Integrative Psychotherapy
Subject Areas :shahram Vaziri 1 , Farah lotfikashani 2 , Arash Vaziri 3
1 - Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch
2 - Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch
3 - Department of Clinical Psychology, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran
Keywords: Psychotherapy Paradigms, Integrative, Dynamic, Dynamic Integrative Psychotherapy,
Abstract :
Mental health issues are not new phenomena; throughout history, they have been examined from various perspectives. Today, there are hundreds of psychotherapy approaches, each addressing different aspects of psychological problems with its own philosophy and methods. The diversity of psychotherapies demonstrates that psychotherapy is effective for many psychological conditions, and various forms have similar effectiveness. Not only is there no substantial and meaningful difference in outcomes between different therapies, but there is also limited evidence to suggest that any one treatment consistently outperforms the others. This broad range of efficacy indicates that human experience is multidimensional, with the dynamic interaction of biological, cognitive-behavioral, unconscious, and existential factors playing an undeniable role in shaping mental health. It appears that any approach that focuses solely on one dimension will fail to offer a comprehensive understanding and treatment. Our concept of integrative therapy involves the dynamic understanding of the interaction among the four main dimensions of human psychology: the role of the brain and neurotransmitters, genetics, and physiological processes in the psychological experience; the impact of internal conflicts, early experiences, and unconscious motivations; the role of perception, cognition, emotions, external and internal behaviors, and habitual patterns; and, finally, meaning, self-awareness, free will, and individual responsibility. We believe that while single-paradigm approaches cannot tell the whole story, together, they can function within a larger system known as dynamic integrative psychotherapy, addressing many of the ambiguities in psychotherapy.
