How do you choose the “right” type of therapy for you as a patient? Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, mindfulness, or talk therapy make the most sense for your situation and what you’re dealing with? There are so many approaches out there, it can feel like you need to know psychology just to pick a therapist.
Integrative counseling or integrative psychotherapy works by combining various therapeutic techniques tailored to the specific needs of patients, making it an effective approach for addressing a range of mental health conditions.
At Monmouth Integrative Counseling Services (MICS), we specialize in evidence-based integrative therapy—a flexible, personalized approach to mental health that blends multiple scientifically supported techniques to meet your unique needs. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, trauma, depression, or relationship stress, integrative counseling offers a tailored path forward.
Here’s what integrative therapy actually means, how it works, and why it might be the best fit for you or your loved ones.
What Is Integrative Psychotherapy?
Integrative therapy, also known as integrative counseling, is a therapeutic approach that draws on techniques from multiple psychological theories and schools of thought, including cognitive therapy and humanistic therapy. Rather than sticking to one rigid method, integrative therapists combine elements from different evidence-based models—such as CBT, EMDR, DBT, ACT, and more—to create a treatment plan that fits you.
It’s not about trying everything at once. It’s about using the right tools at the right time, based on your personality, history, symptoms, and goals.
Think of it like this: if traditional therapy is a single tool, integrative therapy is a toolbox. And every client deserves a therapist who knows which tool to use—and when.
Combining different therapeutic modalities to address complex mental health issues with integrative therapy is an effective treatment approach. Consider the findings from a study published in Frontiers in Psychology, which highlights that integrative psychotherapy approaches including Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Schema Therapy, and Cognitive Analytic Therapy are effective for various psychiatric disorders, including depression, social anxiety, and personality disorders.
Evidence-Based Treatments, Not Experimental
At MICS, our integrative approach is scientific and results-driven. We don’t deal in alternative medicine or untested methods. Every strategy we use is grounded in research and clinical evidence. Our evidence-based treatments are tailored to each client’s unique personality traits, preferences, and needs, ensuring a personalized and effective therapeutic experience.
Here are just a few modalities our licensed therapists draw from:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps you identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Used to process trauma and reduce emotional distress.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Builds emotional regulation and interpersonal skills—especially helpful for teens and those with intense emotional reactions.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Teaches mindfulness and helps you live in alignment with your values, even when facing painful thoughts or feelings.
- Mindfulness-Based Therapy: Encourages present-moment awareness to reduce anxiety and promote calm.
Each of these approaches has been studied and shown to help with a wide range of mental health concerns—from PTSD and grief to social anxiety and burnout.
Why Choose Integrative Therapy?
Here’s what makes integrative therapy especially powerful:
Integrative therapy allows us to adjust our approach based on what actually works for you. By utilizing a combined approach, we can draw from various techniques and strategies from different therapeutic models, tailoring our practices to meet your unique needs effectively. This flexibility ensures that the therapy process is as effective as possible for each individual.
Personalized Treatment
No two people are the same. Each particular client might respond better to structured strategies like CBT, while someone else may need trauma processing through EMDR. Integrative therapy allows us to adjust our approach based on what actually works for you.
Flexibility Over Time
Mental health needs evolve. An integrative therapist can shift techniques over the course of treatment—maybe starting with mindfulness and later incorporating skill-building from DBT. Therapy adapts as you grow.
Various techniques are employed in integrative therapy, allowing the therapist to tailor the approach to the unique needs and goals of the individual, whether in individual, family, or group settings.
Addresses Complex Issues
If you’re struggling with more than one issue—like anxiety and trauma, or depression and relationship stress—integrative therapy can address them all. It’s especially effective for clients dealing with overlapping challenges. Integrative therapy is also beneficial for different patients, as it adapts to the diverse issues faced by various individuals.
Whole-Person Focus
Integrative counseling doesn’t just aim to “fix” symptoms. It looks at the whole person—your emotions, behaviors, thought patterns, history, and relationships—to create deeper, lasting change. It also considers your spiritual beliefs, recognizing their importance in fostering a stronger therapeutic alliance and enhancing your mental well-being.
Who Is Integrative Therapy For? Insights from Integrative Therapists
This approach is ideal for:
- Adults managing anxiety, depression, or stress
- Teens struggling with school, friendships, or self-esteem
- Couples working through communication issues or trust problems
- Individuals healing from trauma, grief, or major life transitions
- Families navigating conflict or parenting challenges. Integrative therapy often includes family systems therapy, blending multiple methods to tailor treatment specifically to the client’s needs.
- Anyone who’s tried therapy before but didn’t feel like it “fit”
At Monmouth Integrative Counseling Services, we treat all of the above and more. With two convenient office locations—in Manasquan and Brick, NJ—plus telehealth sessions available statewide, we make mental health care accessible and effective for people across Monmouth County, Ocean County, and all of New Jersey.
How MICS Practices Integrative Counseling
We’re called Monmouth Integrative Counseling Services for a reason. Our team of licensed therapists brings diverse expertise to the table. Every client we see gets a personalized, evidence-based treatment plan created to reflect their unique needs and goals. We utilize specific techniques from various therapeutic approaches to ensure the most effective and tailored care.
Here’s what that might look like in practice:
- A working parent experiencing burnout might receive CBT to manage negative thought patterns, ACT to clarify values, and mindfulness techniques to reduce daily stress.
- A teen with social anxiety might benefit from DBT skills training, exposure therapy, and EMDR to process past bullying.
- A couple recovering from infidelity might explore communication exercises from emotionally focused therapy, along with individual CBT to address underlying self-esteem challenges.
Every step of the way, therapy is collaborative—you’re not just a passive participant. We listen, adapt, and refine the process to support your growth.
If you live in Monmouth or Ocean County, or anywhere in New Jersey, our team at Monmouth Integrative Counseling Services is here to support you with in-person or virtual therapy sessions that fit your life and schedule.
Call 732-231-5170 or Contact Us To schedule a consultation or learn more about Integrative Therapy
FAQ About Integrative Therapy
What is psychotherapy integration and how is it different from traditional therapy?
Psychotherapy integration is an approach to therapy that combines techniques and insights from multiple psychotherapeutic models—such as cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and gestalt therapy—to better meet each client’s individual needs. Unlike therapists who follow a single theoretical orientation, integrative psychotherapists use a primary approach supported by different techniques based on what works best for the client, backed by evidence-based practice.
How do mental health professionals practice integrative therapy effectively?
Mental health professionals who practice integrative therapy rely on both theoretical integration and technical eclecticism. This means they draw from multiple therapeutic approaches and combine specific therapeutic techniques like motivational interviewing or trauma-informed therapy based on the client’s diagnosis, goals, and preferences. Many therapists also follow the common factors model, which focuses on the quality of the therapeutic relationship, client engagement, and a collaborative approach to treatment.
What kind of issues can integrative therapy treat?
Integrative therapy has shown positive outcomes in treating a wide range of mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and complex trauma. Research, including randomized controlled trials, supports the effectiveness of integrating aspects of various perspectives—like psychological approaches and holistic therapy—to tailor treatment to individual needs. This flexibility makes it especially effective for clients with overlapping conditions or those who haven’t responded to a single-method approach.
Are there specific therapeutic techniques that contribute most to success in integrative therapy?
Yes. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, commonly used techniques include CBT, EMDR, motivational interviewing, and elements from psychodynamic therapy. Some therapists also incorporate expressive methods like music therapy where appropriate. According to the American Psychological Association, the ability to adapt and blend techniques based on client feedback and clinical judgment—what’s often called evidence-based responsiveness—is key to success.