Integrative Counselling Theory: Comparing Person-Centered and CBT

This essay provides an in-depth exploration of integrative counselling theory, a combined approach to psychotherapy that utilizes various therapeutic elements. The essay begins by introducing integrative counselling and its aim to promote mental, physical, and emotional health through healing and improved functional levels. It then delves into theoretical perspectives, focusing on how person-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be used to understand the origin of clients' problems. The essay discusses the principles of each theory, highlighting their strengths in identifying the root causes of issues and facilitating positive change. Furthermore, it examines how these theories are engaged in the counselling process, emphasizing their contributions to addressing client behavior, emotions, and past experiences. The essay also compares and contrasts the two theories, evaluating their strengths and limitations, and ultimately, how they can be aligned to provide effective psychological treatment and improve the overall well-being of the client.

RUNNING HEAD: INTEGRATIVE COUNSELLING THEORY 0
Integrative counselling theory
Student’s Details-

INTEGRATIVE COUNSELLING THEORY 1
Introduction
Integrative Counselling brings together several elements of specific therapies while
treating the patients as there are certain elements which can be explored and understood (Spalek
& Spalek, 2019). This is regarded as a combined approach for psychotherapy which is based on
the assumption that there is no single way or approach for dealing with the patients. The aim of
the integrative counselling is to promote the health through the healing of wholeness of the
individual through improving the functional levels which are mental, physical and emotional
(Urbanaviciute, Bühlmann, & Rossier, 2019). The discussion is made on the theoretical
perspectives which are used for the understanding of the client’s origin problem. The selected
theories of counselling are person-centered and the cognitive behavior therapy which are to be
used for the process of counselling and ensuring the mental well-being of the client. Also, the
discussion is also made with respect to the comparison of the two theories by understanding the
strengths and limitations of the theories and the ways by which these theories can be aligned in
the psychological treatment of the client.
Understanding Origin of Problems through Theoretical
Perspectives
It is important for the psychologists to understand the problem of origin for the
understanding of experiences which affect the current behavior of the people which is the basis
of treatment of the client by using a specific approach. A successful counselling practice also
requires the higher dependency on the assumptions and principles which are the basis of treating
the patient with the appropriate counselling practice. In the light of theoretical perspectives
person-centered theoretical approach can be used for the identification of the point of origin of
problem of the client (Fan, Moen, Kelly, Hammer, & Berkman, 2019). Further, the required
change can be brought up by the identification of the problem which states the past experiences
of the client can be the root of the client’s problem that can certainly be solved through the
positive change. Moreover, cognitive behavioral therapy can be used by psychologists along with
the combined approach with person centered practice which can recognize the root of the
problem.

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Person centered approach is used as the non-authoritative counselling approach which is
based on the empathetic behavior of therapists which is to be used during the therapeutic process.
Therapists acts as a compassionate listener and acknowledges the client’s experience without any
judgement. This theoretical practice can be used for the identification of the root of the problem
of the client for bringing a positive change (Talley & Jones, 2019). This theory is based on the
assumption that there should be psychological contact between the patient and the therapists
which can be helpful for the identification of the origin of the problem. According to this theory,
psychologists create the relationship with the client so that client is able to express the views,
thoughts, feelings and share the experiences without being judged. This can facilitate in the
identification of the origin of problem (Swan & Ceballos, 2020).
Further the principle of person-centered approach of counselling states that the therapists
must be empathetic to the feelings of the client and make an involvement with the client on the
emotional level. Also, the principle also implies with the attentive listening and making the client
engaged at an emotional level which provide an opportunity to share the painful experiences and
problems without any fear (Malec, 2019). These principles of person-centered approach can be
helpful in the recognition of root of the problem which can be helpful in making the counselling
practice efficient and promoting the better wellbeing of the client.
Apart from this, cognitive behavioral therapy is used as a theoretical perspective for the
determination of the problem of the client for bringing a behavioral change. Cognitive behavioral
therapy is based on solving of the major behavioral and emotional problems. The main idea
behind the cognitive behavioral therapy is that the individual’s thinking and behavior is based on
the emotions (Hope, Heimberg, & Turk, 2019). The basis assumption states that the negative and
unrealistic thoughts can lead to the problems and the psychological condition of the client. The
main origin of the problem can be identified through relying on this therapy. The counsellors can
use this therapy for the determining the client’s problem by understanding the emotions and
making the aware of the root of the problem through emphasizing upon the negative experiences.
Also, cognitive behavioral therapy can be helpful in making the client differentiate between the
reality and the distorted thinking which can be helpful in the recognition of origin of the
problems.

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There are principles of cognitive behaviors therapy which define that the therapist must
be aware of the emotions and the thinking perspectives of the client as these are the basis of the
client’s action for the behavioral change. In the light of the theoretical perspectives for the
identification of the origin of the problem, the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy can be
helpful in making the analysis of the irrational thoughts and beliefs of the client which can be
helpful in the locating of the problem and changing the cognitive thinking which can be
beneficial for the client to change the thinking pattern and attain the positive thinking perspective
which is the basis of changing the client’s behavior (Terpstra, et al., 2018). Moreover, this theory
defines the root of the problem is the negative thoughts and negative interpretation which shapes
the behaviors of the individual which later becomes the problem.
Engagement of Theory in Process of Counselling
By critically analyzing counselling theories of person centered and the cognitive behavior
therapy, it can be noted that these theories can make a significant contribution in the process of
counselling. These theories can be integrated through the integrative counselling practice which
can be helpful in the identification of the client’s problem by focusing on the behavior, emotions
and the past experiences and make a significant contribution in changing the thinking
perspectives and also excessing empathy for the recognition of the client’s behavioral problems
and stepping for a change (Spalek & Spalek, 2019). However, engaging with these theories can
be helpful in the meeting up of the higher wellbeing of the client through the using up of the
integrative approaches.
Person-centered theory can be helpful in the process of counselling as this provides the
opportunity for the counsellor to treat the client with own perspective by drawing attention upon
the individual experiences. Moreover, counsellor values the attitude and perception of the client
in all aspects of humanity under this approach (Rowe , 2017). Counsellor plays a vital role in the
understanding of the client’s feelings and makes efforts for correcting the inner values and a
sense of self-worth which can help the client to build self-esteem and connect with the client to
build the self-confidence for fighting with the sufferings of life and make progress towards the
attainment of the improved health outcomes. However, engagement of therapy is significant as it
defines the ways by which one can determine the potential through the self-actualization which

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facilitates the client’s personal growth and realize own strengths through providing vital support
and confidence.
Person centered approach can be engaged with the process of counselling in which the
counsellor is highly empathetic which states that the counsellor has a clear understanding of the
client’s point of view. Counsellor not only acknowledges the opinions but also respects the
opinion which helps the client to express without fear (Wu, et al., 2017). Moreover, counsellor
needs to build the psychological environment through the building up of the congruence which
means that the therapists is highly genuine in giving any suggestion and guidance which can later
help the clients in the fulfilment of the personal potentials. However, person centered approach
can be significantly be used for coping with the personal issues of the client. Also, the approach
is based on the self-actualization and personal growth of the client which is cultivated by the
building up of the supporting environment which can help the client in the exploring of own
identity (Geisinger, Dragan, & Alexander, 2018).
Cognitive behavioral therapy is crucial in the process of counselling as it provides an
opportunity for the counsellor to determine the emotional condition and values of the clients and
transform their thinking by bringing a positive change in the behavioral patterns. Moreover, this
therapy is often regarded as the problem-solving approach in the process of counselling (Roemer,
Arbid, Martinez, & Orsillo, 2017). This significantly aims to transform the thinking patterns and
making the client think and act in a positive way. However, theory is also engaged in the process
of counselling as it certainly helps the client to revamp the ideas and the significant contributions
in the changing of the values and beliefs which can change the way people behave and feel.
Further, cognitive behavioral therapy can be used for the counselling for the solving up of
emotional problems of the client and also involves the building up of the strategies which can be
helpful in overcoming them. Moreover, the aim of the cognitive behavioral therapy is to examine
and automate the negative thoughts and feelings which can lead to the capacity of the client to
deal with the emotional difficulties and the depression and anxiety. This seeks to eliminate the
problematic behavior and the experiences which can lead to the better relationships of the clients
with the family and friends (Delgadillo & Gonzalez Salas Duhne, 2020). However, theory is
engaged in the process of counselling through the cultivation of the actual behaviors wherein the

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role of the counsellor is to make the client lean the practical skills and make an effective
interaction with the real-world situations.
Comparing and Contrasting Two Theory
The chosen theories can lead to the better treatment of the client in an integrative way.
Also, this leads to the creation of a better life through the reflecting upon the past experiences
and also determination of the thoughts which has led to the suffering. Both the theories person
centered and the cognitive behavior theory have strengths and limitations as well. By making
comparison of the strengths of both of the theories, this can be analyzed that person-centered
approach has the benefit of improving the wellbeing of the client by looking into the paste
experiences as they are the basis of problem of the client (Kittelson, Hoogeboom, Schenkman,
Stevens-Lapsley, & van Meeteren, 2020). Also, this can be helpful in the building up of the
better relationship with the client. This also allows the client to make the interaction in a proper
way through the free discussion of the ideas and also the feelings which can improve the quality
of the outcomes. This therapy can improve the quality of the life in the patients through being
transparent and showing empathy through the careful understanding of the feelings and
developing a spirit in the client overcome the painful experiences of the past.
By making comparison with the cognitive behavioral theory, it has the strength of
improving the health outcome through the understanding of the emotions and feelings of the
client by working upon the removal of the negative feelings and bringing a positive change. This
therapy can be used to treat the patient with the mental illness as it helps in coping with the
disorder through the development of new thinking perspectives and making approach for heading
in the future challenges. Also, the strength of this theory also state that the theory is highly
helpful in the management of emotions and makes the relationships better through the learning of
better ways of communication (Almeida, Beer, Lautenschlager, & Arnolda, 2012). Further, this
theory can be helpful in the treatment of the psychological disorders through developing a new
pattern of thinking and making efforts for the management of the emotions. This can be the
effective treatment for managing with the feelings and emotions.
Besides, through looking into the limitations of both of the theories, it can be noted that
cognitive behavioral theory can be disadvantageous when the client is unable to manage the

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emotions. Also, due to the lack of understanding of the emotions and feelings of the client the
entire treatment can be impacted as there is difficulty in the understanding of one’s emotions and
also this can have direct the wellbeing of the client (Kalyuga & Singh, 2016). This is also a
narrow scope as one has to deal with the thinking which is human thinking and cannot be
addressed easily. This allows the individual to focus on the narrow areas which often is a
limitation. There are various ethical issues which are associated with this theory as the theory
majorly focus upon changing the beliefs and the values. This seems to have an impact on the
values which becomes an ethical issue for the entire process of the counselling.
Making comparison with the person-centered theory, limitations include the disagreement
of the client in terms of expression of feelings as psychologists cannot force the client to make
the expression of the views. Also, the therapist cannot force the client to act in a certain way and
cannot force to produce the positive results. Also, this can also lead to lack of interactive
communication in which the personal growth of the client can be hampered (Bosworth, et al.,
2017). Moreover, the limitations can also be seen in the case of the therapists makes the actions
against the principle and judges the client which can often frustrate the client. This can happen
due to lack of professionalism of the counselor which is drawback of the theory.
Conclusion
Conclusively, integrative counselling is a counseling practice which is used as the
combined approach through integrating the elements of the different theoretical perspective for
the better treatment of the client. Besides, this can also help in making the counselling practice
efficient. The discussion has been made on the combined theoretical approaches which are
cognitive behavioral theory and the person-centered approach. Besides, there is vital engagement
of the theory with the process of counselling in which there can be certain areas which are
crucial for the identification of the feelings and emotions of the client and dealing with them
effectively. Lastly, regardless of the limitations, both the approaches can be combined to
improve the health outcomes.

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