INTRODUCTION TO MULTITHEORETICAL PSYCHOTHERAPY
Multitheoretical Psychotherapy (MTP) is a new approach to integrative training and treatment. The documents listed on this page are designed to give you a broad overview of some of the most important ideas in Integrative Multitheoretical Psychotherapy by Jeff Brooks-Harris (2008).
This PowerPoint presentation summarizes the four lessons that are described in more detail in the handouts listed below. This presentation can be used to introduce MTP to a graduate or professional audience for the first time. Permission is granted to present these slides to classes, groups, or conferences as long as the copyright notice remains intact.
Lesson One: Five Principles for Psychotherapy Integration
MTP describes five principles that can be applied to both psychotherapy training and treatment.
• Intentional: Psychotherapy integration should be based on intentional choices.
• Multidimensional: Recognizing the rich interaction between multiple dimensions.
• Multitheoretical: Utilizing diverse theories to understand clients and guide interventions.
• Strategy-Based: Combining specific strategies from different theories.
• Relational: Implemented within an effective therapeutic relationship.
Lesson Two: Working Interactively with Thoughts, Actions and Feelings
MTP assumes that dysfunctional thoughts, ineffective actions, and maladaptive feelings are highly interactive. Counselors can work interactively with these dimensions, knowing that change in one area is likely to a have a multidimensional impact. Different theoretical approaches focus on different dimensions as points of leverage.
• Cognitive strategies are used to promote functional thoughts.
• Behavioral skills encourage effective actions.
• Experiential interventions are likely to result in adaptive feelings.
Lesson Three: Exploring Biological, Interpersonal, Systemic, and Cultural Contexts
Where do maladaptive thoughts, actions, and feelings come from? Problems in current functioning are often related to difficulties in adapting to biological, interpersonal, systemic, or cultural contexts. In order to encourage positive change, it is important for counselors to explore these contexts and to promote adaptation. Different theories focus on different contexts.
• Biopsychosocial strategies focus on biology and encourage adaptive health practices.
• Psychodynamic-Interpersonal skills explore interpersonal patterns and promote undistorted perceptions.
• Systemic-Constructivist interventions look at social systems and support adaptive personal narratives.
• Multicultural-Feminist strategies explore cultural contexts and encourage identity development.
Lesson Four: Integrative Treatment Planning
MTP describes a step-by-step method for planning for integrative treatment.
• Watching for Multidimensional Focus Markers
• Conducting a Multidimensional Survey
• Establishing an Interactive Focus on 2 or 3 Dimensions
• Formulating a Multitheoretical Conceptualization
• Choosing Interventions from a Catalog of Key Strategies
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