What is Integrative Psychotherapy?

I practice Integrative Psychotherapy: a unifying model which views human beings in a holistic manner, addressing the needs and concerns of each person on the emotional, behavioral, cognitive (mental) and physiological levels and incorporating the spiritual dimension of life.

Integrative psychotherapy is flexible and adapted to each client’s specific needs, in terms of goals, approach to treatment and duration.

My approach to integrative psychotherapy is grounded in the fundamental principles of Adlerian psychotherapy (also known as Individual Psychology) originally developed by Alfred Adler and further developed over the past century by esteemed theorists and clinicians into what is commonly referred to as “Contemporary Adlerian Psychotherapy”.

Integrative psychotherapy draws on different psychological theories to provide the therapist with different “lenses” to consider an individual client’s issues and concerns, and different treatment approaches to help facilitate change.

Primary theories and modalities that Tim has integrated into his personal approach to therapy:

• Attachment Theory examines our relationships with our primary caregiver(s) from birth through the first few years of life and how those early relationships shape patterns that affect our adult relationships.
• Narrative Therapy examines how our internalized narrative (“life story”) may be limiting our experiences and choices, and helps us “re-author” a newer, more fulfilling life story.
• Depth Psychology explores how unconscious factors and motivations may be contributing to “self-sabotage”– self-defeating behaviors that hurt us, or those we care about.
• Cognitive Therapy focuses on our belief systems and habitual patterns of thinking, and helps to shape healthier, more adaptive thinking.
• Family Systems Theory suggests that individuals cannot be fully understood in isolation but rather as part of a family unit which strongly influences how we experience the world.
• Existential Therapy explores timeless themes of humanity such as choice, responsibility, loneliness and death; and how we create our own personal meanings from the events in our lives.

Other theories and modalities which Tim integrates include:

• Emotional Intelligence (EI)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy (Harry Stack Sullivan)
• Psychosynthesis (Robert Assiagoli) / Multiplicity – Voice Dialogue & Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Clients or clinicians who are interested in more information about how these theories are integrated into psychotherapy are encouraged to contact me.