Integrative Therapy: How It Works, Cost, & What to Expect

What Is Integrative Therapy?

Integrative therapy incorporates multiple schools of psychotherapy into one approach.¹ Other therapies are typically based on a single model, and therapists who work within the same model have similar goals and approaches. Integrative therapy, on the other hand, allows therapists to work in a more flexible manner, tailoring their goals and approach to each client.

Key Principles of Integrative Therapy

Integrated therapy is based on these four concepts:¹

1. There is no single theory that explains all human behavior: Integrative therapists may refer to more than one theory when they think about their clients and how their symptoms began.
2. Different approaches may work for different clients: People are unique by nature. What works for one person may not work for another.
3. The therapist should tailor their approach to the client: For therapy to be effective, therapists need to take into account their client’s specific problems and history and use this information to guide their approach.
4. The relationship between a client and therapist is an important component of successful therapy: The therapeutic relationship can be a powerful vehicle of change. Components of a positive therapeutic relationship include empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard.⁴

Why Does Integrated Therapy Work?

Integrated therapy pays particular attention to establishing a positive client/therapist relationship, and research shows that is important for successful treatment.^1,4 Additionally, because the therapy is tailored, it can help a variety of people with different disorders. Overall, it allows therapists to take a more flexible approach instead of one-size-fits-all.

Types of Integrative Therapy

Integrative therapy combines these three popular, widely used therapy approaches:²

• Psychodynamic therapy: Assumes that our unconscious mind can negatively affect us if we don’t understand it.³ The goal is to reveal unconscious thoughts and feelings. The relationship between the therapist and the client is also important for helping clients understand how they function in relationships outside of therapy.
• Humanistic therapy: Seeks to help people find meaning in life and reach their greatest potential. There are several types of humanistic therapies, like person-centered, gestalt, and existential.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Presumes that negative thoughts and beliefs affect our emotions and behaviors. This therapy focuses on changing negative thoughts and constructing more healthy ones.

When Is an Integrative Approach to Therapy Used?

Integrative therapy can help treat the following conditions:¹

• Depression
• Generalized and social anxiety
• Postpartum depression
• Personality disorders
• Dissociative identity disorder (DID)

Techniques Used in Integrative Therapy

Integrative therapy uses a mix of approaches and applies them in various ways. Different therapies are adapted and modified to work together to treat a wide number of concerns.

Here are some common techniques you might encounter during integrative therapy sessions:

Behavioral Strategies

CBT is an example of a behavioral therapy that can be used in conjunction with other therapies to address a range of issues. These types of behavioral strategies include utilizing positive reinforcement to help a client reach a goal or change a behavior, activity scheduling, and modeling positive behaviors.

Psychodynamic Strategies

Psychodynamic strategies can include psychoanalysis and gestalt therapy to learn more about how someone integrates their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. The free association model can be adapted with other strategies to identify patterns that someone may want to change.

Cognitive Strategies

Cognitive strategies can help to identify and address certain thought patterns. The goal of this is to improve the quality of the automatic thought. Cognitive restructuring is one example of a strategy used to help someone change their thoughts. Cognitive strategies are often used with behavioral strategies.

Benefits of Integrative Therapy

There are many benefits of integrative therapy due to the various strategies and approaches it utilizes, including:

• Individualization: This therapy is very patient-centered and can be modified based on what is going on for that individual. It is great for children and adults of any age, as well as families and groups.
• Flexibility: This therapy allows more freedom around the process of how therapy works. Since it uses many approaches, it allows for more flexibility and remains open for change as needed.
• Adaptability: This therapy is highly modifiable which makes it a great approach for a wide number of concerns.
• Holistic approach: This therapy helps people understand aspects of themselves in an integrated way, which feels more organic as everyone has a wide variety of needs.

Is Integrative Therapy Effective?

Many approaches to therapy are integrative in nature, meaning they combine more than one type of therapy. Studies on these types of therapy have found that they are effective at helping clients improve from a range of mental health concerns.

Here are some evidence and examples of integrative therapy:

• A study on integrative therapy and CBT for generalized anxiety disorder found that, while both types of therapy were effective, people who received integrative therapy improved more than those who received CBT.⁵
• An earlier study on generalized anxiety disorder found that integrative therapy helped improve anxiety symptoms for up to one year after treatment.⁶
• A pilot study compared an integrative form of cognitive therapy with traditional cognitive therapy for people with depression. The researchers found that people who received integrative cognitive therapy showed greater improvements and also rated their relationships with their therapists more highly.⁷
• Another study examined a type of integrative therapy called schema-focused emotive behavioral therapy (SET), which combines schema, emotion-focused, and cognitive behavioral therapies.⁸ The therapy was provided in a group setting with people diagnosed with different personality disorders. The researchers found that people who received SET showed greater improvements than those who received social skills training.

Criticisms of Integrative Therapy

Critics of integrative therapy posit that it lacks a clear and distinct theory and approach.⁹ They assume that integrative therapy means pulling from different theories without any clear rationale. However, integrative therapy involves knowledge of multiple theories and consideration of what techniques would be most helpful for a specific client.² Integrative therapists are purposeful and base their clinical decisions on what the research says is most effective.

How to Find an Integrative Therapist

There are several ways to go about finding a therapist. You can speak with your healthcare provider and request a referral, or you can contact the customer service phone number on your insurance card or website to gather a list of in-network providers. If you have a family member or friend who may know a good therapist, you can ask them for a recommendation.

An online therapist directory allows you to search for local providers who offer in-person or telehealth sessions. You can narrow down your search by various criteria, like cost per session and years of experience. This can help you find a therapist who matches your needs. You can even schedule a consultation online.

What to Look For in an Integrative Therapist

For therapy to be effective, it requires you to feel comfortable opening up and sharing your thoughts and feelings. Before starting the process of looking for an integrative therapist, make a list of what you would like to find. For example, you may prefer a therapist of a certain background or one who specializes in working with specific issues.

Come up with a list of questions to ask on the phone or during your first appointment. You will know that a therapist is right for you when you feel safe opening up and find yourself being both challenged and supported.

Cost of Integrative Counseling

The average cost of therapy is $100-$200 per session. The cost may be lower or higher depending on where you live, the type of provider, and their level of experience. Doctorate-level psychologists typically charge between $150-$200 per session while masters-level therapists, including social workers, mental health counselors, and marriage and family therapists, typically charge between $100-$150 per session.

Most mental health insurance plans will cover some or all of the costs of integrative therapy. If you are using health insurance, your financial responsibility will depend on your specific insurance plan.

What to Expect at Your First Appointment

The first appointment is typically referred to as an assessment because it’s an opportunity for the therapist to gather information about your past and present. For example, they may ask what led you to reach out or ask about your work, relationships, drug and alcohol use, and past treatments. Because they need to gather information, they may not have time to actually provide therapy during the first session.

To prepare for your first appointment, your therapist will likely ask you to complete some paperwork. They will ask some demographic questions and take down your insurance information. At the end of the first appointment, the therapist will most likely give you an opportunity to ask questions. You and the therapist will also have a chance to talk about your goals, how often you will meet, and how long it will take to achieve your goals.

Final Thoughts on Integrated Therapy

Instead of taking a “one-size-fits-all” approach, integrative therapists use more than one type of therapy to help their clients. Integrative therapists also focus on developing a positive therapeutic relationship where you feel comfortable opening up. If you feel that integrative therapy may be right for you, consider starting the process of finding a therapist today.