As no two human beings are the same, it is our contention that no one theory will either make sense of, or be applicable to all persons. At the same time, there are recognisable patterns and conditions that all humans have encountered throughout the ages and literature is rife with such examples. Our integrative approach therefore underlines a number of things, not least that counselling and psychotherapy is an art and a science.

•    We acknowledge the complexity and diversity of the person.

•    We acknowledge the existence of theories and conceptual frameworks that help us understand recurring human dilemmas and difficulties.

•    We believe that the theory, of whatever origin, needs to be in the service of the client, rather than expecting the client to fit the theory and that no one theory has the monopoly on the truth.

•    We believe that it can help both client and practitioner to have a number of maps, although the map is never the territory.

•     We believe that the key to the whole process is relationship both intrapsychically and interpersonally, and the development of this is the artistry and the delicacy on which the reduction of confusion and the resolution of conflict can occur.

•     Human beings have a number of arenas, which may be manifesting difficulty, including the spiritual dimension. For this reason we use as our meta-model, the 7 Level Model of Systemic Psychotherapy (Clarkson and Lapworth 1992, Integrative and Eclectic Therapy OUP) which takes account of seven universes of discourse. It also provides a way of locating where the main theories of counselling psychology have their emphasis.

•     Finally there are different needs and durations of counselling, and is in a sense, a continuum, with some counselling being short term and strategic and some in depth counselling having common elements with psychotherapy.