What is Integrative Therapy?
Therapy provides a regular time and space for people to talk about their troubles and explore difficult feelings, in an environment that is safe, confidential and free from intrusion.
It is about helping you to explore what is going on and to make sense of your confusion so that you can help yourself reach your own decisions and outcomes.
It is not giving advice or telling someone what to do, or offering friendship. A therapist will respect your viewpoint while helping you to deal with specific problems, cope with crises, improve your relationships or develop better ways of living. It can sometimes take a few sessions to feel comfortable and at ease with your therapist. Some individuals can feel nervous the first time they come to therapy, and this is perfectly natural.
Integrative therapy is a combined approach to psychotherapy that brings together different elements of specific therapies.
As an integrative therapist, I take the view that there is no single approach that can treat each client in all situations. Each person needs to be considered as a whole, and counselling techniques must be tailored to their individual needs and personal circumstances.
I believe that there are many ways in which human psychology can be explored and understood – no one theory holds the answer. All theories have value, even if their foundational principles contradict each other – hence the need to integrate them.
Essentially, as an integrative therapist, I am not only concerned with what works, but why it works – tailoring therapy to each client and not the client to the therapy.
Where does the therapy take place?
Sessions take place online via Zoho.
I invite you to consider the following things:
- Where will you be when counselling is in place? Do you have a private space at home where you will not be disturbed?
- What would you like to do if a disturbance (such as someone coming to the door) happens?
- Who else will be home when you are having counselling?
- If you are having counselling whilst in a room normally used for other uses, would it be useful to develop a post-counselling habit to help you step back into the ‘normal’ use of the room? (This could be as simple as making a drink or briefly opening a window)
- Is your technology up to handling online sessions?
What happens at a session?
Therapy sessions usually take place once a week. Making this commitment gives you a better chance of getting to the heart of your difficulties.
The process will start with a call. I offer a free initial call lasting around 30 minutes to let us talk to each other and discuss why you are seeking counselling. Together, we will decide if therapy with me is right for you at this time.
If you decide to go ahead, we will book another session. Sessions are led by you; it is your space to explore.
There is no limit to the number of sessions that you may have; however, I do periodically book review sessions with clients to ensure that it is still beneficial for you.
What does it cost?
Please see my What does Counselling/Therapy cost page for this information
Do you use AI/LLMs?
Zoho does have AI features that can be used; however, I do not use them. No part of our sessions will be recorded for use by AI. I do not use LLMs to make my notes or any supporting worksheets that I may share. I cannot confirm that any images used in worksheets or other resources are not created by AI, as I use commercially free-to-use images, and I avoid AI-produced images as far as I am able.
I don’t recommend the use of AI between sessions; however also respect a client’s autonomy in the choices they make for themselves. The NCPS has set out six clear principles for safe AI use in mental health: AI interventions must be:
- Time-bound
- Supportive not directive
- Adjunctive to therapy (not a replacement)
- Transparent about their limits
- User-autonomous
- Safeguarded with clear escalation to human help.
More information on the what the NCPS has published about the use of AI in therapy can be found at the following links:
AI in Counselling and Psychotherapy
Principles for Relational Safeguards in AI Mental Health Tools