Integrative Counselling Approach
The Integrative counselling approach involves a “blending” of theories and practices and was born out of the necessity to meet the complexity of the human nature.
In clinical practice, an Integrative counsellor considers the similarities and the differences between the relevant modalities when developing an Integrative approach. According to the relevant literature this integration may take many different forms.
As an Integrative counsellor I have chosen to work within the Humanistic- Existential modalities as I strongly believe on their common basis regarding their view on human nature and personal development and change. In my practice I use the Rogerian Person-Centred approach, the Existential approach and Berne’s Transactional Analysis (TA).
The Humanistic – Existential tradition views people in an essentially positive way and stresses the personal agency of people, their capacity to be creative and self-determining and their ability to achieve self-fulfillment given favourable circumstances.
In practice, clients are active agents of change and are responsible for their own progress in counselling/therapy. The therapeutic relationship is of paramount importance in achieving therapeutic progress. The work is focused on the here and now while the past is examined in terms of how it influences the present functioning. The counsellor is genuine, accepting and understanding of the client. In a facilitating and empathetic context the client feels safe to explore and discover the answers for him or herself.
The ultimum aim of the counselling process is personal growth, greater self-reliance and autonomy, spontaneity, and the ability to foster a positive relationship with one self and others without fear of intimacy.