What does eclectic approach mean

A therapist with poor skills might turn their eclectic therapy style into a trial-and-error project, leading you down many paths but never concluding any of them.

They might not use the therapies that are right for you, but instead, choose whatever therapy comes to mind. It's important to know that your therapist is licensed and knowledgeable. Can Seem Confusing. When an eclectic therapist moves too quickly from one type of therapy to another, you might feel confused about what's happening in your sessions.

A skilled therapist can eliminate that confusion by letting you know at the end of one therapy session what you'll be doing in the next session, explain it briefly, and ask if you have any questions.

Then, when you return, they can remind you what's going to happen. What if you only have one problem you want to address through therapy rather than multiple?

Depending on the problem, one specific type of therapy might be the best for all parts of your therapy. People with borderline personality disorder, for example, typically do very well with just dialectical behavior therapy.

DBT covers so many different aspects of this disorder that there might not be any need for other therapies. If you have PTSD or a phobia, desensitization techniques might give you the relief you need. Still, the therapist may focus on these techniques but bring in others as well. Finding a therapist is easy, but finding the therapist best for you can be more difficult. Fortunately, if you would like a therapist who uses the eclectic approach, you'll probably have many to choose from.

If you look for an online eclectic therapist, you'll have thousands to choose from that you can talk to from wherever you are. So what's the best way to identify an eclectic therapist? Here are some avenues to explore. Sessions are also personalized, and can be conducted via video chatting, instant messaging, text, live voice recordings, phone calls, or any combination thereof.

She is knowledgeable of many different techniques and theories. I'm very satisfied with her kind approach to me and my needs. I feel like I can improve with her as my therapist.

Megan has been absolutely incredible! She is very competent at different therapy approaches and tailors our sessions approaches or worksheets to what works best for me and my style of doing things. She has been pivotal in my ability to come back from the mental pits, continuing to perform the way I need in my professional and personal life, and in understanding myself better.

If you're new to therapy and don't know much about how it works, the best thing to do is spend some time researching the therapists you're considering. When you find the one you think is right for you, you can discuss it further with them at your intake interview. For the initial research, check online for each therapist's credentials and specialties. When you look for a therapist, you can find out about their main specialty or specialties on their profile page. Choose the therapists who sound best to you.

Then contact those therapists and ask them if they ever use different types of therapy besides their main specialty. It's best to avoid the term 'eclectic approach' when having this discussion because many therapists prefer to characterize their practice differently.

However, by asking how many different types of therapy they practice, you're essentially answering this question. Choose one therapist and set up the first appointment. Suppose you're going to therapy and seeing no progress. If by any chance you spot an inappropriate image within your search results please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly. Term » Definition. Word in Definition. Wikipedia 1. How to pronounce eclectic approach? Alex US English. David US English.

Mark US English. Daniel British. Libby British. Mia British. Karen Australian. Hayley Australian. Natasha Australian. Veena Indian. Priya Indian. Neerja Indian. While eclectic therapy is flexible, therapists carefully create an intentional, individual plan for each client based on that person's unique needs. Theoretical approaches that an eclectic therapist might draw on include:.

A therapist will also choose specific techniques from within that theoretical approach. Some examples of such techniques include exposure therapy , sensory therapy, relaxation therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy ACT , and mindfulness.

Eclectic therapy can be utilized to help people with a wide range of needs. Some conditions and problems it can successfully treat include:. Eclectic therapy can have a number of important benefits. These include:. Research suggests that eclectic therapy can be both a safe and effective treatment:. While eclectic therapy can be effective, there are some potential downsides to consider. Some issues you might encounter during eclectic therapy include:.

If you are interested in trying eclectic therapy, consider asking your doctor for a referral or look at an online therapist directory. Eclectic therapists often refer to themselves as integrative therapists or multi-modal therapists, so you might consider searching for those or similar terms.

You might also consider online therapy as an option. During your first appointment, your therapist will ask you questions to help get to know you and understand your goals. This initial discussion might involve talking about your background, work, personal life, support system, and current life satisfaction. As you build a therapeutic relationship, you can then delve deeper toward making goals and deciding which techniques might be the most effective for what you want to accomplish.

Because eclectic therapy is adaptable, these goals and strategies can change when needed. Ever wonder what your personality type means? Sign up to find out more in our Healthy Mind newsletter. What clinicians want: Findings from a psychotherapy practice research network survey.

Psychotherapy Chic. Camposano L. Gersons BP, Schnyder U. Learning from traumatic experiences with brief eclectic psychotherapy for PTSD.

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