Integrated Approach in Counselling Essay
Integrated Approach in Counselling Essay Introduction
Integrated counselling is the process of selecting aspects and approaches from a variety of systems. This integrated approach can be a creative synthesis of the varied contributions of different theoretical orientations, integrating components and concepts, which fit the uniqueness of a practitioner’s style.
Discussion
The integrated approach in counselling has several benefits. Because humans are integrated beings, the integrated approach uses focus on thinking, acting, and feeling (Lazar 2001). In involves effectiveness in the combination of affective, cognitive, and behavioural techniques. These combination helps the clients reflect upon their assumptions and beliefs. This integration builds a feeling of struggles and conflicts then translating insights to actions. Integrated approach also helps therapists to have varied approaches and strategies at their disposal for intervention. The therapist can assess the client’s issues thus choose techniques that are tailor-made to the client.
However, there are limitations and disadvantages to the integrative approach in counselling. The undisciplined eclectic approach can be used as an excuse for failing to put in place sound rationale for coherently adhering to specific concepts and other approaches, which are an extension of these concepts. In this essence, a counsellor may chose a method based on whims and the selection they chose may be a reflection of concepts of biases and preconceived ideas and biases. This builds a challenge of trap to counsellors in the emergence of a hodgepodge of unamalgamated theories, which are hastily thrown by counsellors. It is the greatest challenge of the approach that may be facing the counsellors.
Integrative approach in counselling does not give counsellors some aspect of selecting a primary approach and theory, which is closer to their beliefs. It does not draw many concepts that are related to the clients’ issues from other related theories.
Conclusion
The counsellors tend to stick and adhere to concepts of a primary theory, and this may not be applicable to the issues of all the clients. The approach therefore, creates the challenge of dynamism among the counsellors.
