Pros And Cons Of An Eclectic Approach To Therapy
If you're considering therapy or are searching for a new therapist, there are many approaches to choose from, including eclectic therapy. Eclectic therapy has various strengths and weaknesses, and its effectiveness may depend on your preferences. Learning about integrative approaches before utilizing them may help you know what to expect when you meet with your therapist.
The eclectic approach to therapy
This approach may involve using various theories of psychology and types of therapy, specialized to a particular client and their circumstances. It is an integrative approach that aims to create a person-centered therapy plan.
Instead of focusing on one treatment approach, eclecticism is a type of multi modal therapy that adheres to several theories and ideas. While other modes of therapy like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive interpersonal therapy (IPT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are popular, they might be combined or used alongside an integrative approach when it offers advantages to the client or therapist.
The eclectic approach vs. the specialty approach
In the past, each psychologist may have stuck to one school of psychotherapy. Everyone following that school often used the same theories, techniques, and style of therapy. Today, there are therapists who practice one type of therapy above others, often referred to as the specialty approach.
In addition, many therapists practice this approach while being specialists in one type of therapy. Specialty therapists may provide a specific focus, like dialectical behavioral therapy, but use other techniques to provide tailored support to their clients in certain situations. These therapists might still be considered eclectic therapists because they’re practicing multi-modal or integrative counseling techniques. However, they’d likely identify as specialized therapists instead of integrative therapists, especially since the techniques are often used on a short-term basis.
Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy (BEP) is a type of short-term eclectic therapy specifically for people living with PTSD. However, brief eclectic therapy has a specific approach and number of sessions, unlike the standard eclectic, multi-modal approach.
Advantages of the eclectic approach
Below are a few potential advantages of this approach.
Personalized Therapy Tailored To Your Needs
With eclectic therapy, your therapist may do the trial and error approach and offer suggestions to find the type of therapy or combination of types that you find most compelling. An eclectic therapist may consider how each therapy might target specific symptoms, thought patterns, or behaviors. They can start by choosing the type, style, and techniques and may take notes on their effectiveness over time. They may switch the style to ensure effectiveness if it isn't working.
Different methods for different concerns
An eclectic therapy approach may allow clients to practice various forms of therapy for different needs or symptoms. For example, suppose you want to address symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) but also experience generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). In that case, the therapist might use a desensitization technique like exposure and response prevention (ERP) to treat the OCD and a mindfulness-based CBT to target anxiety symptoms.
Using a different approach with cognitive behavioral therapy
An eclectic therapist can also use different therapies to target one concern from various angles. If you're experiencing anxiety, they might teach you relaxation techniques, art counseling, exposure therapy, or the 'empty chair' technique to help you express your feelings about the situation. They might also use CBT to help you restructure your thoughts and change behaviors within your relationships.
Increasing engagement
You may find that utilizing one therapy method seems repetitive after some time. This approach can increase engagement by teaching clients a new skill or idea each session and ensuring sessions evolve over time. Additionally, if a client's symptoms or concerns change, the method can also change.
Disadvantages of an eclectic approach to therapy
Eclectic therapy might not be the most effective choice for every client. Some clients may be looking for a specialized form of treatment for their symptoms, studied explicitly for one type of mental health condition. For example, many clients seek support through specialized programs like EMDR therapy for trauma or ERP for OCD. If a therapist changes the approach in the middle of an EMDR session, it might distract from the purpose of the therapy, which is a structured approach.
If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.
A highly skilled therapist is required
Eclectic therapy often requires a well-trained therapist with training and schooling in multiple techniques and various areas of counseling. They may attend several courses, classes, or additional education units. If a therapist is not educated in more than one type of therapy, using various methods in a trial-and-error project could potentially confuse the client. They might not use person-centered techniques but try various forms of therapy to see what works.
Potentially confusing
When an eclectic therapist moves quickly from one type of therapy to another, you might feel confused about their approach. A skilled therapist may eliminate that confusion by explaining an approach, and leaving room for questions.
Specialized therapy may be more effective for certain concerns
Depending on your reasons for seeking therapy, a specialty approach may be most effective. For example, suppose you are experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder and have signed up for a DBT class. In that case, you may feel that you are not receiving the support you signed up for if your therapist suddenly switches.
What if I am beginning therapy for the first time?
If you're new to therapy and want to know more about it, spend time researching the therapists you're considering. You can also consider having a consultation to discuss your questions about it. Many therapists offer an intake interview or session to get to know their clients and explain their methods.
If you search for a therapist using a search engine online, consider checking their website and review page to see how they've helped previous clients. They might also list their specialties and the types of conditions, symptoms, or situations they often work with.
What if I’m not satisfied with my current therapist’s approach?
If you think an eclectic therapy approach or different type of specialized therapy would suit you better, consider letting your therapist know. Although a therapist might personalize your treatment plan to what they believe works best for your symptoms, everyone is different.
If your therapist's methods are not working and they cannot offer an eclectic therapy approach, you might also consider finding a new provider specializing in integrative therapy. This approach may allow you to feel comfortable, in control, and respected by your therapist.
Mental health activities to try alongside therapy
In addition to therapy, you may be able to support yourself and improve your mental health at home with the following techniques.
Journaling
Journaling is a cost-effective and creative method for expressing your feelings. When you write down thoughts, ideas, and emotions, you may gain a more profound understanding of the topics you discuss in sessions. This can help you build a better therapeutic relationship with your therapist.
Exercise
30 minutes of exercise a day may simultaneously benefit your mental and physical health. Exercise releases neurotransmitters that can provide positive sensations and feelings and keep you healthy and may help with stress management.
Meditation
Meditation can help you connect with your thoughts and emotions and may help you come to conclusions about your treatment. Additionally, studies have found that meditation can increase self-compassion and physical health.
How to find an eclectic therapist
Finding an eclectic therapist that practices an integrated approach can be challenging. In addition, many clients face barriers to treatment, like distance, cost, lack of support system, or scheduling conflicts. If you struggle to find an integrative therapist in your area, consider online eclectic therapy.
Online therapy can offer a personalized avenue for support. You can receive journaling prompts, worksheets, and webinar links from your therapist and practice various forms of talk therapy through phone, video, or live chat sessions. In one University of Zurich study, 96% of online therapy clients reviewed their interactions with their therapist as "personal," as opposed to only 91% of clients utilizing in-person therapy. You can also find specialists in many forms of treatment online.
Personalized mental health support through online therapy
If you're interested in trying an online eclectic therapy approach, you can sign up with a platform like BetterHelp to get matched with one of 30,000 counselors, with many specializing in various forms of therapy and multiple mental health concerns.
Takeaway
There can be various advantages and disadvantages to eclectic therapy, depending on your needs and reason for attending sessions. Sessions can be personalized and unique for each client. If you're ready to learn more about this it, consider contacting a counselor for further guidance and resources.
Which method of therapy is most eclectic?
An eclectic therapy is based on a combination of theories or approaches that, when used together, become more effective in certain circumstances than when the underlying approaches are used alone. Many popular therapies integrate concepts from cognitive and behavioral theories. Cognitive therapy asserts that emotional and behavioral concerns are largely the result of distorted thought processes, whereas behavioral therapy relies on the principles of behaviorism, such as operant and classical conditioning, to modify ineffective or maladaptive behaviors. When combined, cognitive-behavioral techniques form a therapeutic approach that has demonstrated extremely robust effectiveness across a wide variety of concerns.
What is the difference between eclectic and integrative therapy?
Eclectic and integrative therapy are often used interchangeably and are generally considered synonymous, although integrative therapy is used more frequently today. Both terms refer to combining differing therapeutic theories and methodologies to better accommodate a patient’s specific needs or to develop a more successful psychotherapeutic approach.
Why do some psychologists prefer an eclectic approach to therapy?
Eclectic psychotherapy combines multiple evidence-based approaches and may significantly expand the utility of certain therapies. Eclectic therapists, including psychologists, are often well-versed in the subtleties and nuances of various approaches to therapy. By combining these approaches as needed, the therapist may be able to better address a patient’s needs or achieve a greater rate of effectiveness. An eclectic therapist may believe that their approach allows them to serve a wider range of clients or to offer more effective treatment to a certain population or those with a specific condition.
What is the focus of the eclectic approach?
In psychotherapy, the eclectic approach focuses on successfully integrating multiple therapy modalities to bolster treatment effectiveness. Many approaches to therapy have distinct strengths and weaknesses, and a skilled therapist may be able to combine the most significant strengths from research-based techniques to improve the effectiveness of therapy. In some cases, therapies are combined into prescribed eclectic approaches. A prescribed approach means a clinician does not need to integrate multiple therapeutic approaches themselves but can instead follow a prescribed procedure for optimal treatment fidelity and effectiveness.
What are the four types of talk therapies?
There are many types of talk therapies, but four of the most well-known include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which focuses on how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors all interact with one another.
- Interpersonal therapy, which focuses on improving interpersonal functioning.
- Psychodynamic therapy, which focuses on how unconscious processes manifest as certain behaviors
- Humanistic therapy, which takes a client-centered approach to help clients achieve personal growth.
What are the goals of eclectic theory?
Eclectic theory in psychotherapy attempts to improve the effectiveness or utility of various psychotherapeutic techniques by strategically combining them. This might be done to make therapy more effective for a specific population, such as those overcoming anxiety or depression, or they might be combined to meet the needs of a specific patient.
What is an example of the eclectic approach to therapy?
One example of the eclectic method might be seen when treating a patient for post-traumatic stress disorder. A therapist might use behavior therapy techniques to help address maladaptive behaviors that occur when the patient is triggered by their traumatic exposure and introduce cognitive techniques like mindfulness to help the patient control adverse thought processes. Another example might be seen in family therapy. A therapist could use positive behavior interventions to help a parent manage their child’s behavior while teaching the parent cognitive relaxation techniques to help them remain calm when their child’s behavior becomes overwhelming.
What is the strongest form of therapy?
Each form of therapy has unique strengths and weaknesses, and determining which is strongest depends on the therapist using them and the specific needs of their patient. For example, exposure therapy, wherein a patient is gradually exposed to adverse stimuli until they can tolerate it, is very effective in treating specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder but has almost no utility for treating depression or bipolar disorder.
How acceptance plays a key role in effective therapies
Recent research has continued to search for transdiagnostic techniques, which are therapies that can be applied broadly and are effective for many different conditions. An example is acceptance and commitment therapy, which has demonstrated utility with many mental health disorders and substance use disorders.
What approach do most therapists use?
Most therapists are qualified to use several different types of therapy. They might train on some specific methods, but many choose to customize their therapeutic approach to meet the needs of their patient. The multimodal therapy approach works for many of their patients, but some therapists choose to become highly specialized in certain techniques. They might also select their approach based on what works best for the specific therapy circumstances, such as ensuring that their chosen methods are compatible with online therapy if they meet with clients remotely.
What are the limitations of eclectic counseling?
Eclectic approaches generally aim to maximize the overall effectiveness of psychotherapy. However, in many cases, ensuring that an eclectic method works effectively requires significant clinical skill and judgment. A significant limitation may be the relative expertise required to implement certain techniques. However, it is likely that a well-trained therapist has already had many hours of supervised clinical practice to hone eclectic techniques.
What is an example of cognitive behavioral therapy?
An example of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is learning to challenge negative thoughts. For instance, if you think, "I'm a failure," CBT helps you replace that thought with something more positive and realistic, like, "I can learn from mistakes and improve."
What is acceptance commitment therapy?
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches you to accept difficult emotions instead of fighting them and to focus on taking meaningful actions that align with your values, even when things feel tough.
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