Integrating Psychotherapy Theories - Essay Example

? Integrating Psychotherapy Theories Presented Integrating Psychotherapy Theories Therapists should not pursue a unidirectional approach in counseling, but have to apply many therapies in counseling sessions. This implies that they should not be experts in a single approach in counseling. Human functioning presents complex relationships among various psychological orientations, which have to bring together the affective, behavioral, cognitive as well as the physiological systems within an individual during a counseling session (Integrative Psychotherapy Association, 2013). The counselor has also to be aware of the transpersonal and social environment in which the individual operates, all which contribute to human development. Therefore, counselor has to be experienced and have skills in bringing together integrative psychotherapies that facilitate wholeness of an individual to maximize the efficacy of a person in interpersonal, sociopolitical space with regards to the constraints and space of each individual (IPA, 2013). To achieve this, a counselor has to be multidirectional and not specialized on a single approach in counseling. A good counselor has to display increasing nurturing and affirmation behaviors. A counselor has to portray concern and care towards their clients instead of a watch and manage behavior that is utilized by many counselors (Najavits & Strupp, 1994). This is improved by enhancing a rapport between the client and the counselors, which will make them more focused towards nurturing of the clients’ behaviors in the therapy session. Moreover, a therapist has to have the ability to appreciate the client despite their predicaments. This is enhanced by propagation of hope and instilling confidence in their clients. The therapist has to undertake the counseling session in a productive way that would increase the client’s wellbeing while applying effective therapeutic approaches (Walmpold, 2001). In addition, a counselor has to be able to provide comfort and offer a push to the client to attain the required goal. This would amount to awakening and mobilizing the expectations of the client while at the same time encouraging and helping the client to attain the required ends. This is improved by cultivating both confidence and trust in the client, in addition to showing more concern and attention to the client’s predicament, which creates a rapport between the two, and helps the counselor to earn confidence from the client. Some of the characteristics developed in any counseling session include enhancing the agency, or competency of the patient which boosts the confidence and strength in a client to face the problem much better and have accept their predicament. Moreover, the client has to develop increasing tolerance in their mental experiences. In this case, the client is prepared psychologically to be better equipped and ready to face simile or more difficult situations with stabilized emotions, which amounts to equipping the client with much better problem solving skills, and preparing them psychologically to handle such cases. For example, a client who is psychologically traumatized after being a victim of crime will be prepared to accept their situations, and learn that how to continue with a normal life despite their trauma; it seeks to do away with the trauma to give them back a normal life. Another characteristic developed from a counseling session is disruption and removal of all symptoms affecting the client. Such a psychologically disturbed patient will be relieved off their fears and psychological burdens to face life normally. The session also provides a gradual relief, as well as restoring some immediate self-efficacy to the client (Bentler, 2000). For example in the above case, the crime victim will develop more confidence and courage to continue in their lives and appreciate their experiences as a victim to be a learning opportunity for a better future. In such a counseling session, some of the professional and unethical trends that may occur include the therapist developing intimate relationships with the client resulting from emotional attachment and rapport developed between the two. Moreover, it is unethical to use the information shared by the client prejudicially, or sharing it with any third party, or taking advantage of a client to demand for more payment for therapy sessions that may not add any value to the client. These unethical practices amounts to abuse of therapist professionalism, and are not allowed; the client is also legally protected from such unethical practices, making it a legal offence for such a therapist to act unethically. Some of the weaknesses that may prevent me from being a therapist are weaknesses in developing emotional rapport especially to people who are emotionally charged, which leads to my withdrawal from such incidences, and being an introvert with the tendency to hold information within, which would prevent building of strong relationships with such clients. The areas of professional development requiring developmental before becoming an effective counselor include developing more communication skills, which would amount to be more extrovert than introvert. Moreover, improvement in establishing stronger relationships especially with strangers or clients in a short time will be necessary. This is one of the important characters in being a therapist as Bernes (2005) explains. In addition, the need to develop an “I cannot get enough knowledge” attitude as Bernes (2005) expulsion is critical in ensuring therapists consistently search for new knowledge on how to deal with new problems and different clients. Development of the above characters would lead to being a successful therapist. One advantage using a single therapy is the ability to specialize deeply and improve competency in the chosen therapy. This implies that one would apply such therapy to all clients with much specialization. Besides, having the ability to carry out detailed research and integrate different approaches of the same therapy would be much easier when using a single therapy which leads to better results. However, as IPA (2013) explains, the use of a single therapy approach may not be exhaustive in a therapy as different therapies are suited to different problems, which may not help the client completely as required. For example application of cognitive therapy may miss some cases that would be solved through behavioral therapy (IPA, 2013). In addition, a single therapy will result to a unidirectional therapist who cannot articulate the needs and wants of an all-round human functioning, reducing the effectiveness of such a therapy. The main advantage in theory integration is that it solves the dissatisfaction caused by single therapy schools. Integration of the theories offers answers and solutions to loopholes created by using a single therapy (Norcross, 2005). Moreover, the integrated therapy approach facilitates therapies to be tailored to the unique needs of each particular client, by not imposing other unresponsive therapies to clients. However, the integrated therapy as Narcross & Beutler (2008) explain is too broad and requires critical appraisals of the client‘s situation before setting on any suitable theory, making it more complex. In addition, it requires acquiring detailed concepts regarding each therapy element, which requires the therapists to continually seek more knowledge and skills through learning new materials to effectively apply all the theories (Bernes (2005). One of the techniques that would be used is the play technique. For example when children are in a therapeutic session, they will have difficulties expressing their feelings upon questioning as they do not connect with such feelings (Hall, Kaduson & Schaefer, 2002). However, when involved in playing games the children defenses are weakened, making them more likely to talk about their feelings and open up to the therapist. This would also apply to adults in behavioral and cognitive therapies to allow them open up and dissolve the tension in the therapy session. The use of relaxation technique would also be critical in therapies. This involves exposing the client to a relaxation environment such as in a park, a pool of water, or any cool environment that helps them to reconnect with nature. Such a therapy will develop peace of mind in their client making them to be more composed in narrating their ordeal, and reducing emotional outbursts. References Bernes K., (2005) Elements of effective Counseling, The National Consultation on Career Development, NATCON Papers 2005 Les actes de la CONAT Hall T.M., Kasduson H.G., & Schaefer C.E., (2002)Fifteen Effective Play Therapy Techniques, American Psychological Association, 33(6), 515-522.  Institute for Integrative Psychotherapy, (2012), What is Integrative Psychotherapy? http://www.integrativetherapy.com/en/integrative-psychotherapy.php Najavitis, L., & Strupp, H. (1994). Differences in the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapists: A process-outcome study. Psychotherapy, 31, 114-123. Norcross, J. C., & Beutler, L. E. (2008). Integrative psychotherapies. In R. J. Corsini & D. Wedding, Current Psychotherapies (8th ed, pp. 481-511) Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.  Walmpold, B. E. (2001). The great psychotherapy debate – models, methods and findings. NJ: Mahwah Read More