The proportion of integrationists among Czech psychotherapists and counselors: A comparison of multiple criteria.

Abstract

A psychotherapist’s integrationism/eclecticism can be operationalized in different ways. Existing studies estimating the proportion of integrationists/eclectics typically utilized a single criterion, often yielding incomparable results. The goal of this study was to estimate the prevalence of integrationism/eclecticism using four different criteria based on psychotherapy training, self-identified theoretical orientation and the use of psychotherapy techniques. The analysis was based on questionnaire data obtained from N = 373 Czech psychotherapy and counseling practitioners in an online survey. The proportion of integrationists was estimated to be 21.7, 32.7, 87.7, and 98.9 percent, depending on the criterion used. Furthermore, the endorsement of several types of integration was estimated and the frequency of combinations of the main theoretical orientations was explored. The findings are discussed in the context of previous studies and emphasize the role of adequate operationalization of integrationism. The results suggest that while the self-rated theoretical orientation may reflect a practitioner’s professional identity and affiliation, measurement on the level of techniques may be more sensitive to the real-life integration of various orientations.