What Is Integrative Therapy?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesTechniquesWhat It Can Help WithBenefitsEffectivenessThings to ConsiderHow to Get Started

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Types

Techniques

What It Can Help With

Benefits

Effectiveness

Things to Consider

How to Get Started

What is integrative therapy?Integrative therapy involves techniques from multiple therapeutic orientations to treat a client’s unique problem. Integrative therapists believe that tailoring the therapy to the individual achieves the most significant effects.

What is integrative therapy?

Integrative therapy involves techniques from multiple therapeutic orientations to treat a client’s unique problem. Integrative therapists believe that tailoring the therapy to the individual achieves the most significant effects.

Unlike some single-school approaches, integrative therapy is not restricted to a particular methodology or school of thought. Instead, therapists can draw on different techniques as they are needed. The goal of this is to improve the efficacy and efficiency of treatment and adapt it to the specific needs of the individual.

While integrative andeclectic therapyare sometimes used interchangeably, there are some key differences between these two approaches. Eclectic therapy is more about simply drawing on different traditions, and integrative therapy focuses on combining these elements into a more cohesive experience.

Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Get Help Now

We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Types of Integrative Therapy

There are hundreds of different specific types of therapy available. The one that is most effective in any given situation often depends on the type of problem that is being treated. Some of the different specific types of therapy in an integrative therapist may draw upon depending on the situation and the problem include:

The goal of integrative therapy is to align therapeutic techniques that are empirically proven to be effective in the treatment of a specific problem.

This approach suggests that there is no single method that is superior for each situation. It also shows that even discordant theories can work together to benefit people with mental health conditions.

We Tried 100+ Therapy Services and Apps—And These Are the 8 Best for Online CBT

Integrative therapy employs psychodynamic, cognitive, and behavioral techniques. These techniques can be applied in a variety of formats including individual, family, and group therapy settings.

An integrative therapist adapts and integrates various techniques according to the individual’s needs and goals. To address a behavioral problem, a therapist might use:

Research suggests that certain shared aspects of psychotherapy, including an individual’s expectations andtherapeutic alliance, play the most significant role in treatment outcomes.

According to some research, specific therapeutic techniques contribute to around 7% of the variance in psychotherapy outcomes.

Some factors that help a client in integrative therapy include:

How to Find a Culturally Sensitive Therapist

What Integrative Therapy Can Help With

Integrative therapy can be helpful in the treatment of a number of different mental health conditions and psychological issues. These include:

The Best Online Therapy for Anxiety, Tried and Tested

Benefits of Integrative Therapy

There are many different advantages to integrative therapy. Some of these include:

It is essential to recognize that while integrative therapy is flexible, that doesn’t mean that it is entirely without structure. Instead, therapists utilize their training and expertise to select the most beneficial techniques for a specific purpose and then integrate these approaches into a cohesive therapeutic experience.

The Best Online Therapy Services for Depression We Tried and Tested

There are many different types of psychotherapy that are integrative including cognitive analytic therapy,interpersonal psychotherapy, andschema therapy.

Research has found that such techniques can be effective in the treatment of a number of psychiatric conditions including depression, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and personality disorders.This suggests that integrative therapies can have benefits for a wide range of conditions.

While some therapists tend to stick to a specific style of therapy, research has found that most psychotherapists use at least some elements of an integrative approach in treatment.

According to one study, around 85% of therapists draw on multiple therapeutic traditions in their treatment. The median number of theoretical orientations used in treatment was around four.

The Best Online Trauma Therapy, Tried and Tested

It is important to note that integrative therapy is a very active process that involves a great deal of input from the individual.

While in this type of treatment, your therapist may ask for information about your experiences, preferences, needs, and other factors that may affect which treatment techniques are suitable for your needs.

Because integrative therapy tends to be more eclectic, the course of treatment may not follow a predictable schedule or pattern. Multiple techniques may be used within a single session, and the goals and approach to the treatment may be changed as your therapist observes your progress and your needs throughout the treatment process.

The 10 Best Online Grief Counseling Services We Tried and Tested

Getting started with integrative therapy involves finding a qualified mental health professional. Many therapists take an integrative approach to treatment.

Once you find a potential therapist, check their qualifications and educational background to get an idea of how they approach treatment. If they offer some type of consultation, ask questions about whether they practice integrative therapy.

Online therapyis another option you might consider. One 2018 study found that web-based integrative mindfulness interventions were an effective solution for reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression and for enhancing the quality of life.

What to Expect at Your First Psychiatrist Appointment

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Castonguay LG, Eubanks CF, Goldfried MR, Muran JC, Lutz W.Research on psychotherapy integration: building on the past, looking to the future.Psychother Res. 2015;25(3):365-82. doi:10.1080/10503307.2015.1014010Zarbo C, Tasca GA, Cattafi F, Compare A.Integrative psychotherapy works.Front Psychol. 2016;6:2021. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02021Clarke S, Thomas P, James K.Cognitive analytic therapy for personality disorder: randomised controlled trial.Br J Psychiatry. 2013;202:129-34. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.112.108670Masley SA, Gillanders DT, Simpson SG, Taylor MA.A systematic review of the evidence base for Schema Therapy.Cogn Behav Ther. 2012;41(3):185-202. doi:10.1080/16506073.2011.614274Tasca GA, Sylvestre J, Balfour L, et al.What clinicians want: Findings from a psychotherapy practice research network survey.Psychotherapy (Chic). 2015;52(1):1-11. doi:10.1037/a0038252Sevilla-Llewellyn-Jones J, Santesteban-Echarri O, Pryor I, McGorry P, Alvarez-Jimenez M.Web-based mindfulness interventions for mental health treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis.JMIR Ment Health. 2018;5(3):e10278. doi:10.2196/10278

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Castonguay LG, Eubanks CF, Goldfried MR, Muran JC, Lutz W.Research on psychotherapy integration: building on the past, looking to the future.Psychother Res. 2015;25(3):365-82. doi:10.1080/10503307.2015.1014010Zarbo C, Tasca GA, Cattafi F, Compare A.Integrative psychotherapy works.Front Psychol. 2016;6:2021. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02021Clarke S, Thomas P, James K.Cognitive analytic therapy for personality disorder: randomised controlled trial.Br J Psychiatry. 2013;202:129-34. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.112.108670Masley SA, Gillanders DT, Simpson SG, Taylor MA.A systematic review of the evidence base for Schema Therapy.Cogn Behav Ther. 2012;41(3):185-202. doi:10.1080/16506073.2011.614274Tasca GA, Sylvestre J, Balfour L, et al.What clinicians want: Findings from a psychotherapy practice research network survey.Psychotherapy (Chic). 2015;52(1):1-11. doi:10.1037/a0038252Sevilla-Llewellyn-Jones J, Santesteban-Echarri O, Pryor I, McGorry P, Alvarez-Jimenez M.Web-based mindfulness interventions for mental health treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis.JMIR Ment Health. 2018;5(3):e10278. doi:10.2196/10278

Castonguay LG, Eubanks CF, Goldfried MR, Muran JC, Lutz W.Research on psychotherapy integration: building on the past, looking to the future.Psychother Res. 2015;25(3):365-82. doi:10.1080/10503307.2015.1014010Zarbo C, Tasca GA, Cattafi F, Compare A.Integrative psychotherapy works.Front Psychol. 2016;6:2021. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02021Clarke S, Thomas P, James K.Cognitive analytic therapy for personality disorder: randomised controlled trial.Br J Psychiatry. 2013;202:129-34. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.112.108670Masley SA, Gillanders DT, Simpson SG, Taylor MA.A systematic review of the evidence base for Schema Therapy.Cogn Behav Ther. 2012;41(3):185-202. doi:10.1080/16506073.2011.614274Tasca GA, Sylvestre J, Balfour L, et al.What clinicians want: Findings from a psychotherapy practice research network survey.Psychotherapy (Chic). 2015;52(1):1-11. doi:10.1037/a0038252Sevilla-Llewellyn-Jones J, Santesteban-Echarri O, Pryor I, McGorry P, Alvarez-Jimenez M.Web-based mindfulness interventions for mental health treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis.JMIR Ment Health. 2018;5(3):e10278. doi:10.2196/10278

Zarbo C, Tasca GA, Cattafi F, Compare A.Integrative psychotherapy works.Front Psychol. 2016;6:2021. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02021

Clarke S, Thomas P, James K.Cognitive analytic therapy for personality disorder: randomised controlled trial.Br J Psychiatry. 2013;202:129-34. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.112.108670

Masley SA, Gillanders DT, Simpson SG, Taylor MA.A systematic review of the evidence base for Schema Therapy.Cogn Behav Ther. 2012;41(3):185-202. doi:10.1080/16506073.2011.614274

Tasca GA, Sylvestre J, Balfour L, et al.What clinicians want: Findings from a psychotherapy practice research network survey.Psychotherapy (Chic). 2015;52(1):1-11. doi:10.1037/a0038252

Sevilla-Llewellyn-Jones J, Santesteban-Echarri O, Pryor I, McGorry P, Alvarez-Jimenez M.Web-based mindfulness interventions for mental health treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis.JMIR Ment Health. 2018;5(3):e10278. doi:10.2196/10278

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?

What is integrative therapy?#

Get Help Now#

Types of Integrative Therapy#

What Integrative Therapy Can Help With#

Benefits of Integrative Therapy#

What is integrative therapy?

Get Help Now

Types of Integrative Therapy

What Integrative Therapy Can Help With

Benefits of Integrative Therapy