CHAPTER 19

Integrative Constructing Your Own Integrative Approach to Therapy

INTRODUCTION______integrative approach to therapy. After studying each of the various theories of psychotherapy pre- A major emphasis of this book has been on help- sented in this book, it may be difficult for you to ing you construct your own integrated approach to decide which approach seems to match best with psychotherapy. Research has indicated that psycho- your own personality, therapeutic style, and your therapy is moving toward an integrated approach methods of conceptualizing the many different to therapy (Norcross, 2005b). Throughout the types of life challenges people bring to therapy. world, when you ask a psychologist or counselor How do you go about integrating or combining what his or her theoretical orientation is, the most the best of several counseling theories? To help you frequently given response is integrative or eclectic. with this task, I present a number of questions that It is highly likely that upon graduation from your you might ask yourself in constructing your own training program, you will integrate one or more of integrated counseling approach. the theories presented in this book. In fact, my own While constructing your own integrative professional journey has resulted in my adoption approach to therapy is a very important profes- of an integrated psychotherapy framework. This sional step, you must also get a vision of what you chapter explores in detail the integrative approach have to do to become an effective therapist. I believe to therapy. that every therapist who becomes an effective pro- The first part of this chapter traces psychology’s fessional has to learn how to reflect on his or her historical development from emphasizing a single therapy experiences. It’s when we are alone in our approach to therapy to the current integrative offices thinking about a client with whom we been psychotherapy movement. In particular, I direct working who appears to be struggling with therapy your attention toward multitheoretical approaches and himself that we begin to grow and mature as to psychotherapy integration. Jeff Brooks-Harris’ therapists. We reflect on what we did or did not do (2008) multitheoretical psychotherapy framework and what we might do in the next session. is presented as a potential framework you might The final section of this chapter contains an consider either using or modifying to develop your integrative psychotherapy plan for Justin, the own integrated approach to therapy. young student who has served as a case study at the After providing a foundation for an integra- end of each theory chapter. In writing the integra- tive approach that is multitheoretical, I then move tive treatment plan, I use Jeff Brooks-Harris’ (2008) toward helping you construct your own personal multitheoretical framework.

585 Brief Historical Overview of the the various schools of psychotherapy (Goldfried, Pachankis, & Bell, 2005). Integrative Movement Norcross and Newman (1992) have summa- The movement toward integration of the various rized the integrative movement in psychology by schools of psychotherapy has been in the making identifying eight different variables that promoted for decades. On the whole, however, psychotherapy the growth of the psychotherapy integration trend integration has been traditionally hampered by in counseling and psychotherapy. First, they point rivalry and competition among the various schools. out that there was simply a proliferation of separate Such rivalry can be traced to as far back as Freud counseling theories and approaches. The integra- and the differences that arose between him and his tive psychotherapy movement represented a shift disciples over what was the appropriate framework away from what was the prevailing atmosphere for conceptualizing clients’ problems. From Freud’s of factionalism and competition amongst the Wednesday evening meetings on , a and a step toward dialogue and number of theories were created, including Adler’s cooperation. Second, they note that practitioners . As each therapist claimed increasingly recognized the inadequacy of a single that he had found the one best treatment approach, theory that is responsive to all clients and their heated battles arose between various therapy sys- varying problems. No single therapy or group of tems. When behaviorism was introduced to the therapies had demonstrated remarkable superior field, clashes took place between psychoanalysts efficacy in comparison to any other theory. Third, and behaviorists. there was the correlated lack of success of any one During the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, thera- theory to explain adequately and predict pathology, pists tended to operate within primarily one personality, or behavioral change. theoretical school. Dollard and Miller’s (1950) Fourth, the growth in number and impor- book, Personality and Therapy, was one of the tance of shorter-term, focused psychotherapies first attempts to combine learning theory with was another factor spearheading the integrative psychoanalysis. In 1977, Paul Wachtel published psychotherapy movement. Fifth, both clinicians Psychoanalysis and Behavior Therapy: Toward an and academicians began to engage in greater com- Integration. In 1979, James Prochaska offered a munication with each other that had the net effect transtheoretical approach to psychotherapy, which of increasing their willingness to conduct collab- was the first attempt to create a broad theoretical orative experiments (Norcross & Newman, 1992). framework. Sixth, clinicians had to come to terms with the In 1979, Marvin Goldfried, Paul Wachtel, and intrusion into therapy with the realities of limited Hans Strupp (Strupp & Binder, 1984) organized socioeconomic support by third parties for tradi- an , the Society for the Exploration tional, long-term psychotherapies. Increasingly, of Psychotherapy Integration (SEPI), for clini- there was a demand for therapist accountability cians and academicians interested in integration and documentation of the effectiveness of all medi- in psychotherapy (Goldfried, Pachankis, & Bell, cal and psychological therapies. Hence, the integra- 2005). Shortly thereafter in 1982, The International tion trend in psychotherapy has also been fueled by Journal of Eclectic Psychotherapy was published, external realities, such as insurance reimbursement and it later changed its name to the Journal of and the popularity of short-term, prescriptive, and Integrative and Eclectic Psychotherapy. By 1991, problem-focused therapists. it began publishing the Journal of Psychotherapy Seventh, researchers’ identification of com- Integration. As the field of psychotherapy has mon factors related to successful therapy outcome developed over the past several decades, there has influenced clinicians’ tendency toward psycho- been a decline in the ideological cold war among therapy integration. Increasingly, therapists began

586 PART IV THE FOURTH FORCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY to recognize there were common factors that cut the various counseling theories or psychotherapy, across the various therapeutic schools. Eighth, the including technical eclecticism, theoretical inte- development of professional organizations such as gration, assimilative integration, common factors, SEPI, professional network developments, confer- multitheoretical psychotherapy, and helping skills ences, and journals dedicated to the discussion and integration (Norcross & Goldfried, 2005). study of psychotherapy integration also contrib- uted to the growth of the movement. The helping profession has definitely moved in the direction of Definition of Eclecticism theoretical integration rather than allegiance to a Eclecticism may be defined as an approach to thought single therapeutic approach. There has been a con- that does not hold rigidly to any single paradigm or certed movement toward integration of the various any single set of assumptions, but rather draws upon theories (Prochaska & Norcross, 2010). multiple theories to gain insight into phe- Inner Reflections Definition of Integrative nomena. Eclectics are sometimes criticized Key Points in the Psychotherapy for lack of consistency Integrative Movement As noted in Chapter 1, integrative psychotherapy in their thinking. For What key developments is an attempt to combine concepts and counsel- instance, many psy- chologists accept stand out in your ing interventions from more than one theoretical mind about the psychotherapy approach (Stricker, 2001). It is not a some features of behaviorism, yet they integrative movement in particular combination of counseling theories, but psychotherapy? rather it consists of a framework for developing an do not attempt to use integration of theories that you find most appeal- the theory to explain Thoughts about theory ing and useful for working with clients. According all aspects of client integration date back to to Norcross (2005b): behavior. Eclecticism the 1930s and 1940s. In in psychology has your opinion, what took so Psychotherapy integration is characterized by been caused by the long for the movement to dissatisfaction with single-school approaches and a belief that many fac- reach its current status? concomitant desire to look across school boundaries tors influence human to see what can be learned from other ways of behavior; therefore, it conducting psychotherapy. The ultimate outcome is important to examine a client from a number of of doing so is to enhance the efficacy, efficiency, and theoretical perspectives (Goldfried, Pachankis, & applicability of psychotherapy. (pp. 3–4) Bell, 2005). What are some differences between eclecti- PATHWAYS TO PSYCHOTHERAPY cism and psychotherapy integration? Typically, eclectic therapists do not need or have a theo- INTEGRATION______retical basis for either understanding or using a This section provides an overview of how theo- specific technique. They chose a counseling tech- rists and practitioners have tried to integrate the nique because of its efficacy, because it works. For various theoretical approaches to therapy. Perhaps instance, an eclectic therapist might experience a in examining how others have integrated their positive change in a client after using a specified therapy with different concepts and techniques, counseling technique, yet not investigate any fur- you might feel more comfortable in thinking ther why the positive change occurred. In contrast, about how you might pursue this same avenue. an integrative therapist would investigate the how Clinicians have used a number of ways to integrate and why of client change. Did the client change

CHAPTER 19 INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY 587 because she was trying to please the therapist or of psychotherapy but with a view toward selectively was she instead becoming more self-directed and incorporating (assimilating) practices and views empowered? from other systems. Assimilative integrationists use Integrative and eclectic therapists also differ in a single, coherent theoretical system as its core, but the extent to which they adhere to a set of guiding, they borrow from a broad range of technical inter- theoretical principles and view therapy change. ventions from multiple systems. Practitioners who Practitioners who call themselves eclectic appear have labeled themselves as assimilative integration- to have little in common, and they do not seem to ists are: (1) Gold (1996), who proposed assimila- subscribe to any common set of principles. In con- tive psychodynamic therapy; (2) Castonguay et al. trast, integrationists are concerned not only with (2004), who have advocated cognitive-behavioral what works but why it works. Moreover, clinicians assimilative therapy; and (3) Safran, who has who say they are eclectic tend to be older and more proposed interpersonal and cognitive assimilative experienced than those who describe themselves as therapy (Safran & Segal, 1990/1996). integrationists. This difference is fast disappearing Assimilative integrationists believe integration because some graduate schools are beginning to should take place at the practice level rather than at train psychologists to be integrationists (Norcross the theory level. Most therapists have been trained & Goldfried, 2005). It is noteworthy, however, that in a single theoretical approach, and over time many practitioners ascribe to eclecticism/integration more gradually incorporate techniques and methods frequently than academic and training faculty do of other approaches (Goldfried, 2001; Dryden & (Norcross & Goldfried, 2005). Hence, it may take Spurling, 1989). Typically, therapists do not totally a while for therapist training programs to move eliminate the theoretical framework in which they toward integration of theory. were trained. Instead, they tend to add techniques and different ways of viewing individuals. Theoretical Integration Theoretical integration is perhaps the most dif- The Common Factor Approach ficult and sophisticated of the three types of The common factors approach has been influenced psychotherapy integration because it involves by the research and scholarships of such renowned bringing together theoretical concepts from dis- leaders in psychotherapy as Jerome Frank (1973, parate theoretical approaches, some of which may 1974) and (1951, 1957). Clearly, present contrasting worldviews. The goal is to Rogers’ contributions to common factors research integrate not just therapy techniques but also the has become so accepted by clinicians throughout psychotherapeutic theories involved as Dollard the world that his core conditions (or necessary and Miller (1950) did with psychoanalysis and and sufficient conditions to effect change in clients) behavior therapy. Proponents of theoretical inte- have become part of the early training of most gration maintain that it offers new perspectives at helping professionals (Rogers, 1951). Researchers the levels of theory and practice because it entails and theorists have transformed Rogers’ necessary a synthesis of different models of personality and sufficient conditions into a broader concept functioning, psychopathology, and psychological that has become known as “therapeutic alliance” change. (Hubble, Duncan, & Miller, 1999). The therapeutic alliance is important across the various counseling theory schools; it is the glue that keeps the person Assimilative Integration coming to therapy week after week. Currently, The assimilative integration approach to psycho- more than 1,000 studies have been reported on the therapy involves grounding oneself in one system therapeutic alliance (Hubble, Duncan, & Miller,

588 PART IV THE FOURTH FORCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY 1999). In describing the common factor approach, (2) contemplation, (3) preparation, (4) action, and Norcross (2005b, p. 9) has stated: (5) maintenance. In the precontemplation stage, people are not The common factors approach seeks to determine intending to take action in the foreseeable future, the core ingredients that different therapies share in usually measured as the next 6 months. During common, with the eventual goal of creating more the contemplation stage, people are intending to parsimonious and efficacious treatments based on change within the next 6 months. In the prepara- their commonalities. This search is predicated on tion stage, clients are intending to take action in the belief that commonalities are more important the immediate future, usually measured as the next in accounting for therapy outcome than the unique month. Clients in the action stage have made spe- factors that differentiate among them. cific overt modifications in their life styles within the past 6 months. During the maintenance stage, MULTITHEORETICAL clients work to prevent relapse, a stage which is APPROACHES______estimated to last from 6 months to about 5 years. The termination stage of change contains clients Recently, therapists have developed multitheoretical who have zero temptation and 100% self-efficacy. approaches to therapy. Multitheoretical frameworks They are confident they will not return to their old do not attempt to synthesize two or more theories unhealthy habit as a way of coping. at the theoretical level. Instead, there is an effort The also proposes 10 to “bring some order to the chaotic diversity in processes of change, which are the covert and overt the field of psychotherapy and “preserve the valu- activities that people use to progress through the able insights of major systems of psychotherapy” stages. The first 5 processes involve experiential (Prochaska & DiClemente, 2005, p. 148). The goal of processes of change, while the last 5 are labeled multitheoretical approaches is to provide a framework behavioral processes, and these are used primar- that one can use for using two or more theories. Two ily for later-stage transitions. For instance, dur- examples of multitheoretical frameworks are (1) ing the experiential processes of change, people the transtheoretical approach by Prochaska and experience consciousness raising (“I remember DiClemente (1984, 2005), and (2) multitheoretical information people gave me about how to stop therapy by Brooks-Harris (2008). smoking”) and social liberation (“I find society changing in ways that make it easier for me to be a nonsmoker”). The 5 behavioral processes The Transtheoretical Model of change range from (6) to (8) The most widely recognized model using a multi- counterconditioning (“I do other things with my theoretical framework has been the transtheoreti- hands to stop smoking”) to (10) self-liberation (“I cal model developed by Prochaska and DiClemente make commitments not to smoke”). (1984, 2005). The transtheoretical model is a model The transtheoretical model does not make of behavioral change, which has been the basis assumptions about how ready clients are for change for developing effective interventions to promote in their lives. The model proposes that different healthy behavior change. Key constructs are inte- individuals will be in different stages and that grated from other counseling theories. The model appropriate interventions must be developed for describes how clients modify a problem behavior clients based on their stages of development. The or how they develop a positive behavior. The cen- transtheoretical model assumes that the different tral organizing construct of the model is the stages systems of psychotherapy are complementary and of change. The theorists maintain that change takes that different theories emphasize different stages place through five basic stages: (1) precontemplation, and levels of change.

CHAPTER 19 INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY 589 Brooks-Harris’ Multitheoretical Given this overarching premise, he integrates the following theoretical approaches: (1) cognitive, (2) Model behavioral, (3) experiential, (4) biopsychosocial, The most recent multitheoretical model for (5) psychodynamic, (6) systemic, and (7) multicul- psychotherapy comes from Brooks-Harris, who tural. A brief explanation of each of these areas is provides a framework that describes how dif- provided below. His framework emphasizes at what ferent psychotherapy systems come together. point a therapist might consider using elements Brooks-Harris (2008) begins with the premise that of psychodynamic theory or multicultural theory. thoughts, actions, and feelings interact with one A major umbrella in multicultural psychotherapy another and that they are influenced by biologi- consists of the focal dimensions for therapy and cal, interpersonal, systemic, and cultural contexts. key strategies.

MULTITHEORETICAL PSYCHOTHERAPY

• Cognitive strategies deal with the focal dimension of clients’ functional and dysfunctional thoughts. • Behavioral skills–focal dimension of actions encourage effective client actions to deal with challenges. • Experiential interventions result in adaptive feelings. • Biopsychosocial strategies emphasize biology and adaptive health practices. • Psychodynamic-interpersonal skills are used to explore clients’ interpersonal patterns and promote undistorted perceptions. • Systemic-constructivist interventions examine the impact of social systems and support adaptive personal narratives. • Multicultural-feminist strategies explore the cultural contexts of clients’ issues.

Brooks-Harris (2008) presents five principles Strategy-based integration uses a pragmatic phi- for psychotherapy integration, which include (1) losophy. Underlying theories do not have to be intentional integration, (2) multidimensional reconciled. The fifth or relational principle proposes integration, (3) multitheoretical integration, (4) that the first four principles must be enacted within strategy-based integration, and (5) relational inte- an effective . gration. The first principle says that psychotherapy Brooks-Harris’ (2008) model offers a good integration should be based on intentional choices. plan for therapists seeking to implement an inte- The therapist’s intentionality guides his or her grative multitheoretical approach. He outlines focus, conceptualization, and intervention strate- strategies for each of the seven core areas. For gies. Principle two (multidimensional) proposes instance, cognitive strategies should encourage that therapists should recognize the rich interac- functional thoughts that are rational and that pro- tion between multiple dimensions. mote healthy adaptation to the environment. In The third principle asserts that therapists take addition, he enumerates a catalog of 15 key cogni- into consideration diverse theories to understand tive strategies, which include identifying thoughts, their clients and guide their interventions. The fourth clarifying the impact of thoughts, challenging irra- strategy-based principle states that therapists com- tional thoughts, providing psychoeducation, and bine specific strategies from different theories. supporting bibliotherapy. To integrate behavioral

590 PART IV THE FOURTH FORCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY Inner Reflections therapy into one’s the initial focus of therapy. Step four entails for- practice, he suggests mulating a multitheoretical conceptualization of Pathways to some of the follow- the client’s problem. A summary of multitheo- Psychotherapy Integration ing catalog of key retical conceptualization is provided on the web strategies: assigning in the treatment resources section of http://www Which pathway homework, con- .multitheoretical.com. Step five involves choos- to psychotherapy structing a hierarchy, ing interventions from a catalog of key strategies integration do you providing training for each of the seven areas of client functioning. choose—eclecticism, and rehearsal, deter- A summary of the catalog of key strategies is also assimilative integration, mining baselines, found on the theory’s website. theoretical integration, and schedules of The multitheoretical model of psychotherapy multitheoretical reinforcement. gives the example of Claire, a Japanese-American framework? female in her 50s who is experiencing symptoms Do you have any particular Integrative treat- of depression after the death of her mother, a reasons for choosing your ment planning. The little over a year ago. The client is the oldest of designated pathway to multitheoretical psycho­- three daughters; she has never married, lived with psychotherapy integration? therapy (MTP) model her mother, and was the primary caretaker while offers a step-by-step her mother was dying. Claire’s multidimensional method to engage in survey will examine the seven core areas Brooks- integrative treat­ Harris outlines. Claire’s: ment planning. The first three steps emphasize using the multidimensional manner and the therapist’s need to Thoughts: “I am having difficulty going on without make intentional choices about the use of multitheoretical my mother.” strategies. The last two steps emphasize using the catalog Actions: Withdrawal and social isolation from of key strategies during the psychotherapy process. Step family and friends one involves watching for multidimensional focus mark- ers. As clients tell their stores and describe their concerns, Feelings: Despair, hopelessness, numbing sense of therapists listen for markers that reveal clients’ areas of being concerns. The therapist uses the Focus Marker Checklist, Biology: Decreased appetite and trouble sleeping which is available on the web in the treatment resources Interpersonal: Claire’s focus on being her mother’s section of http://www.multitheoretical.com. favorite child Step two involves conducting a multidimen- sional survey to explore the seven dimensions in Social: Claire competed with her sisters growing up. a structured manner: (1) thoughts, (2) actions, Her father was emotionally distant. (3) feelings, (4) biology, (5) interpersonal pat- Cultural: In the Japanese-American tradition, the terns, (6) social systems, and (7) cultural contexts. eldest takes care of her parents. Brooks-Harris (2008) suggests that the therapist conduct a multidimensional survey (examine the After surveying all seven dimensions of the seven areas to determine which area is of most multitheoretical model, the therapist selects two concern to the client). Step three emphasizes or three that will function as the initial focus for establishing an interactive focus on two or three psychotherapy. He or she consults with Claire dimensions. After the therapist surveys the cli- to determine the two dimensions on which she ent’s problems in terms of all seven dimensions, would like to work. Claire chooses her feelings of the therapist and client collaboratively identify hopelessness and despair and her interpersonal two or three salient dimensions that will form patterns—the fact that her close relationship with

CHAPTER 19 INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY 591 her mother got in the way of her developing other professionals may be Inner Reflections sources of social support. For each focal dimension, required to answer the therapist chooses an existing theoretical school. for using a therapeu- Theories You Want to For instance, to deal with the feeling conceptualiza- tic approach with a Integrate tion of Claire’s issue, the therapist selects emotion- specific disorder. Have you given any focused therapy. The therapeutic goal is to help Twenty years ago, thought to the counseling Claire explore and express her sadness in more few therapists would theories you might want to adaptive ways. To deal with her core conflictual have been concerned integrate in your approach relationship theme, the therapist uses psychody- about whether or to therapy? namic conceptualizations. The therapist identifies not their theoreti- relationship themes with Claire by exploring child- cal approach had Is there any particular hood experiences and her adaptations to interper- accumulated much school of therapy— sonal losses. The therapist uses the Key Strategies research evidence to psychodynamic, information provided on the website http://www support treatment of existential-humanistic, .multitheoretical.com. a particular disorder. cognitive-behavioral, or However, conditions constructivist—that you Evidence-Based Therapy and have changed in the feel resonates with you? Integrative Practice world of therapy. Therapists must now Regardless of whether a therapist uses an integrative be able to not only articulate a psychotherapeutic approach or one based on a single therapy school, he orientation, but ethical issues are now also being or she will have to take into consideration whether or raised about one’s choice of orientation for specific not empirical support exists for a chosen treatment mental disorders. approach (American Psychological Association, Evidence-based treatment presents several eth- 2006). Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a combi- ical issues to clinicians. First, do you know what nation of learning what treatments work based on evidence exists to support your psychotherapeutic the best available research and taking into account treatment of clients? What research evidence exists clients’ culture and treatment issues. The American to demonstrate that your theoretical perspective Psychological Association (2006, p. 273) conceptu- and interventions actually do work and help clients alizes evidence-based practice as “the integration of recover from their disorders? Are you familiar with the best available research with clinical expertise in the treatments that have been found to be empiri- the context of patient characteristics, culture and cally supported in the psychotherapeutic literature? preferences.” Evidence-based practice emphasizes Or, do you use the same theoretical approach, the results of experimental comparisons to docu- regardless of the client’s presenting problem or ment the efficacy of treatments against untreated disorder? How ethical is it for you to use your theo- control groups, against other treatments, or both. retical approach when one examines it in terms of The arguments in favor of EBP are reasonable. its treatment efficacy? First, clients have a right to treatments that have been How does a therapist implement EBP in prac- proven to be effective (Gibbs, 2003). Second, managed tice? The therapist must gather research that informs care requires counselor accountability in choosing him or her about what works in psychotherapy. a method of treatment. Increasingly, counselors Such information should be obtained before treat- may have to consult with research studies to deter- ment is begun. There are several major resources for mine which approach is the most efficacious with evidence-based practice. For instance, the Cochrane what mental health disorder (Gibbs, 2003). Helping Collaboration (http://www.cochrane.org) sets

592 PART IV THE FOURTH FORCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY standards for reviews of medical, health, and mental Helping Skills Approach to health treatments and provides “systematic reviews” of related research by disorder. The Cochrane Integration Collaboration is an international, independent, Clara Hill (2004) has provided a helping skills not-for-profit organization of over 28,000 contrib- model to therapy integration. Her model utors from more than 100 countries, dedicated to describes three stages of the helping process making up-to-date, accurate information about the that are based on different therapy schools. For effects of health care readily available worldwide. instance, the first stage of helping is labeled The Cochrane Reviews contain systematic health exploration. Using Rogers’ client-centered ther- care interventions that are published online in The apy as the therapy school of choice, Hill (2004) Cochrane Library. Cochrane Reviews are designed emphasizes the counseling skills of attending, to help providers, practitioners, and patients make listening, and reflection of feelings. The second informed decisions about health care and are the stage is termed insight, and this stage is based most comprehensive, reliable, and relevant source on psychoanalytic theory; therefore, such skills of evidence on which to base these decisions. as interpreting and dealing with Moreover, the United States government also offers are stressed. The third stage is termed the action treatment guidelines based on EBP principles at stage, and this stage is based largely on cognitive- the National Guideline Clearinghouse (http://www behavioral techniques. Using the helping skills .guideline.gov/). This site contains very good infor- model, training would focus on teaching gradu- mation on medication. ate students techniques associated with each of Other online resources for EBP and treat- these three therapeutic schools. ment guidelines include the American Psychiatric Association (APA), which offers practice guide- The Outlook for Psychotherapy lines for mental health (http://www.psych.org/ Schools and Therapy Integration psych_pract/treatg/pg.prac_guide.cfm). Another way of accessing practice guidelines is to go to the What does the future look like for psychotherapy American Psychiatric Association website and type schools that have been presented in this book? in the words “Practice Guidelines.” This page links Norcross, Hedges, and Prochaska (2002) and to the complete text of all APA practice guidelines Norcross, Hedges, and Castle (2002) used a published on PsychiatryOnline, which gives addi- Delphi poll to predict the future of psycho- tional resources for each guideline. Evidence-based therapy over the next decade. The experts who practice guidelines are available for the following served as participants in the poll predicted that mental health disorders: Acute stress disorder the following theoretical schools would increase and posttraumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer’s the most: cognitive-behavior therapy, culture- disease and other dementias, bipolar disorder, sensitive multicultural counseling, Beck’s cog- borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, nitive therapy, interpersonal therapy, family major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive systems therapy, behavior therapy, technical disorder, panic disorder, and suicidal behaviors. eclecticism, solution-focused therapy, and expo- Part A of every APA practice guideline is initially sure therapies. Therapy orientations that were published as a supplement to the American Journal predicted to decrease the most included classical of Psychiatry. For the treatment of children and psychoanalysis, implosive therapy, Jungian ther- adolescents with mental health disorders, practice apy, , humanistic therapies, parameters may be obtained from the American and Adlerian therapy. The poll also showed how Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. psychotherapy is changing:

CHAPTER 19 INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY 593 The consensus is that psychotherapy will become to use such treatment approaches could possibly more directive, psychoeducational, technological, lead to law suits centering on “failure to provide problem-focused, and briefer in the next decade. a basic standard of care.” Concomitantly, relatively unstructured, historically I disagree that there will be an increas- oriented, and long-term approaches are predicted ing emphasis on problem-focused therapy. Both to decrease . . . Short term is in, and long term on strengths-based and positive psychology have its way out. (Prochaska & Norcross, 2003, p. 545) spread throughout the world. Many federally supported programs for youth and their families The movement toward short-term therapy are requiring a strengths-based rather than a is one that was fairly easy to predict. Insurance problem-focused orientation. Much of this shift is companies will not pay for long-term treat- being caused by recent empirical studies showing ment. Therefore, therapists have had to change the value and importance of positive emotions. their treatment focus and their estimate of the If researchers develop a diagnostic manual that amount of time necessary to bring about cli- is based on positive client emotions, there will ent improvement. Moreover, long-term therapy most likely be a decrease in clinicians’ emphasis focuses on fundamental change in a person’s on problem-focused disorders. It is clear, how- overall functioning. In contrast, short-term ever, that psychotherapy integration will become therapy seeks small change that is pragmatic the most frequently cited approach to therapy. to help clients deal with a presenting issue—it The cognitive-behavioral school will continue to does not focus on “curing” a client. Whereas be the most dominant because it has provided long-term therapy views the presenting problem the most empirically supported evidence for its as reflecting more basic client pathology, short- effectiveness. term therapy emphasizes clients’ strengths and resources. Insurance companies are not inter- ested in having a therapist to be there for clients Toward Developing Your while they make significant changes in their Own Approach to Integrative lives. On the contrary, they accept the reality that many changes will take place after therapy and Psychotherapy will not be observable to the therapist. Yalom (1989) has pointed out that theories of In addition, insurance companies’ demand psychotherapy are developed to reduce the coun- for evidence-based practice is likely to increase, selor’s anxiety in dealing with the complexities and therapeutic approaches that lack a sufficient and the uncertainties of the therapeutic process. evidence-based record will not be reimbursed. The theories discussed in this book are designed Psychoanalytically oriented and existential- to help you view how others have conceptualized humanistic approaches have a very limited evi- the therapeutic situation. Only you can decide how dence-based record upon which to build. I predict you will go about constructing your own personal, there will increasingly be a focus on manualized integrative approach to therapy. therapy. Therapists will be able to purchase books Constructing your own approach to psycho- or manuals that describe the steps to take for therapy is a lifelong process, one that is begun in a specific problem, life challenge, or disorder. graduate school and continued throughout your Manualized treatment will most likely be evi- professional career. It is my strong belief that dence-based or empirically supported treatment. graduate training is only the first step in becoming Therefore, it is important for beginning therapists a therapist. It takes a certain amount of experi- to become aware of evidence-based, manualized ence for you to truly develop your own integrative treatment for specific mental disorders. A failure approach to therapy.

594 PART IV THE FOURTH FORCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY You begin the journey toward developing rather than haphazard—guided by forethought your own integrative therapy approach in gradu- and completed with client consultation. Your inte- ate school when you are faced with trying to read grative approach to therapy should be informed and understand the various major systems of by your training, clinical experience, and research. psychotherapy. As Yalom (1989) so aptly pointed In contrast to the multitheoretical therapy frame- out, having a theory helps to quiet our own anxi- work, I propose five additional categories: (1) ety. I also believe that having our own integrated spiritual, (2) relational (similar to Brooks-Harris’ theory of therapy helps the client who seeks our interpersonal), (3) strengths—internal and exter- assistance. nal, (4) evidence-based research, and (5) change For the most part, I concur with Brooks-Harris’ process. More specifically, my own personal mul- multitheoretical framework for developing an titheoretical framework takes into account the integrative approach to therapy. Movement toward following conceptual areas to form an integrative your own integrative theory should be intentional therapy approach.

ANOTHER MULTITHEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR INTEGRATIVE TREATMENT

• Cognitive conceptualizations or the role of cognitions with clients • Affect or the influence of clients’ feelings on issues • Body—energy and health issues—holistic nature of mind and body • Relational—all living is relational and most problems have a relational component • Spiritual—we do not live by bread alone, influence of religion. There is increasing empirical evidence that our spiritual values and behaviors can promote physical and psychological well-being (Richards & Bergin, 1997; Richards, Rector, & Tjelveit, 1999). • Multicultural—we live within a cultural context • Systemic influences (political system, economic system, racism, sexism) • Evidence-based research or empirical support for counseling interventions • Change process—how clients are motivated to change and the change process

Guideline Questions to Help counselor or therapist. It helps to write out your You in Choosing a Therapy own integrated approach to counseling. You should demonstrate a balance between your knowledge of Orientation the particular theories from which you select and a What are some guidelines for constructing an inte- genuine description of why each theory is important grative theory of counseling and psychotherapy? and relevant to you as a clinician or therapist. It is First, you should be able to have a working knowl- important that you examine in depth your reasons edge of the particular theories from which you will for choosing each theory. The following questions draw and a basic description of why each theory is are designed to help you think about the core coun- important and relevant to you as a mental health seling theory that you are initially adopting.

CHAPTER 19 INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY 595 YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF PSYCHOTHERAPY THEORIES

1. What are four basic concepts from the theory you are adopting as your core or base theory?

2. What constitutes a problem in your core counseling theory?

3. What are the goals of counseling for the theoretical approach you have chosen?

4. Who establishes the goals in counseling?

5. What is the nature of the relationship between you and the client?

6. What competencies must you have to carry out your role as therapist/counselor?

7. What are the responsibilities of clients during counseling? What is expected of clients?

8. What can the client expect from the therapist—from you?

9. What is your position on therapist self-disclosure?

10. What are some of the main values held by a counselor with your theoretical approach?

11. Using the theories you have selected to be integrated in your therapy approach, how do you want to be as a clinician?

12. How comfortable are you in expressing your emotions during counseling?

13. What is it about your personality and your personal history that leads you to believe that a particular theory or group of theories form a goodness of fit for you?

14. How have your personal ground, personal attributes, and life experiences affected your choice of a personal theory of counseling?

15. What techniques will you use from your chosen theory or group of theories?

16. How does your theory take into account diverse cultural groups?

17. wHo does your theory take into consideration political, social, and economic factors that lie outside the client— external factors?

Second, after you have developed a working values, and therapeutic intervention skills into your knowledge of the particular counseling theories from personal, integrative approach to counseling. which you will select, take into account your world- Your worldview will have a significant impact view or your basic way of understanding the world. I on how you conduct counseling. The following offer the following as a beginning framework (Smith contains some questions to help you sort out your © 2010) for incorporating your worldview, personal worldview.

596 PART IV THE FOURTH FORCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY • Personal Belief • Worldview or System; Values Way in Which People View of Construct Cultural beliefs human Meaning in and spiritual development, World orientation, nature of views on people, causes healing of problems

Insurance reimbursement, Client needs what insurance and presenting • Evidence- companies will issue • Therapist as Based reimburse a Person, Implications for Intervention Therapy Skills and Practice Techniques

(© Elsie Jones-Smith, 2012)

WORLDVIEW OR WAY OF UNDERSTANDING CLIENTS AND THE WORLD

18. What is your view of human nature? Which counseling theory best suits your view of human nature?

19. In the area of free will/determinism, to what extent do people direct their own actions, or are we governed by other forces outside of our awareness or control?

20. Nature/nurture: To what degree are people influenced by heredity (nature) and/or by their environment (nurture)?

21. Past/present orientation: To what degree are people controlled by early events in their lives and/or affected by later life experiences? What is the significance of the past, present, and future in governing human behaviors? Are we prisoners of our past, or can we work to free ourselves from our past?

22. Whate ar some of the basic assumptions you have about people, and what theoretical approach to therapy best deals with your views on this topic?

Therapy deals with clients’ thoughts, feelings, views on the role of cognition, affect, and behavior? and behaviors. The next group of questions you This group of questions also focuses on change, might ask yourself in formulating an integrative especially as it relates to the therapeutic process. approach to therapy deals with the relationship How is behavior changed in the therapy session? between cognition, affect, and behavior. Which Some questions that deal with these issues are pre- counseling theory has a goodness of fit with your sented in the table below.

CHAPTER 19 INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY 597 COGNITION, AFFECT, AND BEHAVIOR

23. wHo do people’s thoughts (cognitions) and affect (feelings) influence their behavior? Which counseling theories best reflect your views on the role of cognitions and affect on clients’ behavior?

24. wHo are these three dimensions interrelated?

25. What motivates people?

26. What cognitive strategies do you use to encourage functional or positive thoughts with your clients?

27. What kinds of experiential interventions do you feel comfortable in using with clients to explore their feelings?

28. Where do clients’ maladaptive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors come from?

29. What are some basic assumptions/beliefs about change underlying your approach?

Another set of variables includes person- to write out simple statements. “I believe that ality development, maladaptive and adaptive maladaptive behavior is caused by [blank], and behavior, and mental disorders. What coun- I choose [blank] theory as my frame of refer- seling theories support your ideas regarding ence on personality development or maladap- these variables? It might be helpful for you tive behavior.”

VIEWS OF DEVELOPMENTAL PERIODS, ADAPTIVE AND MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR

30. Are there critical periods in a person’s life development? If so, what are they?

31. wHo do individuals develop mental or emotional disorders?

32. What causes mental or emotional disorders and healthy development?

33. Using your current theoretical approach, what constitutes a problem for clients?

Stages in Developing an a great deal of work involved, including much self- introspection, experience, and training. Sometimes Integrated Theory of Counseling it is helpful to understand what the journey might The questions presented in the foregoing section are look like in becoming a therapist or a counselor. not exhaustive. Rather, they represent a beginning Therefore, I have outlined the following stages that point for you to think about yourself as a therapist. the typical therapist goes through in developing his Becoming a therapist is not an easy journey. There is or her own integrated approach to therapy.

598 PART IV THE FOURTH FORCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY STAGES OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS A THERAPIST______

Person Enters Counseling Training Program With Orientation Toward Self and Others, Cultural Worldview, and Personal Belief System

Clinical Training Emphasizes Certain Counseling Skills and Techniques

Single Therapy Adoption

Counseling/Therapy Trainee Largely Adopts Orientation of Training Program

Assimilative Integration: Phase 1 of the Reflective Practitioner

Counselor/therapist engages in real-world counseling/therapy experience, which causes him or her to adopt techniques outside of orientation of graduate training program.

Most therapists seek a firm grounding in one system of therapy but evidence a willingness to incorporate or assimilate practices from other therapy schools.

Pathway Toward Psychotherapy Integration

Phase 2 of the Reflective Practitioner: Therapist revises theoretical orientation based on (1) real- world therapy experiences and (2) evidence-based studies of what works in therapy.

The pathway toward psychotherapy integration is designed to improve the therapist’s ability to select the best treatment for a client and his or her problem. Therapist uses diverse strategies without being hindered by theoretical differences.

Continued Pathway Toward Psychotherapy Integration

Phase 3 of the Reflective Practitioner: Therapist seeks to comply with continuing education training requirements, which leads to a broadening of counseling techniques and further psychotherapy integration.

Phase 4 of the Reflective Practitioner: Therapist engages in practical theory integration based on what works, evidence-based reports, additional training, increased clinical experience, and revised beliefs.

Reflective Practitioner: Continual Stage of Professional Development

The clinician adopts the view that his approach to therapy has evolved into a personal style of counseling and psychotherapy about which he or she feels comfortable. Although the clinician is open to changes, psychotherapy integration is consolidated and only minor changes are made after this point—usually as a result of attending workshops for continuing education credit.

CHAPTER 19 INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY 599 The Reflective Practitioner and out various solutions until they resolved the issue. Schon labeled this process reflection in action and Therapist Effectiveness coined the term theory in use to describe the nature One of the goals of this chapter is to help you start of the reflective activity in which the practitioner the process of becoming a reflective practitioner. was engaged. According to Schon (1983, 1987), this I maintain that an effective therapist is essentially type of practitioner problem-solving was an intui- a reflective therapist in the tradition described by tive rejection of the textbook that effective practi- (Schon, 1983, 1987). In his seminal work, Schon tioners had been taught during their professional (1983) emphasized the role of self-reflection in training. Schon labeled this formalized approach the training of professional practitioners. He the practitioner’s espoused theory. He argued that it proposed that the knowledge needed for compe- was the practitioner’s ability to reflect, both in and tence in the professions is twofold: (1) technical- on action, that separated the effective practitioner rational knowledge (e.g., the learning of counseling from less effective professionals. theories, the learning of treatment protocols), and Undoubtedly, Schon left an enduring legacy (2) professional artistry (e.g., sensitivity to the that has had a major impact on professional edu- dynamics of the therapeutic relationship, timing cation and training programs. One of his accom- of interventions, and the instillation of hope). plishments was that he highlighted the importance Schon maintained that while technical-rational of the practical experience in the learning process. knowledge can be (and typically is) conveyed by Another major contribution was that he challenged didactic procedures, the knowledge required for the view that theory is a privileged form of knowl- professional artistry is often tacit, the product of edge. Each one us constructs on a daily basis our experience, and is best assessed by practitioner theories of the world and of the people with whom self-reflection. Schon’s ideas regarding the value of we work. Each therapist goes through a process of self-reflection have been used in a number of fields, continually constructing his or her own theory of including medicine, social work, counseling, and counseling or psychotherapy, and perhaps that is teaching (Fook, 1996; Kressel, 1997; Niemi, 1997; one reason a number of studies have reported that Schon, 1987). the average American therapist is an eclectic or an Schon’s reflective practitioner model presents a integrative therapist rather than a therapist of a framework for decision making and problem solv- single theoretical school. A third major contribu- ing. A Harvard-educated man, Schon was critical of tion of Schon was that he recognized the difference the traditional teaching methods adopted in many between a practitioner’s formal theory and his universities. From his perspective, universities used espoused theory. Much more will be said about this the technical-rational approach, in which students point in an ensuing section. first studied basic science, then the relevant applied Schon’s reflective practitioner model has impli- science, before finally applying their learning to cations for both therapist training and practice. real-life problems. Schon believed this approach Self-reflection produces a deeper sense of knowing bore little resemblance to reality and did not equip than traditional didactic teaching. I recommend professionals with the training needed to solve the that practicum and training courses for coun- practical problems they encountered in their daily selors and psychologists contain a self-reflection practice. component to increase therapists’ therapeutic In contrast to the rationality approach, Schon artistry. Training programs that do not include a discovered that when effective practitioners were self-reflection component tend to be more logical, confronted with a problem in their practice, they evidential, and analytical. Training from such pro- instinctively worked through it, drawing upon grams appeals predominantly to students’ rational previous similar experiences. Using a mixture of systems, and information learned may be less knowing and doing, practitioners tended to try deeply embedded than experiential learning.

600 PART IV THE FOURTH FORCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY Conversely, if programs include a self- usually represents a theoretical orientation of reflection component, students may be exposed some school of thought. to greater emotion (both within themselves and Therapists’ implicit theories may be conscious, from other students undergoing the same train- preconscious, or unconscious. Implicit theories ing) that triggers their experiential system, and refer to the therapist’s tacit assumptions. They can hence, a deeper level of encoding and realization. be distinguished from the formal propositions of Self-reflective practitioners are usually effective the various psychotherapy schools—psychoanalytic, therapists because they take time to integrate their Gestalt, psychodynamic, cognitive-behaviorist. knowledge with therapeutic experiences. Their According to Sternberg (1985), “Implicit theories self-reflection allows them to weed out techniques are constructions by people . . . that reside in the and approaches that have not worked for them and minds of these individuals. Such theories need to include those that have. be discovered rather than invented because they already exist in some form, in people’s heads” (p. 448). Likewise, Kottler (1986) has suggested The Therapist’s Implicit Theory implicit theories are a part of all therapists, whether as Opposed to Explicit or Formal we like it or not. From his view: Theory All therapists are theoreticians. We harbor our own Schon’s (1983, 1987) work on formal and espoused unique ideas about how the world works and how theory has helped pave the way for current con- therapy ought to be conducted. No matter what ceptualizations in psychology involving a thera- school of thought we align ourselves with, we have pist’s implicit and explicit theory (Najavits, 1997). our own individual notions about how . . . to work. Lambert (1989) has pointed out that although the (p. 137) single most predominant way to define therapists is by their theoretical orientation, such orientations Scholars have offered various definitions of have been found unusually limited in their capacity implicit theories. Najavits (1997, p. 4) has defined to predict outcomes of treatment for clients. This a therapist’s implicit theory “as therapists’ private finding is further supported by studies that show assumptions or ‘working model’ about how to that therapists of the same orientation differ widely conduct psychotherapy that is distinct from, but in their processes and impact on clients (Luborsky coexists with, formal theoretical orientations.” et al., 1986; Najavits & Strupp, 1994), while on the An implicit theory of psychotherapy is that the other hand, therapists of different theoretical ori- assumptions the therapist subscribes to about ther- entations have been found highly similar in their apy are distinct from any formal therapy theoretical therapeutic styles and outcomes (Smith, Glass, & orientation. A therapist’s implicit theory might Miller, 1980). include personal strategies on what to do during The concept of therapists’ “implicit theories therapy sessions, such as Reik’s (1956) emphasis on of psychotherapy” is important to consider in listening with the third ear for elements of surprise a course on theories of psychotherapy, because in the client’s report, or Kottler’s (1986) statement as pointed out in the section on the reflective on taking risks in therapy. practitioner, therapists construct their own Moreover, a therapist’s implicit theory might theories of counseling as they develop their consist of his or her views on what to do or what clinical skills and practices. Researchers have not to do in therapy, such as “I try not to push observed many times that therapists develop my clients too hard; they will tell me what’s “implicit theories” in addition to the explicit wrong when they are ready.” A therapist’s implicit theories to which they subscribe (Burrell, 1987; theory might contain personal axioms that one Kottler, 1986; Schon, 1983). An explicit theory has learned growing up, or it might contain what

CHAPTER 19 INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY 601 to do when particular problems arise, or the the therapist’s implicit theories may sometimes subjective criteria that one uses to measure the be superior to the formal or explicit theory for a success or failure of therapy. Dolliver (1991), for particular case. In addition, he states that implicit instance, described his selection of parts of formal theories give birth to explicit theories. Explicit the- theories, plus his own unique views, in an article ories arose because of weaknesses in the available titled “The Eighteen Ideas Which Most Influence theories and the gradual elucidation of the “partial My Therapy.” theories” to complement them. Examples of this As one of the pioneers on therapists’ implicit phenomena might be the therapists who developed theory of psychotherapy, Shoben (1962) labeled their own theories after disagreeing with Sigmund the therapist’s theory a “personal trait” composed Freud—Adler, Horney, Sullivan, and so on. In of both explicit theoretical positions (e.g., client agreement with Sandler, Sternberg (1985) has also centered, behavioral) and implicit assumptions indicated that implicit theories are the beginning about their therapy. From his perspective, the points for the development of explicit theories. everyday practitioner developed implicit theories Sandler, an analyst, has written about the conflict because explicit theories are all too often phrased some therapists would feel if the world knew about as abstractions that do not specify how to act their “real theories.” Commenting on the fact that in particular cases, or that may even contradict some therapists attempt to hide their implicit theo- one’s own therapeutic experience. Shoben pro- ries, Sandler (1983, pp. 36–37) has stated: posed that therapists differ in the degree to which they rely on their explicit versus implicit therapy The conscious or unconscious conclusion of many theories; and that further, they choose an explicit analysts [is] that they do not do “proper” analysis theory based in part on how well it corresponds . . . [a] conviction that what is actually done in the with implicit theories about human personality consulting room is not “kosher,” that colleagues and development. Shoben (1962, pp. 620–621) has would criticize it if they knew about it . . . At times he may have to depart quite far from the “standard” admonished that it is important for therapists to technique. He may be very comfortable with this as become aware of their own implicit theories for long as it is private rather than public. therapy. Although psychology originated the concept Since theories are inescapable in the ordering of of implicit theory, there has only been limited the data with which we work as counselors, it research on this topic as it relates to therapists’ would seem important to hold them as explicitly as possible and to examine their influence on our theoretical orientations. For example, Deutsch judgment and on our professional conduct with . . . (1984) surveyed 264 therapists on a questionnaire unsparing honesty. . . . The counselor who achieves of “irrational beliefs” about conducting therapy this kind of honesty in dealing with his cognitive (e.g., “I should be able to help every client,” and “I self is likely to enjoy a sense of personal growth should always work at my peak level of enthusiasm in his professional life that is denied to others. and competence.”). She related these irrational (pp. 620–621) beliefs to stresses that therapists face in their prac- tice, and hypothesized that therapists’ irrational Therapists develop implicit theories for vari- beliefs would contribute to their reported stress. ous reasons. Sandler (1983) has suggested that Deutsch found that 40% of the sample rated three therapists develop their own implicit theories of specific beliefs (all on perfectionism as a therapist) psychotherapy because the formal or explicit theo- moderately stressful or higher. In addition, she ries sometimes are not concerned with the practical found significant differences between therapists’ problems therapists encounter. He has asserted that degrees of endorsement of beliefs, and she reported

602 PART IV THE FOURTH FORCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY that some participants spontaneously added their they personally use to monitor their level of alli- own beliefs to her questionnaire. ance with a client. How are their implicit theories Orlinsky (1993) studied the development of of psychotherapy different from their espoused or therapists over their career spans and found that explicit theory? the greater the discrepancy between therapists’ The implicit theory approach also has some actual versus ideal views of themselves as therapists, training implications. Najavits (1997) has sug- the greater was the therapists’ subjective experi- gested that the theory proposed in a therapy ence of difficulties in therapy and the lower their manual may be competing against unspoken, subjective rating of their own skillful performance alternative, contradictory beliefs that the therapists as a clinician. already has—namely, the therapist’s implicit the- Clearly, therapists do develop an implicit ory. Perhaps it might be helpful to have therapists theory, perhaps beginning as early as their days of in training list their implicit theory first and then to graduate training. The question remains, however: see how it meshes, or enlarges, their explicit theory. Can the implicit theory concept be used to improve Training programs might consider develop- a therapist’s effectiveness or create research that ing more formal models of examining therapists’ would help us understand the variability amongst implicit beliefs as well as creating methods to assess therapists? It would seem that understanding them. To what extent, for example, do implicit the- the therapist’s implicit theory is important from ories of psychotherapy interfere with the material several standpoints. First, implicit theories are not that training programs seek to elucidate? It might simply noise getting in the way of the real, formal be helpful for counselor and therapist trainees to or explicit theory. The study of implicit therapist examine their implicit theories about forming rela- theories may shed some light on therapist variabil- tionships and therapeutic alliances, about the role ity that may exist either independently of theoreti- of hope in therapy. Studies might also investigate cal orientation or alongside it. There may be great the relationship of therapists’ implicit theories to similarity between therapists regardless of their their counseling outcomes. In other words, the theoretical orientation because all share a com- journey toward psychotherapy integration should mon implicit theory system that interacts with the encompass integrating both therapists’ implicit explicit theory. In terms of a research study, thera- and explicit theories into a coherent framework pists might be assessed (or they might engage in a and not just integrating their explicit psycho- process of self-reflection) on what is required to therapy theories that they have learned through build an alliance with clients and what benchmarks didactic methods.

CASE STUDY: JUSTIN AND INTEGRATIVE TREATMENT PLANNING

This section provides a general outline of integrative treatment planning with Justin. An in-depth treatment plan is not provided because Justin has already been examined from the perspective of each of the major counseling theories. In most private practices, Justin and his mother would be given an intake form, a professional disclosure statement for his mother, Sandy, to sign because Justin is a minor, and an intake form for Sandy to complete. This section is designed to give you a realistic view of the information that would be required in an intake or initial interview with Justin and his mother. Below is a copy of such an intake form that might be used with Justin.

(Continued)

CHAPTER 19 INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY 603 (Continued) CHILD AND ADOLESCENT INTAKE FORM To be filled out by parent or guardian requesting services for a minor child. This information will help your therapist understand your child. This statement will be kept confidential to the extent to which state law permits. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Child’s name ______Date of Birth______/______/______Age ______School attending and grade level (if applicable): ______Child lives with (check one): both biological parents_____ mother_____ father_____ other______If e parents ar divorced, describe custody arrangements: ______Child’s address ______Emergency contact person (other than parent) ______Phone number ______-______-______Custodial parent’s contact information: Phone ______(Home) ______(Cell) ______(Work) ______E-mail:______

INFORMATION ABOUT CHILD’S MOTHER Mother’s name ______Age______Race______Employer ______Occupation______Hrs./wk. ______Can you be contacted at work by phone? Yes No Circle the best way to contact you: Phone: ______/ (Home) ______(Cell) ______(Work) ______E-mail ______Denomination ______Church ______Active? Yes No

INFORMATION ABOUT CHILD’S FATHER Father’s name ______Age______Race______

604 PART IV THE FOURTH FORCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY Employer ______Occupation______Hrs./wk. ______Can you be contacted at work by phone? Yes No Circle the best way to contact: Phone ______(Home) (Cell) (Work) E-mail ______Denomination ______Church ______Active? Yes No Please list others living in custodian parent’s home, including names, ages, and relationship to child: ______Legal Issues Isey ther an legal involvement with your child? Yes _____ No _____ If so, please describe: ______Please bring copies of any court orders that are related to your child to our next session. Has the court ordered that your child seek counseling? Presenting Problem: Describe the issue your child is having. Briefly state the problem that brought you here: ______How long has this situation been in existence? ______Problem Areas: From the following list, please prioritize each item that identifies an area of concern to you that you have for your child. For example, the number 1 would be placed by the item that concerns you the most today.

CHAPTER 19 INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY 605 (Continued)

____Anger ____Shyness ____Depression ____Feels hopeless ____Grades, academic performance ____Fidgety, unable to sit still ____Court trouble, legal issues ____Daydreams too much ____ Inability to get along with other children ____Takes unnecessary risk ____Bullying—being bullied by other children ____Blames others for his or her troubles ____Bullying, threatening other children ____Takes things that do not belong to him or her ____Religious/spiritual concerns ____School grades dropping ____Developmental issues ____Distracted easily ____Fights with other children in school ____Has trouble with his teacher(s)

How were you referred? ______Whate ar your reason(s) for seeking therapy? ______What goals do you have for therapy for your child? ______Have you sought mental health treatment before for your child? ______Yes ______No _____ If so, when and with whom? ______Current medical doctor/family physician: ______Phone number: ______Is your child under medical care for any ailment? Is he or she on any medications? If so, please indicate current medications (type and dosage): ______Havee ther been any suicide attempts? (If so, explain) ______In case of emergency, please notify : Name: ______Phone: ______Relationship: ______

606 PART IV THE FOURTH FORCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY Insurance (The following questions are about the policy holder.) Policyholder’s name: ______SSN: ______DOB: ______Address: ______City: ______State: ______ZIP: ______Home phone: ______Cell: ______Work: ______Insurance company: ______Authorization #: ______Number of sessions authorized: ______Co-pay: ______Employer: ______Job title: ______Form completed by: ______Date: ______Signature: ______

(© Elsie Jones-Smith, 2012)

Information gathered from this form is typically reviewed prior to meeting with clients, although some therapists prefer to see clients immediately after they have completed an intake form. Typically, Sandy would be required to attend the initial counseling session in order to obtain informed consent. The initial counseling session would be used to focus on Justin’s presenting problem from an integrative perspective.

Using the Multitheoretical Framework With Justin After talking with Sandy and Justin, the therapist would use Brooks-Harris’ Multitheoretical Dimensional Survey toe explor the various dimensions of Justin’s issues. For instance, the therapist would search the following seven dimensions to determine where his presenting issue(s) are located: (1) thoughts, (2) actions, and (3) feelings, and the contextual dimensions of (4) biology, (5) interpersonal patterns, (6) social systems, and (7) cultural contexts. Justin’s multidimensional survey might reveal that his presenting problem has concurrent dimensions:

Thoughts: “I don’t want to be placed in the residential treatment home, 100 or so miles from my mother and brother. (The therapist uses to conceptualize one dimension of his current issue.) “It’s not my fault I get into fights at school. Kids make smart remarks about me so that I can hear them.” Actions: Social isolation at school because of fighting and inability to control his anger. (Behavior techniques might be appropriate—anger management training.) Feelings: wLo self-esteem. When the therapist asked Justin how he felt about the kids making fun of him in school, Justin responded “sad,” “angry, and “hurt.” The therapist might consider using concepts from existential-humanistic therapy.

The therapist would also examine the contextual dimensions of Justin’s presenting problem, meaning the role of, biology interpersonal relations, systemic issues, and cultural issues. Justin’s mother is on welfare, and the family lives in a neighborhood that has a great deal of crime (i.e., gangs, etc.).

Biology—Justin has complained of headaches and trouble sleeping because of his fears of being placed in residential treatment. Because he has trouble sleeping, he overslept twice and was late for his court appointment. It also might be wise to have Justin examined for an attention deficit disorder because he frequently gets out of his seat in school and has difficulty concentrating.

(Continued)

CHAPTER 19 INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY 607 (Continued) Interpersonal: Justin has made a poor choice of friends outside of school. He hangs around boys much older than he and boys who have gotten into trouble with the law. Justin’s brother is in a gang. (Psychodynamic therapy concepts could possibly shed light on Justin’s development, especially Erickson’s work on psychosocial stages of development.) Social: Justin tries to hide his feelings of low self-esteem that are fueled by his family’s poverty and his feelings that his father abandoned him. (Perhaps concepts from psychodynamic therapy might be useful to deal with issues regarding his mother, Sandy [the “good enough” mother?].) Cultural: Justin has experienced difficulty with his mixed racial/ethnic heritage—White mother and African American father. (Multicultural counseling theory might prove useful in helping him resolve his personal identity and his ethnic identity in predominantly White Utah.

After surveying all seven dimensions described above, the therapist chooses two to three areas that will serve as the initial focus for psychotherapy with Justin. The therapist selects the focal dimensions in collaboration with Justin. The therapist asks Justin to notice what takes place in his life regarding the two to three focal dimensions selected for psychotherapy. In addition, the therapist writes down initial hypotheses that are taken from the corresponding theoretical school. The next step involves choosing interventions from a catalog of key strategies from theories that address the selected focal dimensions. For instance, to address Justin’s feelings about his situation, the therapist chooses experiential strategies from the Multitheoretical Therapy website (http://www.multitheoretical.com). The catalog of Key Strategies under the experiential theoretical school lists such strategies as exp-10-creating experiments and exp-11, accepting freedom and responsibility. The therapist and Justin collaborate on the effectiveness of therapy and then move to the next focal dimensions for work in psychotherapy. The Multitheoretical Therapy Model offers a useful method for treatment planning from an integrative perspective.

SUMMARY______technical eclecticism, common factors integration, and theoretical integration. Clearly, over the past A major theme was that counseling and psycho- four to five decades, therapists and researchers therapy are moving toward an integrative approach have stressed therapy that goes beyond the limited to psychotherapy. The days of adopting one singular confines of one theoretical school. The movement therapy approach and using it for the rest of one’s toward psychotherapy integration encourages professional development seem to be coming to therapists to take into consideration the benefits an end. Psychotherapy integration has become of individual therapeutic approaches. Integrative intertwined with the evidence-based movement in psychotherapy posits that many treatment meth- stressing that various client problems necessitate ods can be helpful in working with different clients. that the therapist use different solutions. Moreover, It is predicted that evidence-based studies will have increasingly these solutions can be chosen on the an important influence on psychotherapy theory basis of empirical outcome research—what is integration. known as evidence-based studies. One advantage Therapists must understand not only the of integrative therapies is that they allow therapists individual theories so that they can decide for the flexibility to meet the needs of clients who have themselves what they feel is appropriate for them, different presenting issues and who come from a but they also need to establish a multitheoretical range of cultural contexts. or integrative framework from which they can Psychotherapy integration can take several integrate the theories they choose. The framework different paths including assimilative integration, by Brooks-Harris (2008) offers the simplest route

608 PART IV THE FOURTH FORCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY to developing your own integrative approach. My do you feel comfortable using to conceptualize own preference is to modify his framework to clients’ issues or to guide your therapeutic include the spiritual area as well as several mind- interventions? body approaches. Currently, there are few graduate schools that 2. The Reflective Practitioner. Reflect back offer an integrative approach to counseling and on your own life, with an emphasis on reviewing psychotherapy. Within the next couple of decades, the various issues and difficulties you have had it is predicted that graduate schools will adopt throughout your life. How might you present an integrative approach to psychotherapy train- yourself as a client? What would you be looking ing because such programs themselves will come for in your therapist? What therapeutic goals might under increasing pressure to equip their graduates you establish if you were a client? For what issues with therapeutic skills that cross theoretical lines. might you consider personal counseling prior to Ethical guidelines for counselors and psychologists engaging in the formal practice of psychotherapy? appear to be headed in the direction of requiring 3. Disagreements Between the Various therapists to know evidence-based research (what Theories of Psychotherapy. In your opinion, what techniques actually work with what clients with are the various schools of therapy really disagreeing what problems) if they are to exercise an appropri- about? Are they describing different features of the ate standard of care for their clients. same phenomena, disagreeing about the very nature The effective therapist is a reflective of those phenomena, or discussing completely practitioner—one who looks inward to discover different phenomena? Are the disagreements in who he or she is becoming as a therapist. Theories psychotherapy approaches mainly differences in should guide your therapy practice. Good luck on terminology? Choose a theory of psychotherapy your journey to becoming a professional counselor/ with which you disagree. Role-play your arguing therapist/social worker or mental health worker. for the basic tenets of a theory with which you disagree. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS _ 4. Reflection on Therapist Qualities. The AND EXERCISES______purpose of this exercise is to help you identify and assess your own strengths and weaknesses Your Personal Journey Toward as future therapists and encourage self-reflection Psycho­therapy Integration and openness in your group. Identify three things about yourself that you believe will assist you in a. Can you think of any developments in your own becoming a good therapist. Record these things in life that have led you to choose one theoretical approach over another? your journal. b. Review the chapters on different approaches to 5. Qualities for Effective Therapists. Create psychotherapy. What therapy schools did you your own list of qualities for the effective therapist. feel closest to? Review that list and discuss them with the people in your small group. c. Have any of your life experiences had an influ- ence on your choice of a therapy school? 6. Create a Timeline for Your Own Pro­ d. What theories are you considering integrating fessional Development. Indicate on this timeline into your own personal approach to psycho- what you want (hope to achieve) and when, therapy? Explain why. throughout your expected lifetime. What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now in the 1. Number of Theories to Integrate Into helping professions? If you could be the type of Your Theoretical Approach. How many theories person that you wish you could be, what kind of

CHAPTER 19 INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY 609 person would you be? What might you be doing if recommended that therapists review this website you were living as you dreamed or wanted to live? to see what evidence-based treatment has been established for working with clients who have specific, diagnosed disorders. This website should GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS______be useful in insurance reimbursement because it indicates the appropriate standard of care for assimilative integration An approach to specific mental disorders. psychotherapy integration that involves having a strong grounding in one system of psychotherapy Website: http://www.psych.org/psych_pract/treatg/ and a willingness to select (assimilate) practices pg/prac_guide.cfm and views from other systems. Inner Life. Selective Treatment: This website manual-based treatments Involve the use provides online assessment and treatment matching of standardized, manual-based treatments. based on 30 years of research on systematic treatment. Proponents of evidence-based treatments often It generates an individualized, yet comprehensive report for treatment plans. Selective treatment advocate the use of manual-based treatments. provides you with a simple, yet comprehensive, multitheoretical psychotherapy (MTP) snapshot of your mental health profile or that for a Maintains that thoughts, actions, and feelings family member’s current mental health profile. interact with one another and are shaped by Website: http://www.innerlife.com/ biological, interpersonal, systemic, and cultural contexts. This simple foundation is used to Multitheoretical Therapy. This website is the organize seven theoretical models that can official homepage for Brooks-Harris’ (2008) Multitheoretical Therapy. I recommend this be used to conceptualize clients and guide approach to psychotherapy integration because interventions, resulting in a sophisticated and the model is an easy one to follow and offers great integrated approach to psychotherapy. promise. Multitheoretical Psychotherapy (MTP) stages of change A psychotherapy model provides a way to understand the relationship developed by Prochaska and DiClemente that between psychotherapy theories based on the way matches a therapist’s approach to a client’s these approaches focus on different dimensions. readiness to change. The model proposes five stages: •• MTP describes a catalog of key strategies that precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, counselors can learn over time. action, and maintenance. •• MTP describes a method of integrative treat- technical eclecticism An integrative approach ment planning based on collaborative dialogue that advocates using multiple procedures taken with individual clients. MTP uses the following focal dimensions for from various therapeutic approaches without •• theory integration: thoughts, actions, feelings, specific concern from which theories they come. biology, interpersonal patterns, social systems, theoretical integration Involves the integration and cultural contexts. of two or more therapies with an emphasis on Website: http://www.multitheoretical.com integrating the underlying constructs associated with each therapeutic system. Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration: This website contains the homepage of SEPI, the foremost integration organization. It WEBSITES______gives information on professional membership, conferences, the Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, American Psychiatric Association. Practice and training opportunities. guidelines: This website gives practice guidelines for a number of mental disorders. It is highly Website: http://www.sepiweb.com/

610 PART IV THE FOURTH FORCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY Transtheoretical Model: This is the homepage of the ticated and integrated approach to psychotherapy. transtheoretical model. It gives publications, measures, The text begins by reviewing psychotherapy and and research studies on the stages of change. integration and introducing a new approach. The Website: http://www.uri.edu/research/cprc/trans second part of the book describes almost 100 key theoretical_model.html strategies drawn from seven theoretical approaches. The book’s final section applies the multitheoretical ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY_ ___ approach to both treatment and training.

Brooks-Harris, J. (2008). Integrative multitheoretical Norcross, J. S., & Goldfried, M. R. (Eds.), (2005). psychotherapy. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin. Handbook of psychotherapy integration (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. This book asserts that thoughts, actions, and feelings interact with one another and are shaped by bio- This book is an authoritative resource on the logical, interpersonal, systemic, and cultural contexts. psychotherapy movement. It is a state-of-the- From this foundation, Brooks-Harris organizes seven art comprehensive description of psychotherapy theoretical models that can be used to conceptualize integration and its clinical practice by some of the clients and guide interventions, resulting in a sophis- leading proponents in the field.

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