Does chaos prevail? An exchange on technical eclecticism and assimilative integration.

Abstract

Lazarus contends that efforts to integrate psychotherapy at the theoretical level have fostered the same unfortunate profusion of competing approaches associated with nonintegrative traditional schools of psychotherapy. Messer views this flowering of integrative theories as unavoidable, even desirable, and as consistent with a social constructionist view of reality. As an alternative to theoretical integration, Lazarus advocates technical eclecticism, which he considers to be governed by observations rather than theories, and as such, draws freely upon techniques validated within other frameworks. Messer argues that such observations are necessarily theory laden, and that techniques imported from other therapies are colored by, and assimilated within, the new clinical and theoretical context in which they are employed, and therefore must be validated anew.

Integration of Behavioral and Mental Health Consultation as a Means of Overcoming Resistance

“…Integrative models of intervention emphasize a synthesis of the disparate theoretical underpinnings of various techniques (e.g., Lazarus & Messer, 1991;Norcross & Grencavage, 1990;Omer, 1993). Focusing exclusively on either consultee difficulties or client difficulties may produce resistances in consultation, similar to impasses that arise in therapeutic encounters.…”

“…(Lazarus & Messer, 1991;Norcross & Grencavage, 1990). Rather than eclectically choosing one or another technique, however, an approach that integrates the seemingly disparate perspectives of consultee-centered mental health consultation and the skill-oriented focus of behavioral training offers an alternative way to promote treatment adherence.…”

Coping focus counselling in mental health nursing

“…That is, the client understands that existing ways of coping are unhelpful, and that new ways of coping can be developed by the client using techniques of systematic desensitization. Similarly, an empty‐chair Gestalt technique, employed in CFC, does not have a focus on experiential conflict resolution, as within the Gestalt approach where the technique was developed (Lazarus & Messer 1991). Using the empty‐chair technique in CFC helps the person apply existing strategies or develop new coping strategies in a controlled and safe environment; for example, in verbalizing unexpressed emotions.…”

Vergelijkend proces– en effectonderzoek in de psychotherapie: een pleidooi voor integratie?

“…In de stapsgewijze groei naar een volwaardig integratief model zou zowel het gemeenschappelijke als het specifiek-waardevolle uit de verschillende richtingen een plaats moeten krijgen. Dat dit niet eenvoudig is, blijkt uit het feit dat er ook binnen de integratieve trend al verschillende accenten zijn gelegd (Lazarus & Messer, 1991): zo zijn er de voorstanders van een technisch eclecticisme; van de theorie der gemeenschappelijke factoren; van een transtheoretisch integrationisme en van een partieel assimilatief integrationisme. Ik denk dat we nog lange tijd met dergelijke 'onduidelijkheden' zullen moeten leven en dat ieder van ons hierin zijn eigen positie moet zoeken.…”