Integrative Therapeutic Model

Summarize your understanding of utilizing an integrative therapeutic model:

Counselors are known to work with clients of all different cultures. Therefore, it is vital for both the success of the client and the counselor that the counselor works with the theories that fit best with their clients lifestyle and personal values. Since every person's lifestyle and personal values is different, there is a need for counselors to use different theories or even integrate theories together (Corey, 2009). By taking advantage of an integrative therapeutic model, counselors may have the opportunity to better help their clients while recognizing the client's personal needs.

Summarize the key points of the two theories, identifying some of the similarities and some of the differences:

The two theories integrated will be the Adlerian approach and solution-focused brief therapy. Both theories are have been found to be successful in the counseling field. However, the theories have some similarities and some differences. An important factor in counseling, both the solution-focused brief therapy and Adlerian therapy are effective when working with clients of diverse backgrounds (Corey, 2009). Therapists from both approaches do not use a medical model with belief that clients do not need to be cured (Watts & Pietrzak, 2000).

The Adlerian approach has a high focus on encouragement. Therefore, the client-therapist relationship when using the Adlerian approach is based off respect, cooperation, trust, and belief that the client is capable of change (Corey, 2009). The Adlerian approach strives on the relationship to help counseling outcomes to be successful. An Adlerian therapist will use interventions such as a lifestyle assessment, goal alignment, homework, and early recollections.

Solution-focused brief therapists do not rely on the problem but on the solution (Corey, 2009). Similar to the Adlerian approach, solution-focused brief therapists have a strong trust in their clients ability to change. Also in relation, there is a strong emphasis on the client-therapist relationship. The theory does not put emphasis on the past or present, which is different from the Adlerian approach. Interventions common to the solution-focused brief therapy include pre-therapy change, exception questions, the miracle question, scaling questions, formula first session task (homework), and therapist feedback to clients (Corey, 2009).

Focus on the areas where the theories differ, describe how they would need to be adjusted in order to be integrated with one another:

A major difference between the two theories being integrated is the techniques used within the theories. For example, Adlerian therapy pays attention to subjective experiences. Therefore, therapists gather life-history