HEATHER FINLAY
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What is Integrative Therapy?
Heather Finlay • Mar 19, 2019
Integrative therapy specialises in taking a combined approach to therapy, combining a multitude of different approaches. This type of therapy focuses on the view that no single approach can treat a client in a variety of situations, all theories should be considered to tailor therapy that’s adapted to each client.
1. What Are the Benefits?
The main advantage of integrative therapy is the flexibility and focus on the whole individual. This means there’s an integrated approach to therapy ensuring it promoted wellness in all areas of life including: physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual. Through integrated therapies, clients can work to overcome negative behaviours and take steps towards improved health.
As well as more general benefits, others include:
• Lowered blood pressure.
• Restful sleep.
• Anxiety reduction.
• Stress management.
2. How Does it Differ from Other Therapies?
The integrative therapy approach differs from other therapies in the fact there is less structure to the sessions, the therapy is suited to you, and there is no exact model of working to follow. Integrative therapies will use different schools of thought that’ve been learned and developed over time. There is always room to make your therapy bespoke and flexible without feeling experimental.
3. What is it Recommended For?
This approach to therapy is beneficial to anyone suffering from any of the following issues:
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Low Self Esteem
• Phobias
• Additions
• Bereavement
• Trauma
• Learning Difficulties
• Autism
‘When I first met Heather, I was feeling hopeless and overwhelmed at work and in my personal life. She helped me to unravel my thoughts with kindness & insight and to find the courage to make major changes to my lifestyle & priorities which have truly transformed me. I understand, and even love, myself now thanks to Heather. Above all, she showed me that admitting to vulnerability is my key to staying strong and happy. Her questions and suggestions continue to guide me when I'm having a wobble. Heather is a remarkable lady and a wonderful therapist.’
‘Over the last year I started my journey into recovery from depression and addictions. I had been trapped in these cycles for as long as I could recall and looking back, I would now say that I had reached a crisis point when I started treatment with Heather. Over the past year, I have seen Heather for two courses of therapy and throughout our sessions she gradually helped me make sense of my life experiences and relationships with other people in relation to my depression and addictions. I was able to use our sessions to be more compassionate to myself, while accepting I needed to make changes both within myself and with how I related to other people. I am still on my journey to recovery, but I have learned so much from my sessions with Heather and I will always be grateful for the help she gave me. I would highly recommend Heather as a therapist.’
‘Writing this testimonial for Heather is a pleasure as it goes a small way to thanking her for helping me transform my life. The greatest testament I can give Heather is that I no longer recognise the person that I was before that first session and I'll be forever grateful that our paths crossed. Before working with Heather I felt like I was in a downward spiral, everyday situations were getting harder and harder to get through. I'd get embarrassed if someone spoke to me unexpectedly, I would have to know my escape route from every place I visited and I was convinced that nobody liked me. I was a bundle of stress but that first session with Heather gave me hope. Heather is warm and friendly and created an environment where I felt safe and comfortable to explore and challenge my own thought processes. Heather has great intuition and guided me through my confusion to a place of clarity. There was no set schedule and Heather always allowed me to go at my own pace. I learnt some great techniques that I've built into my everyday thinking which have helped me navigate new situations and achieve things I never thought possible.’