A Guide to Integrative Counselling in Leigh On Sea
If you are looking for Integrative counselling in Leigh On Sea, you have come to the right place.
What is integrative counselling?
Integrative counselling is a contemporary and flexible type of therapy. It combines several different counselling styles and techniques so the therapy can be tailored to best fit the needs of the client rather than using a ‘one size fits all’ method. The integrative approach is a broad approach to therapy that involves a close working collaboration between the client and the therapist.
Why might integrative counselling be preferable?
We’re all different so it stands to reason that what works for one person in therapy may not work for someone else. No single approach to therapy can address the physical, social, emotional and psychological needs of all people. Life experiences vary for everyone and the integrative approach acknowledges these differences.
This approach is more inclusive than many other types of therapy as the client and therapist work together. Integrative therapy actively engages in the client’s experience of therapy. It can be used in the treatment of almost all types of personal issues and for clients of all ages.
The integrative model of counselling allows therapy to be flexible and adaptable in line with each client’s expectations, personal needs and takes into consideration their changing needs throughout therapy. So, someone who isn’t entirely sure of their goals may benefit from this type of therapy as it is able to adapt with changing needs.
How does integrative counselling work?
Using integrative therapy in Leigh on Sea has utilised my training in various counselling and psychological theories. I draw upon these different approaches to aid with the specific needs of each client.
Depending upon the needs of the individual client, I would work integratively using, for example, a combination of the person-centred counselling approach with gestalt theory, transactional analysis concepts and cognitive behavioural therapy techniques for work with a single client. Within my practice, I have found using integrative therapy in Leigh On Sea to be flexible and adaptable as therapy unfolds and evolves while the client and I work collaboratively.
As the integrative approach is flexible and collaborative, the client has a say in the type of therapy used during their counselling experience.
For example, a client might request exercises or homework during the course of their therapy. In this case, a cognitive behavioural approach to therapy might be helpful. At other times, a client may want to talk about experiences from the past that might be affecting thoughts and behaviours today and, in this case, a psychodynamic approach may be more useful.
What are the benefits of integrative counselling?
Some people believe the flexible and adaptable nature of integrative counselling is a significant benefit. As therapy progresses, an integrative therapist recognises opportunities to employ a different therapeutic approach or technique to help the client further along. Rather than sticking to just one approach, using integrative therapy, I will have a set of different approaches to use that may work better for a client than using just one single approach.
The client has control in how integrative therapy takes shape
While some clients have a clear preference for the type of therapy they want to receive, most clients want whichever type of counselling that will be the most effective for their personal needs.
Goals of integrative counselling
A goal of integrative therapy is to integrate the many different aspects of each individual. Through increasing self-awareness, integrative counselling attempts to bring together the psychological, emotional, social and physical parts of each client, so that these parts work together to best complete a whole, fully-integrated person.
What issues is integrative counselling useful for?
Integrative therapy can be effective for both short or longer-term therapy experiences. This type of therapy has been shown to be useful for a wide range of issues including but not limited to:
- bereavement
- relationship issues
- depression
- anxiety
- sexual issues
- self-harm
- eating disorders
