An Integrated Approach
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Working integratively allows me to offer bespoke treatment, individualised to your needs and wishes, rooted both in solid, evidence-based treatments AND the latest developments in the fields of neuroscience and psychology.
CBT and EMDR are NICE- recommended, NHS approved evidence-based approaches. That means that robust research has been conducted to show that they are effective for more than half of people who took part in the trials, the same recovery target that antidepressant medication must reach to then move into the realm of NHS prescriptions. Some approaches lend themselves to this kind of research and CBT is one of those- identifying and regularly measuring symptoms and having tangible, behavioural goals makes it easier for researchers to test its efficacy. However, a randomised, controlled trial is testing whether a protocol is effective generally. This misses all the individual nuances that make us unique, and ignores the potential for the therapist to use their clinical experience and innate intuition to tailor the approach to an individual.
What research does tell us is that the quality of the relationship between therapist and client and the factors going on outside the therapy room in the client’s personal life are the two most significant contributors to outcome, rather than the therapeutic model used.
A further limitation of evidence based approaches is that it falls behind the cutting edge of research and development- i.e. it takes quite a bit of time to accrue enough research for something to be evidence based, usually at least 10 years, so by working integratively we also have the opportunity to incorporate newer developments in the fields of neuroscience, trauma and psychotherapy.
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Whatever we are using in our sessions, we are using it collaboratively and in a very open, explicit and informed way. If you would like pure CBT or pure EMDR, I’m happy to offer that. There may also be times when I suggest one of those models in a pure form- if it seems like that would be the best fit for what you are looking for.
Working integratively, we would firstly focus on creating a strong therapeutic relationship to explore your experiences and seek to work together to create a shared understanding. This will draw on CBT but also on neuroscience, brain development and attachment theory and potentially other approaches like Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
We are able to consider body and mind more holistically, paying attention to the autonomic nervous system which is so intimately related to our experiences of distress and anxiety (this includes drawing upon polyvagal theory and ideas from evolutionary psychology). We may simply understand the connections together or we may decide to incorporate work in this area directly.
We will create a shared understanding and agree what we will focus on. This may involve CBT and some tasks between sessions, or change may be more focussed on what we do within our sessions, as is the case with EMDR. We may simply agree to an initial couple of sessions as an opportunity to create a space for you to talk things through without fear of judgement and find that is enough.
Humans and animals have an amazing innate ability to heal, both physical wounds and mental wounds. In therapy we are just trying to facilitate that natural process. Creating a safe space may be enough or there may be something blocking that process that we can focus on together, which is where CBT, EMDR and other approaches can be helpful.
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Please contact me if there's something you'd like to ask, I'd really like to hear from you.
Or, book your free initial consultation for a chance to meet one another and talk things through.
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