My journey through psychotherapy integration by twists and turns

Abstract

In this article, I describe my evolving engagement with the field of psychotherapy integration over a period of 40 years. It started with a consideration of the limits of integration based on the very different perspectives on, and visions of, reality in three major forms of therapy-psychoanalytic, behavioral, and humanistic. My journey took a turn toward an integrative position as I noted how behavioral and psychodynamic outlooks began moving closer together. This led to my formulating the concept of assimilative integration, in which techniques or perspectives from other therapies are incorporated into a "home" therapy. It is related to the philosophical positions of contextualism and pluralism as advocated by John Stuart Mill. I then apply the four visions of reality-tragic, comic, romantic, and ironic-to a case, showing how they can be utilized clinically and integratively. Finally, I address how new ways of conducting and presenting case studies can foster the integration of research and practice, which is an important part of the mission of the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration.