What is Integrative Therapy? (The Pros and Cons)
You want to take care of your mental health, but you know it involves more than just your mind.
You’re interested in therapy options that see you as a whole person, and consider your physical and emotional health.
Integrative therapy sounds like a great choice - but what does it really mean, and could it be the best choice for you?
Here at KMA Therapy, we know that it can feel overwhelming to navigate all of the information available about therapy. We’re here to make it simple for you!
After reading this article, you’ll know what integrative therapy is, its pros and cons, and how to know if it could work for you.
What is Integrative Therapy?
Integrative therapy is an approach that combines ideas and techniques from different forms of therapy.
It’s often called a holistic form of therapy because it considers your mental, emotional, and physical well-being as part of your treatment plan.
It’s a customized and specific form of therapy that can treat a variety of issues due to its versatility.
Rather than specializing in only one type of therapy, therapists who take an integrative approach study a range of different schools of thought in order to match you with the best therapy for you.
Integrative therapy is often used to help with:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Self-esteem issues
- Relationship issues
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
What’s the Difference Between Integrative Therapy and Eclectic Therapy?
While integrative therapy and eclectic therapy share a lot of similarities, the main difference is that integrative therapy combines similar approaches that are used consistently, while eclectic therapy uses a range of different therapies that change depending on your needs.
Therapist Ken Kelly has a helpful metaphor to understand the difference - eclectic therapy can be seen as a toolkit, where your therapist uses a bunch of different tools in order to help you. They might use different tools each session, or use the same tools multiple times.
With integrative therapy, your therapist uses different approaches to create one new tool to help you. They’ll use this tool each session to help you make progress.
What Happens During Integrative Therapy?
When you begin integrative therapy, your therapist will do an in-depth examination of your experiences, challenges, and goals in therapy.
After your therapist has a good understanding of what you’re experiencing, they’ll decide on a few different treatment methods best suited to your needs.
For example, if you’re experiencing anxiety, your therapist might use a combination of cognitive behavioural therapy to help you identify and change harmful thought patterns, combined with mindfulness therapy techniques to help you connect with your body and relax.
What are the Pros of Integrative Therapy?
The integrative therapy approach is incredibly versatile and allows for your therapist to create a treatment plan that is unique to you.
It also allows you to combine what you like from different forms of therapy.
Integrative therapy can be a good fit if:
- You want to have more say in your therapy journey
- You like being able to offer feedback to your therapist
- You like the freedom and flexibility of using a variety of techniques
What are the Cons of Integrative Therapy?
While integrative therapy is a flexible therapy option, it’s not the best choice for everyone.
Integrative therapy may not be the right choice if:
- You have one specific form of therapy you want to try out
- You want a structured therapy approach with a clear timeline
- You’re looking for clear metrics to measure your therapy process
As an alternative to integrative therapy, you can look for therapists who specialize in one or more areas that interest you, like cognitive behavioural therapy or psychodynamic therapy.
Next Steps for Starting Therapy
After reading this article, you know what integrative therapy is and how to know if it’s the right choice for you.
Here at KMA Therapy, we know that it can be overwhelming to choose what type of therapy and therapist you want to see - so we’re here to help you out.
Register today for your comprehensive introductory session, where we’ll walk you through every step of the therapy process, match you with the best therapist for you, and create a customized treatment plan based on your needs.
You can also download our free Therapy 101 Guide for more information.
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