The Therapeutic Approach
Integrative Counseling & Psychotherapy is the therapeutic approach that affirms the intrinsic value of each person. It is an integrative model of psychotherapy that responds directly, appropriately and effectively to the individual. It helps in the emotional, behavioural, cognitive and organic level of functioning, effectively dealing with the issues that cause discomfort, anxiety, loss of concentration and memory, difficulty in making decisions and other possible emotional or mental disorders.
The term “Integrative” has a number of meanings. It refers to the process of completing the personality through specific processes, such as recovering potentially neglected or unresolved aspects of the self, reducing the use of defense mechanisms that inhibit spontaneity and limit flexibility in problem solving, and maintaining the smooth functioning of interpersonal relationships. Through integration it becomes possible for people to face each moment openly and spontaneously, without the required protection of a preconceived opinion, position, attitude or expectation.
Integrative Psychotherapy takes into account many theoretical and therapeutic approaches to mental well-being, such as: psychodynamic (attachment theory), person-centered, cognitive-behavioural, gestalt, and objective relations theory. Each of the above provides a partial explanation of behaviour that is enhanced when selectively integrated with other aspects of the therapist’s approach. The interventions and techniques used in Integrative Psychotherapy are based on developmental research and theories that describe the self-protective defenses that are used when there are issues with a person’s normal functioning.