Integrative therapists believe that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. Each client is an individual with a unique set of circumstances. An integrative therapist will provide a tailor-made approach to suit you, using a range of therapeutic models, rather than just one approach.
Working integratively, I use the person-centred approach (also known as Rogerian therapy), which offers acceptance, honesty and positivity to guide the client, the expert on their life, to achieve their goals. It provides a non-judgemental space for the client to explore areas of their life, with the therapist using questioning, reflective techniques, and affirming statements to support the client.
I also work with the psychodynamic approach when appropriate, which helps to bring the subconscious into the conscious mind. It helps to understand how feelings and behaviour are shaped by our past, impulses and urges. This approach can be particularly helpful when working with trauma and painful memories. Helping to access those deep-rooted feelings can often be the key to healing. If talking about these feelings is difficult, I can use a variety of creative methods to unlock those difficult feelings. The psychodynamic approach has its roots in Freud and psychoanalysis, but today the there is much more to the approach, and I always work in a warm, down-to-earth, and empathic way.
Your initial consultation will look at whether an integrative approach is right for you.