What is Integrative Therapy?
Exploring the whole person, influences and possible factors
In the various environments we find ourselves in throughout life, the internal and external influences play a huge role in how we experience ourselves, others and the world.
As we adapt to new events and situations in these transitions, we notice what no longer serves us.
There are strategies we developed along the way to help us feel safe or to help manage emotions when dealing with distress or being around others, and sometimes these strategies tend to cause more harm than good.Â
Meeting the person where they are at and co-planning the path
Counselling honours your experience and your courage to lean into those thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Showing compassion towards the parts of you and others that maybe difficult to be with, and exploring how to nurture healthy approaches that lead to inner peace and tolerance of suffering.
Like a well seasoned gardener tends to the deep-rooted weeds before sowing the seeds to grow, counselling looks at the deep-rooted areas to clear a path with tools that also nurture the space to grow.
Coaching looks at the plan and direction of your healing and growth experience. Acknowledging acceptance, awareness and action as part of the counselling process to move through any challenges, unexpressed emotions or sense of feeling stuck.
As outlined in the BACP ethical framework, for anyone choosing to start counselling, therapy or coaching, it’s about finding what works for you in a respectful partnership, focusing on your wellbeing.
Needs and Approaches
Below are common reasons people seek integrative counselling and coaching, with short descriptions on the approaches involved.
These approaches can switch and change as and when movement happens in the human experience. It may help as a place to start, to talk with your therapist or coach on what you need from working together at any given time.
Clarification
Person-Centered Counselling and Solution Focused Therapy
Feeling stuck, but not sure what the problem is, what to do or how to process things?
The willingness to identify the key issues would benefit from a two-way dialogue that explores the possibilities and options to move forward.
Behavioural Change
CBT, DBT, ACT &
NLP Coaching
Have clarity about your problems and goals, but finding it hard to break the pattern or habit?
With clear objectives, a more direct coaching approach can provide a structured plan to utilise tools and practice with ongoing feedback, ways to modify, embody or adapt changes in emotions, thoughts or behaviours.
Growth and Development
Enneagram, Shadow Work &
GRIT Coaching
Learning more about the self and growth through in self-awareness?
Explore working with development models to find strengths and opportunities in work, relationships and joy of being when integrating all aspect of the self and formed narratives.
Unsure of how you’d like to work with a counsellor or coach?
This online questionnaire provides some insight for both parties on how you would like to work together. Designed by two leading research practitioners in the field, John Norcross and Mick Cooper, designed a form that helps highlight your preferences when working with your needs.