Seminar in Clinical Psychology: Psychotherapy Integration

Psychology 774 - Section 002
Thursdays, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Fall 1999

Jeff E. Brooks-Harris, Ph.D.
Counseling and Student Development Center
University of Hawai`i at Manoa
956-7927
jharris@hawaii.edu

Overview of Class:

This class will present clinical psychology graduate students with current ideas about the integration of different theoretical orientations to psychotherapy. We will explore major approaches to integration including common factors, technical eclecticism, and theoretical integration. We will learn about integrative psychotherapy models including Lazarus' Multimodal Therapy and Prochaska's Transtheoretical Approach. We will view and critique psychotherapy videotapes of leading integrationists such as Marvin Goldfried, Arnold Lazarus, and John Norcross. The class will be interactive and skill-oriented and will involve discussions, role-plays, student presentations, and student videotape demonstrations. As a result of participating in this class, students will be able to expand their repertoire of clinical skills and interventions and make informed decisions about which approaches to use with which clients under which circumstances.

Required Text:

Handbook of Psychotherapy Integration
John Norcross & Marvin Goldfried (1992)
New York: BasicBooks.

Class Assignments:

• Reaction Papers – You will be asked to write 3 short reaction papers responding to the major approaches to psychotherapy integration described in the text. The reaction papers should compare and contrast the two chapters in each section and address how you would use the approach in your own work as a psychotherapist.
  • Common Factors (HPI chapters 5 & 6) – due on Sept. 16^th.
  • Technical Eclecticism (HPI chapters 7 & 8) – due on Sept. 30^th.
  • Theoretical Integration (HPI chapters 9 & 10) – due on Oct. 14^th.

• Videotape Critique – We will view three psychotherapy videotapes of leading integrationists together in class: Marvin Goldfried, Arnold Lazarus, and John Norcross, . You will be asked to view one of these videotapes outside of class and write a critique of the session citing strengths, weaknesses, and successful attempts at integration. Your written critique will be due on Oct. 28^th.

• Video Demonstration – You will be asked to participate in a small group who will produce a half-hour video demonstrating of one of the following integration approaches:
  • Common Factors – presented on Oct. 21^st.
  • Multimodal Therapy – presented on Oct. 28^th.
  • Systematic Eclectic Psychotherapy – presented on Nov. 4^th.
  • Transtheoretical Approach – presented on Nov. 18^th.

• Individual Presentation – You will be asked to give a presentation to the class suggesting ways that two distinct approaches to psychotherapy can be integrated. For example, one student may present on ways to integrate CBT (Beck, 1995) with Existential Psychotherapy (Yalom, 1980). Another student might address the integration of Emotion-Focused Psychotherapy (Greenberg & Paivio, 1997) with a Psychodynamic Approach (Strupp & Binder, 1984). I encourage you to choose one book describing each of the two approaches as your primary references in order to maintain focus and avoid the need to address different perspective within a single approach. Your presentation should address points of agreement and disagreement as well as methods for integration. Please provide copies of a one- to two-page written handout summarizing the major points of your presentation. These individual presentations will be presented on Nov. 4^th, Nov. 18^th, and Dec. 2^nd.

• Final Paper – You will be asked to write a final paper describing your personal approach to psychotherapy integration. This paper will include a description of the approaches and techniques that you hope to integrate as well as a list of your repertoire of transition and integrative skills and interventions with examples. This final paper will due on Dec. 9^th.

Determination of Grade:

• Class Participation = 15% of final grade
• Reaction Papers (3 x 5) = 15%
• Videotape Critique = 10%
• Video Demonstration = 20%
• Individual Presentation = 20%
• Final Paper = 20%

Class Schedule:

Class 1. Aug. 26^th

• Discuss: What are we integrating? What does integration look like?
• Observe: Marvin Goldfried's videotape, “Cognitive-Affective Behavior Therapy.”
• Review: Class structure, outline, and assignments.

Class 2. Sept. 2^nd

• Read: HPI chapters 1 & 2 before class.
• Discuss: Context and history of psychotherapy integration.
• Practice: Developing a repertoire of transition and integration skills.

Class 3. Sept. 9^th

• Read: HPI chapters 3 & 4 before class.
• Discuss: Research and belief structures.
• Practice: Debate CBT versus integration.

Class 4. Sept. 16^th

• Read: HPI chapters 5 & 6 before class.
• Turn in: Reaction Paper # 1 on Common Factors.
• Discuss: Common factors approaches to integration.
• Practice: Common factors role play.

Class 5. Sept. 23^rd

• Read: HPI chapter 7 before class.
• Discuss: Multimodal therapy.
• Observe: Arnold Lazarus' videotape, “Multimodal Therapy.”

Class 6. Sept. 30^th

• Read: HPI chapter 8 before class.
• Turn in: Reaction Paper # 2 on Technical Eclecticism.
• Discuss: Systematic eclectic psychotherapy.
• Observe: John Norcross' videotape, “Prescriptive Eclectic Therapy.”

Class 7. Oct. 7^th

• Read: HPI chapter 9 before class.
• Discuss: The transtheoretical approach.
• Practice: Transtheoretical role play.

Class 8. Oct. 14^th

• Read: HPI chapter 10 before class.
• Turn in: Reaction Paper # 3 on Theoretical Integration.
• Discuss: Integrative psychodynamic therapy.
• Practice: Integrative psychodynamic role play.

Class 9. Oct. 21^st

• Read: HPI chapters 11 & 12 before class.
• Discuss: Integrative psychotherapy for anxiety and depression.
• Demonstrate / Observe: Common factors videotape.

Class 10. Oct. 28^th

• Read: HPI chapter 13 before class.
• Turn in: Videotape Critique.
• Discuss: Integrative psychotherapy for personality disorders.
• Demonstrate / Observe: Multimodal therapy videotape.

Class 11. Nov. 4^th

• Read: HPI chapters 14 & 15 before class.
• Demonstrate / Observe: Systematic eclectic psychotherapy videotape.
• Demonstrate / Observe: Individual Student Presentations.

No class on Nov. 11^th – Veteran's Day

Class 12. Nov. 18^th

• Read: HPI chapters 16 & 17 before class.
• Demonstrate / Observe: Transtheoretical approach videotape.
• Demonstrate / Observe: Individual Student Presentations.

No class on Nov. 25^th – Thanksgiving

Class 13. Dec. 2^nd

• Read: HPI chapter 18 before class.
• Demonstrate / Observe: Individual Student Presentations.

Class 14. Dec. 9^th

• Turn in: Final Paper.
• Discuss: What have we learned? How will we apply integration in future practice?