This document discusses counseling approaches and the advantages of an integrated approach. It argues that no single approach is best and that an effective therapist should be able to apply different approaches based on each client's needs and preferences. The key advantages of an integrated approach are that it provides more options to help clients and allows the therapist to guide clients from different perspectives. However, an integrated approach also requires more training and practice to master multiple approaches. Common factors across different counseling approaches include building rapport with clients and focusing on clients striving for wholeness and self-actualization. The document also lists characteristics of successful therapists and factors that have moved the field toward preferring integrative eclectic approaches.

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M7A2: Counseling
Christopher Ruper
Argosy University

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Abstract
This paper is on the advantages and disadvantages of an integrated approach to psychology. It
will also cover the positive elements successful therapist’s posses. I will also reflect on my own
beliefs of being a good therapist, what approaches I would use, and how I would approach clients
effectively.

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Counseling
There is not one approach that is better than another. The best approach is one that a
therapist can use effectively to assist the client. Thompson said, “Essentially, no single theory
can account fully for the myriad of [phenomena] that characterize the full range and life span of
human experiences. Further, adhering to exclusive models of counseling and psychotherapy
could be perceived as limiting therapeutic options when working with clients,” (Seligman, 2006).
An effective therapist should learn all approaches and be able to apply them to the right client.
Clients can vary and may prefer one approach over another. It also depends on what the clients’
problems are. A therapist should utilize their own strengths and stick to approaches that they
know best; it would be more effective if a therapist used approaches that they know well. Using
approaches that therapists do not know well can be ineffective and the therapist-client alignment
might suffer. Clients are also very diverse and using a specific approach all the time will limit a
therapist’s effectiveness. A more integrative approach is far more effective because a therapist
can meet the demands of all their clients and build more rapport; by matching their approaches to
the clients’ preferences. “Theorists may use different terms for what may be the same function,”
(Argosy University, 2011).
The advantages of an integrative approach are the increased options to help clients and
make them feel more comfortable in therapy. It also allows therapists to guide clients and help
them view their lives from different perspectives. This will help clients better understand
themselves and their environment. Clients with multiple issues, which are common, many need
to look at each issue with a different approach. “Research has demonstrated that some treatment
approaches are more effective than others with particular problems, diagnoses, or types of
people,” (Seligman, 2006). Integrating approaches will allow a therapist to help their clients

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change perspectives and get a better understanding of themselves. Many clinicians use an
integrated approach in modern psychology. “They draw on a variety of theories and interventions
in developing a treatment plan that seems likely to help a given person. In fact, nearly 30% of
psychologists, 34% of social workers, and 37% of counselors describe their primary theoretical
orientation as eclectic or integrative,” (Seligman, 2006).
An integrative approach can also have disadvantages. It is more complicated for a
therapist to use different approaches and it requires a higher level of thinking. Therapy should be
smooth and effective to the client. A therapist should not stumble around trying to move between
approaches. This can make clients uncomfortable. It takes a lot more hours of training for a
person to master different therapy approaches.
There are some common themes that are found in every approach. “The fact that some
ideas are consistent across most of these theories means that there are some elements in
counseling that are absolutely essential for successful work with clients,” (Argosy University,
2011). One is building rapport, “One of the first things that comes to mind is the relationship
with clients,” (Argosy University, 2011). Another is, “Clients are striving toward wholeness or
integration,” (Argosy University, 2011). Another is, “Clients are striving toward self-
actualization,” (Argosy University, 2011). These two issues are common for clients in all
approaches. Therapists also need to be aware of their clients no matter what approach or
approaches they decide to use. “Therapists need to pay attention to the current behavior of their
clients to determine how the clients are contributing to the problem in the present. It is also
important for therapists to draw the clients’ attention to what is happening presently in the
sessions,” (Argosy University, 2011).

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There are common personal characteristics among successful therapists. According to
Cavanagh they are:
o Counselors know themselves well. This is because the skills that they apply to
know themselves are the same as the skills they apply to know their clients.
o Counselors are psychologically healthy. They ensure that their needs for security,
love, power, sex, and affirmation are met outside the counseling relationship.
o Counselors are trustworthy. They reflect reliability and dependability by being in
time for sessions and keeping their word to clients.
o Counselors are honest. They are transparent and genuine. They are able to give
feedback to clients in an honest and compassionate manner.
o Counselors have the courage to do what they think is most helpful in their
personal and professional lives.
o Counselors are kind, caring, and compassionate.
o Counselors are patient and reflect this by showing more interest in clients than in
the results of therapy.
o Counselors are sensitive and pick up on the subtle vulnerabilities in themselves as
well as their clients.
(Argosy University, 2011)
People have different motivations and characteristics. I think one can develop
characteristics to become a better therapist. Motivations are a little harder to change. As a person
I think I have most of the above characteristics. I have always listened to people and cared about
their problems. When I first got into psychology I was more concerned with getting results with

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clients. I have learned that showing interest in the client is more important than getting results. I
have learned to not give an opinion if someone is telling me about their problems unless I was
asked. Listening to them can be more important to the person. My motivations to being a
therapist are to do something I would enjoy learning about and doing for the rest of my life,
doing something ethical, feeling good about helping people, being a respected person in my
community, being able to work for myself, and gaining knowledge about people and life. The
hindrances I face are the lack of training I would need to be an effective therapist. I will still have
to get at least a masters degree and complete interning before I could be a therapist.
If I were a practicing therapist I would want to understand all approaches and how to
apply them. “Thompson’s points seem valid in light of the diversity of people seeking treatment
who vary according to many dimensions including culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation,
intelligence, abilities, interpersonal skills, life experiences, self-awareness, support systems, and
symptoms,” (Seligman, 2006). I would want to be able to use all approaches effectively to treat a
diverse group of clients. By understanding my clients’ preferences I could pick the approach or
approaches that would better fit my clients’ needs. I want my clients to feel comfortable with me
so they give me useful information. Approaching a client in a way that they would want can
effectively accomplish this. Another advantage to using all the approaches strategically would be
helping my clients gain a better understanding of themselves and situation. I believe that viewing
problems from different angles can help a person better understand it. It can also help clients’ in
mastering their psychological issues.
I do not think I would throw all the strategies into one basket and use them all at the same
time; such as asking different questions to the same thing. I think having different therapy
sessions with different approach is better; using cognitive therapy one session and behavioral the

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next session. I would try to use them all in the first part of a client’s therapy and see which one
they liked best. This would help strengthen our alliance and make for happier clients. Even
clinicians who specialize still use an integrative approach. “Even clinicians who adhere to one
theoretical orientation commonly incorporate into their work interventions from other treatment
approaches,” (Seligman, 2006). This is the right philosophy to have as a therapist.
The following 12 factors have combined during the past 20–25 years to move
clinicians in the direction of preferring integrative and eclectic approaches over
adherence to one specific treatment system (Prochaska & Norcross, 2003):
1. The large and growing number of approaches to treatment; more than 400
treatment systems have been identified
2. The increasing diversity and complexity of clients and their concerns
3. The inability of any one treatment system to successfully address all clients and
all problems
4. The growing importance of solution-focused brief approaches that encourage
clinicians to draw on and combine interventions from various systems of therapy
to find the most effective and efficient strategy for each treatment situation
5. The availability of training opportunities, as well as case studies and other
informative literature, that give clinicians the opportunity to study, observe, and
gain experience in a wide variety of treatment approaches
6. The requirement of some state and national credentialing bodies that clinicians
obtain postgraduate continuing education units; this encourages continued
professional growth and development of new skills and ideas

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7. Increasing pressure from managed care organizations, governmental agencies,
consumers, and others for clinicians to determine the most effective and efficient
treatment approach for each client, to plan and document their work, and to
maintain accountability
8. The growing body of compelling research demonstrating which treatment
approaches are most likely to be successful in the treatment of particular people,
disorders, or problems (Seligman, 1998)
9. The increasing availability of manuals, providing detailed and empirically
validated treatment plans for specific mental disorders
10. The development of organizations such as the Society for the Exploration of
Psychotherapy Integration that focus on studying and promoting treatment
integration
11. The emergence of models providing blueprints or guidelines for logical and
therapeutically sound integration of treatment approaches
12. Clinicians’ increasing awareness that common factors among treatment
approaches, such as the nature of the therapeutic alliance, are at least as important
in determining treatment success as are specific strategies
(Seligman, 2006)

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References
Argosy University (2011). Counseling Theories. Retrieved on April 19, 2011 from
http://www.myclassonline.com.
Seligman, L. (2006). Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy: Systems, Strategies, and Skills.
(2nd ed.). Retrieved on April 19, 2011 from http://www.myclassonline.com.

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