title: An integrative psychotherapist's account of his focus when treating self-critical patients.
abstract: This article presents the factors on which I focus as an integrative psychotherapist when treating self-critical patients. I first describe my personal version of psychotherapy integration. Drawing principally from Wachtel's cyclical psychodynamic model, I also incorporate existential and neurocognitive elements highlighting patients' future-oriented thinking and goal-directed action. I then relate this integrative model to the vexing clinical problem of self-criticism. Finally, I outline three types of interventions I attempt to implement in each session: (1) Multiple-Selves Analysis (MSA); (2) Behavioral Activation (BA), conceptualized integratively; and (3) use of therapist's presence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 800 Ben-Gurion Avenues, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel. Golan.shahar878@gmail.com
authors.forename: Golan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shahar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D059445:Anhedonia; D001364:Awareness; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D003379:Countertransference; D009105:Dissociative Identity Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine; D008297:Male; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D064889:Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic / Q000379:methods; D012649:Self Concept; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012647:Self-Assessment; D014167:Transference, Psychology; D055815:Young Adult