What Is an Integrative Therapist and Why Should I Work With One?

If you’ve been searching for a therapist, you might have come across some alphabet soup: ACT, DBT, CBT, there are a million different approaches to psychotherapy right now and more emerging every day. As you might imagine, many therapists generally offer one type of approach. A CBT therapist does CBT therapy. A DBT therapist does DBT therapy. They may have awareness of other methods, but they may rarely, if ever, deviate from their own school.

In contrast, an integrative therapist is a therapist who has knowledge about a wide variety of therapeutic approaches.

What Theories and Techniques Might an Integrative Therapist Draw From?

An integrative therapist is trained in several different modalities. While specific methods are likely to vary considerably, below are a few of the major schools of thought that commonly work their way into any integrative therapist’s practice.

ACT: Acceptance and Commitment therapy

This type of therapy has to do with defining your values (honesty, creativity, family, etc.) and adjusting your life to be more aligned with the things that you find to be really meaningful and important. ACT also relies heavily on mindfulness and the ability to remain in the present moment.

CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This school of thought holds that psychological concerns are a result of maladaptive thinking, and helps people to adjust the way in which they see the world. Some examples of thinking patterns a CBT therapist might help you with include all or nothing thinking, catastrophizing and emotional reasoning. This type of therapy also emphasizes homework between sessions.

DBT: Dialectic Behavioral Therapy

DBT therapists focus on a balance between accepting clients as they are and encouraging them to change. DBT-informed therapy focuses primarily on this aspect of DBT. DBT also offers a specific curriculum of tools to learn such as mindfulness, interpersonal skills, distress tolerance skills and emotional regulation skills. A full DBT program also includes access to a therapist between sessions.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Psychodynamic psychotherapists believe that a person’s current behavior is often influenced by their past. They work to help clients to understand the patterns that emerge for them and where they come from, and then to use that awareness to try new ways of being.

Somatic Psychotherapy

Somatic therapists believe that the connection between the mind and the body is an important part of healing. They help people to feel more at home in their bodies and connected to their emotional experiences. Some forms of somatic psychotherapy include somatic experiencing and sensorimotor psychotherapy.

How Does an Integrative Psychotherapist Decide Which Approaches to Use?

The specific methods a therapist uses will be based upon several factors, including:

Training and education
Personal/professional preference
Research and literature for particular patient population
Client preferences
Client learning style
Client’s diagnosis or problem
Past efficacy of modality success for client

So, Do Specializations Matter for a Psychotherapist?

If working with an integrative therapist is the way to go, do specializations matter at all? Yes, actually they still do. What is more important than the particular school of thought that a therapist endorses is expertise and familiarity with your particular problem. This is particularly true for problem areas that are treated by a very particular skill set such as OCD, eating disorders, trauma, and substance use disorders. Research also shows that even more important than these specializations, though, is the relationship that you are able to form with a therapist.

Final Thoughts

Working with an integrative therapist can offer flexibility, personalization, and a wider range of tools to support your healing process. While training and specialization are important, the most crucial factor in therapy is often the strength of the therapeutic relationship itself. If you’re looking for a therapist who can tailor treatment to your unique needs while drawing from multiple evidence-based approaches, an integrative therapist may be the right fit for you. You can search for some near you by visiting PschyologyToday.com.

Reach Out

If you’re considering professional support, we’re here to help. Please reach out to schedule a free, no-commitment consultation. There’s no fee and no obligation—just click the button below to get started.

You can also call or text us at 202-656-3681, or email us directly. Give yourself the opportunity for the support you deserve.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Should I Work With an Integrative Therapist?