Integrative counselling – developing counselling for you
Integrative counselling is counselling that is NOT based upon one particular model (psychodynamic, Jungian, CBT, humanistic, existential, gestalt) instead your counsellor is able to draw upon different models to think and work to help you make sense of your experience.
Integrative counselling – not a one size fits all model
It makes sense that when we think
people we don’t approach them with a one size fits all model in our minds, rather we meet the person and find out about them.
As we find out about them we start to learn about the different areas, issues, hopes and problems that need attention. As the work progresses the integrative counsellor draws on different models to help you develop a better sense of what gets in the way of you developing the kind of life you would like to be living.
Different counselling models are easy to caricature, in practice when working with a highly experienced counsellor it is possible to bring together useful elements from different approaches to support you. To integrate different approaches.
Working out what works for you
We might think that a psychodynamic approach is particularly interested in underlying causes and the client’s past history. Or we might think about using a person centred approach and focus upon what is happening in the present, or we might think about an existential approach and think about the ways in which people suffer, or what gets in the way of their experience.
But in all of these cases we are using a variety of models and we are pulling together a different kind of approach. We might draw on an idea that is close to CBT and help somebody to actually plan to manage certain kinds of experience or to change certain behaviours. In these cases the integrative counsellor is working to blend different approaches in the service of helping the client.
Using an approach to develop a better sense of where you are going
The benefit of working with a counsellor who is trained in various models, including Jungian psychotherapy, means that they will think about what might be getting in the way of the client trying to develop a more enjoyable, rewarding, more satisfying way of living.
In other words we are thinking not just about the past and where the client has come from, but we are working together to develop a more compelling picture of where they are trying to get to. People who are going through a mid-life crisis, an anxiety about what will happen next in their life, may find being able to think constructively about the future very helpful.
When we refer to integrative counselling, we are talking about being able to think of a range of approaches. Of looking to develop the counselling to support you and your needs right now. It is an approach that recognises that there are different parts to people:
- behavioural
- cognitive
- emotional
- spiritual
- imaginative
Your counsellor will work with you to tailor the work to meet your different needs.
Integrative counselling – keeping sight of your goals
In your counselling you might put together some goals or particular plans and outcomes that you want to achieve in terms of where the counselling is going.
All you have to do is come to your sessions, the conversation will naturally develop form there.
When we speak of integrative counselling we are talking about a flexibility on the part of the counsellor to use a variety of different styles to address a broad range of issues:
- mid-life issues
- bereavement
- trauma
- depression
- addiction
- anxiety
- low self-esteem
It is important that you work with a counsellor who is experienced in helping you open up a conversation about what has brought you.
How can Counselling Buckinghamshire help?
At Counselling Buckinghamshire we have a depth of experience of working with people who are trying to overcome all kinds of problems that are spoiling life.
We are highly trained listeners and thinkers and experienced in a range of approaches.
Contact now for a free telephone consultation to discuss how our approach may be relevant to you.
