology, it goes beyond browsing scientific research and using what “seems to work” to overcome a certain type of psychological disorder or emotional discomfort. It is not about using techniques in an isolated wayapplying a solution read in a manual to solve a specific problem, and then moving on to the next.
Having an integrative vision of the patient implies understanding the set of psychological dynamics behind what causes problems. Thus, in integrative psychotherapy we formulate both a theoretical proposal to explain the patient’s discomfort, and a practical proposal through interventions.
2. Transformation is sought in several areas of the patient’s life
Another characteristic of integrative psychotherapy is that it explores all the possibilities of establishing changes in the person’s life (both in their way of interacting with the different contexts of their daily lives and in their way of managing their emotions and their own behavior) so that, through all of these modifications, you will be much less likely to lose the progress you have made.
That is to say, We try to intervene in as many areas of their life as possible (as long as they are related to the problem), understanding that the improvement in their quality of life must be global., not specific to a very specific type of situations. Therefore, it is common that at the end of the therapy process the person notices improvements in areas of their life that they had not even considered changing. Of course, these types of interventions are always done by fully informing the patient about the objectives of the therapy.
3. The goal goes beyond not feeling discomfort
Integrative psychotherapy receives many influences from humanistic psychology and positive psychology, so that by aiming to enhance people’s well-being, It is not limited to trying to spare the patient moments of discomfort or emotional pain..
Many times, the key is to accept that a part of life is based on accepting those uncomfortable experiences and still knowing how to find stimulating and positive aspects in everyday life, so that attention is not always displaced to what is happening to us. makes us suffer (and that, as a consequence of this, loses strength and capacity to damage our quality of life).
4. It involves constant training
This is a characteristic of all types of psychotherapy, but it is especially true in the case of integrative psychotherapy. Understanding the person as a whole and proposing interventions aimed at improving their overall well-being requires constant learning. about the human mind and the behavioral dynamics through which human beings express themselves.
Are you interested in training in integrative psychotherapy?
If you want to specialize in integrative psychotherapy or incorporate its foundations into your work with patients, you may be interested the Professionalizing Online Postgraduate Course in Integrative Psychotherapy offered by the Mensalus Institute.
This training program, which is supported by Nebrija University and is aimed at psychology and psychotherapy professionals, offers the possibility of specializing in this type of psychological therapy 100% online. It lasts six months and includes live theoretical-practical classes, individual tutoring, constant access to the postgraduate Intranet and its materials, supervision sessions with a view of real cases, practical exercises with supervision, and the possibility of consulting dedicated professionals. mainly to treat patients.
Furthermore, upon completion, the postgraduate course grants students their own University Degree from the Nebrija University of Madrid.
