Integration in counselling psychology: To what purpose?

Abstract

Objectives and ConclusionsThis paper outlines a critical evaluation of the way in which integration in counselling psychology is presented, and within this two core arguments are laid out. Firstly, the evidence suggesting a move away from the traditional single theoretical approaches is examined, concluding that integration can be a useful means to an end for counselling psychologists. Secondly, it is argued that authors need to be clear about the methods of integration employed, in order to be explicit about the goal of their integration. This is demonstrated by outlining the way in which the end goal can either be integration culminating in new unified models of therapy, or may purely be improvement in outcomes with no reference to a new theoretical base. Furthermore, the methods of integration themselves imply an end goal of integration. That is to say, theoretical integration and assimilative integration suggest that the end goal of integration is the creation of a unified theory; whereas eclecticism, the common factors approach and a pluralistic approach all steer away from the end goal of integration being a unified model. Egan’s Skilled Helper Model (2010) is then critically assessed as an example of the clarity which is needed in the area of integration, concluding that there are implicit theoretical assumptions within the model which are not made clear by the author. From this, it is concluded that being explicit about the goal of one’s integration is important in order for the critical nature of counselling psychology to flourish.