Psychotherapy integration: systems theory and self-psychology

This article highlights the distinction between integration and eclecticism, arguing for an integration in teaching psychotherapy by using a meta-theory. The traditional approach of presenting a sequential range of therapy models may inadvertently advocate an eclectic approach. It begins with a brief consideration of the integration literature, elaborating a meta-theory for integration. This is followed with the presentation of a meta-theory as an integrative tool for teaching the divergent models of systems theory and self-psychology. Using this meta-theory, an example is presented which conceptualizes the presenting problems of a couple. Finally, a plan for using the integration is discussed.