Integrative Psychotherapy

This book provides a tour de force of the development of an integrative approach to psychotherapy theory, practice and research. It enables the reader to connect different therapeutic traditions and schools in a theory-guided way like no book has done before. The book covers a vast range of ideas, including those about self and consciousness and illustrates methods and interventions of a mindfulness- and compassion-oriented approach to integrative psychotherapy, based on a relational perspective. This work provides a significant contribution to developing an integrative, mindful and compassionate approach to clinical practice.

Leslie S. Greenberg

Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus,

Dept. of Psychology, York University, Toronto

Gregor and Maša Žvelc have composed a comprehensive therapeutic approach based on the foundations of Relationally-Focused Integrative Psychotherapy where mindfulness and compassion are viewed as essential meta-processes of change. This book is superbly written and easily understood with useful information for all psychotherapists and counsellors. The authors discuss topics such as the neurobiology of emotional distress, internal regulation, child development concepts, relational schemas, states of consciousness, and the meaning and significance of mindfulness and compassion. Each of their case examples emphasize the centrality of the therapeutic relationship.

Richard G. Erskine, Ph.D

Institute for Integrative Psychotherapy

Processes of change are the central focus of modern evidence-based psychotherapy. In this rich and interesting volume, the authors show a depth of vision and understanding that coherently draws together processes of change across the spectrum of available models, and does so in a way that is respectful and engaging regardless of your preferences. Thus, no matter your background, if processes of change interest you, you will find much of interest in this volume. I highly recommend it.

Steven C. Hayes

Foundation Professor of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno and

originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Tapping into the analytic wisdom of their left brains and the intuitive wisdom of their right brains, the husband and wife team of Gregor and Maša Žvelc have co-created a profoundly humane, heartfelt, tender, and lovingly crafted masterpiece. Seamlessly interweaving theory and practice, INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY highlights the healing power of relationally-focused treatments that privilege mindful awareness, compassion, acceptance, shared conscious presence, and co-regulation. Their holistic approach, at once inspired and inspiring, features the freshly revitalized, neurobiological concept of memory reconsolidation, which creates opportunity for rewiring the brain and updating mental schemas about self, others, and the world. Truly a gem of a book!!

Martha Stark, MD

Faculty, Harvard Medical School

Co-Founder / Co-Director / Faculty, Center for Psychoanalytic Studies

Award-winning Author: 8 books on psychoanalytic theory and practice, including Relentless Hope: The Refusal to Grieve

Integrative Psychotherapy defines the most therapeutically astute utilization of mindfulness and compassion I’ve seen, because it goes beyond creating awareness of one’s existing, limiting patterns to engage the brain’s empirically confirmed process of transformational change through memory reconsolidation. The entire methodology is transdiagnostic and transtheoretical, so it is a broadly integrative framework with deep experiential process and active, respectful cultivation of the client’s unique world of meaning.

Bruce Ecker, LMFT, Coherence Psychology Institute co-director, co-creator of Coherence Therapy, and coauthor of Unlocking the Emotional Brain: Eliminating Symptoms at Their Roots Using Memory Reconsolidation

Gregor and Maša Žvelc offer a thoughtful, finely layered account of the theory and practice of mindful, compassionate integrative psychotherapy. Numerous rich illustrations of therapeutic dialogue vividly demonstrate the ‘science’ and ‘art’ of integrative psychotherapy. They highlight how a sensitive, accepting, mindful and compassionate therapeutic relationship helps clients explore themselves more deeply towards integrating forgotten parts. This is an ideal textbook for students seeking a coherent and comprehensive, yet gentle, model of psychotherapeutic integration, while experienced therapists will value the knowledgeable and scholarly references to contemporary theory and research.

Dr Linda Finlay, Integrative Psychotherapist in private practice, United Kingdom

Here, introducing MCIP, is a goldmine of theories, ideas, research findings, quotations – beautifully described and discussed by the authors in a very accessible way. There are also simple but meaningful models to explicate the practice of MCIP, such as the five step process of change and the Diamond Model of the Observing Self. The book introduces an approach to psychotherapy that truly integrates mindful and compassionate practices and attitudes into a reparative relationship-orientated model, which is a vibrant, immediate and moving. It is a marriage of erudition and love!

Professor Charlotte Sills, Ashridge Business School and Metanoia Institute, UK

This book presents a framework for understanding the curative process of psychotherapy. Integrative Psychotherapy really does integrate the essential principles of personality functioning and treatment (The Model of the Four States of Consciousness). Further there is a brilliant presentation on the importance of the therapeutic relationship and how clinicians, in their own being, are an essential part of therapy; and the fundamentals of the change process. This is essential information for the experienced clinician as well as beginning psychotherapy students. The book is well written in a clear and concise way by two very experienced clinicians.

Roger M. Solomon, Ph.D., Senior Faculty, EMDR Institute

This book provides a tour de force of the development of an integrative approach to psychotherapy theory, practice and research. It enables the reader to connect different therapeutic traditions and schools in a theory-guided way like no book has done before. The book covers a vast range of ideas, including those about self and consciousness and illustrates methods and interventions of a mindfulness- and compassion-oriented approach to integrative psychotherapy, based on a relational perspective. This work provides a significant contribution to developing an integrative, mindful and compassionate approach to clinical practice.

Leslie S. Greenberg

Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus,

Dept. of Psychology, York University, Toronto

Gregor and Maša Žvelc have composed a comprehensive therapeutic approach based on the foundations of Relationally-Focused Integrative Psychotherapy where mindfulness and compassion are viewed as essential meta-processes of change. This book is superbly written and easily understood with useful information for all psychotherapists and counsellors. The authors discuss topics such as the neurobiology of emotional distress, internal regulation, child development concepts, relational schemas, states of consciousness, and the meaning and significance of mindfulness and compassion. Each of their case examples emphasize the centrality of the therapeutic relationship.

Richard G. Erskine, Ph.D

Institute for Integrative Psychotherapy

Processes of change are the central focus of modern evidence-based psychotherapy. In this rich and interesting volume, the authors show a depth of vision and understanding that coherently draws together processes of change across the spectrum of available models, and does so in a way that is respectful and engaging regardless of your preferences. Thus, no matter your background, if processes of change interest you, you will find much of interest in this volume. I highly recommend it.

Steven C. Hayes

Foundation Professor of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno and

originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Tapping into the analytic wisdom of their left brains and the intuitive wisdom of their right brains, the husband and wife team of Gregor and Maša Žvelc have co-created a profoundly humane, heartfelt, tender, and lovingly crafted masterpiece. Seamlessly interweaving theory and practice, INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY highlights the healing power of relationally-focused treatments that privilege mindful awareness, compassion, acceptance, shared conscious presence, and co-regulation. Their holistic approach, at once inspired and inspiring, features the freshly revitalized, neurobiological concept of memory reconsolidation, which creates opportunity for rewiring the brain and updating mental schemas about self, others, and the world. Truly a gem of a book!!

Martha Stark, MD

Faculty, Harvard Medical School

Co-Founder / Co-Director / Faculty, Center for Psychoanalytic Studies

Award-winning Author: 8 books on psychoanalytic theory and practice, including Relentless Hope: The Refusal to Grieve

Integrative Psychotherapy defines the most therapeutically astute utilization of mindfulness and compassion I’ve seen, because it goes beyond creating awareness of one’s existing, limiting patterns to engage the brain’s empirically confirmed process of transformational change through memory reconsolidation. The entire methodology is transdiagnostic and transtheoretical, so it is a broadly integrative framework with deep experiential process and active, respectful cultivation of the client’s unique world of meaning.

Bruce Ecker, LMFT, Coherence Psychology Institute co-director, co-creator of Coherence Therapy, and coauthor of Unlocking the Emotional Brain: Eliminating Symptoms at Their Roots Using Memory Reconsolidation

Gregor and Maša Žvelc offer a thoughtful, finely layered account of the theory and practice of mindful, compassionate integrative psychotherapy. Numerous rich illustrations of therapeutic dialogue vividly demonstrate the ‘science’ and ‘art’ of integrative psychotherapy. They highlight how a sensitive, accepting, mindful and compassionate therapeutic relationship helps clients explore themselves more deeply towards integrating forgotten parts. This is an ideal textbook for students seeking a coherent and comprehensive, yet gentle, model of psychotherapeutic integration, while experienced therapists will value the knowledgeable and scholarly references to contemporary theory and research.

Dr Linda Finlay, Integrative Psychotherapist in private practice, United Kingdom

Here, introducing MCIP, is a goldmine of theories, ideas, research findings, quotations – beautifully described and discussed by the authors in a very accessible way. There are also simple but meaningful models to explicate the practice of MCIP, such as the five step process of change and the Diamond Model of the Observing Self. The book introduces an approach to psychotherapy that truly integrates mindful and compassionate practices and attitudes into a reparative relationship-orientated model, which is a vibrant, immediate and moving. It is a marriage of erudition and love!

Professor Charlotte Sills, Ashridge Business School and Metanoia Institute, UK

This book presents a framework for understanding the curative process of psychotherapy. Integrative Psychotherapy really does integrate the essential principles of personality functioning and treatment (The Model of the Four States of Consciousness). Further there is a brilliant presentation on the importance of the therapeutic relationship and how clinicians, in their own being, are an essential part of therapy; and the fundamentals of the change process. This is essential information for the experienced clinician as well as beginning psychotherapy students. The book is well written in a clear and concise way by two very experienced clinicians.

Roger M. Solomon, Ph.D., Senior Faculty, EMDR Institute