Not every concern fits into a single framework. Not every client responds to the same approach. Integrative therapy recognizes this by combining elements from multiple evidence-based modalities into a treatment plan that is built around you rather than around a theory.
At Artisan Counseling, most of our licensed counselors practice from an integrative orientation, drawing from their training across multiple modalities to provide the most responsive and effective care possible.
Integrative therapy is an approach to counseling that combines techniques, principles and frameworks from two or more therapeutic modalities. Rather than adhering strictly to one school of thought, an integrative counselor selects the methods that best fit your concerns, your personality, your goals and how you respond to the work over time.
This is not the same as doing a little bit of everything without direction. Integrative therapy is deliberate. Your counselor is trained in multiple modalities and uses clinical judgment to determine which tools to apply, when to apply them and how they fit together.
For example, your counselor might use CBT to address a pattern of anxious thinking, somatic techniques to help your body release the tension that accompanies the anxiety, and person-centered principles to build a therapeutic relationship where you feel safe enough to do both.
Integrative therapy is one of the most commonly practiced orientations in the field. A survey published in the Journal of Psychotherapy Integration found that a majority of licensed counselors identify as integrative or eclectic in their approach.
There is no single protocol for integrative therapy. The structure of your treatment depends on what you bring to the room and how your counselor assesses the most effective path forward.
Initial assessment. Your counselor will start by learning about your concerns, your history, your goals and your preferences. This conversation helps them determine which modalities are most likely to be helpful.
Treatment planning. Based on the assessment, your counselor will develop a plan that may include elements from several approaches. This plan is not fixed. It changes as your needs change.
Flexible application. In a single session, your counselor might shift between approaches depending on what arises. One session might focus on cognitive restructuring. The next might involve processing a memory through EMDR. Another might center on mindfulness and grounding.
Ongoing evaluation. Your counselor checks in regularly to assess what is working and what is not. If a particular approach is not producing results, they adjust.
Integrative counselors at Artisan Counseling draw from a range of evidence-supported modalities, including:
The specific combination used in your therapy depends on your counselor’s training and what fits your clinical presentation.
Because integrative therapy is not limited to a single modality, it is applicable to virtually any concern that can be addressed in outpatient counseling, including:
Integrative therapy is particularly useful for clients whose concerns span multiple areas or who have not responded to a single-modality approach in the past.
Yes. Integrative therapy draws from modalities that are individually supported by research. The practice of integrating approaches is itself supported by the literature, with studies showing that treatment outcomes are often influenced more by the therapeutic relationship and the counselor’s flexibility than by adherence to a single model.
Your counselor uses clinical judgment, informed by your history, your goals, your response to treatment and their own training. This is a collaborative process, and you are always welcome to ask questions about why a particular approach is being used.
The terms are sometimes used interchangeably. In clinical practice, “integrative” tends to imply a more deliberate and theoretically grounded combination of approaches compared to “eclectic,” which may suggest a less structured selection.
You can always ask. Some counselors explain the rationale for each intervention as they go. Others work more fluidly. If transparency about the process is important to you, let your counselor know.
Yes. It is delivered within the context of licensed counseling and billed as a standard session. Most insurance plans cover it. Contact our office at 757.503.2819 to verify your benefits.