Integrative psychotherapy maintains the idea that there are many ways in which human psychology can be explored and understood - no one theory alone holds the answer - hence the need to integrate them. The integrative approach also refers to the infusion of a person's personality and needs. Essentially we, as integrative counselors, are not only concerned with who clients are, but what influenced who clients are. Then, we tailor therapy to the client and not the client to the therapy.
Integrative psychotherapy aims to promote healing and facilitate wholeness - ensuring that all levels of a person's being and functioning (mental, physical and emotional health) are maximized to his/her full potential. This type of therapy is committed to self-exploration and open to identifying what factors in a client's life are perpetuating distress, and/or are causing current concerns.
In particular, the integrative approach helps clients face each moment openly and authentically enabling them to better focus on the fears and hurts that limit psychological freedom, and recognize specific triggers that may be causing disruptive patterns of behavior.
Through this awareness, integrative therapy helps to create a healthy alliance between mind and body - empowering clients to start setting goals and practicing new behaviors that will enable them to move beyond their limitations and discover greater life satisfaction. This will be worked towards alongside other goals that are drawn into therapy through the integration of other approaches. These will all be tailored to the client's personal goals.
I believe that the therapeutic relationship is the basis of all healing, and I always employ the words of my mentor who always says, "you use what is in the room." So what does this mean? It means that after we discuss and explore therapeutic goals, there are never any preconditions to the treatment. When you come into session, we work with the energy, concerns, emotions, defenses and feelings you bring. We explore these things from various vantage points and utilize what supports your goals and healing. We allow the session to unfold organically, employing techniques that meet you where you are and guides you in your growth. I often integrate trauma-informed, sensorimotor, cognitive behavior, and mindfulness based modalities.
The Takeaway?
We are all connected to the ebb and flow of life, unique and complicated. Integrative psychotherapy honors that by creating a psychotherapy experience rooted in theory and science but woven into the unique landscape of who you are and the journey that accompanies it.
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