Integrating Self-Help and Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy integration typically refers to the synthesis of diverse methods and schools of psychotherapy. This chapter expands that definition to consider the combination of psychotherapy with self-help materials. Clinicians frequently desire to integrate self-help into psychotherapy but question how and what to do with clients. The authors address types of self-help resources, their effectiveness with and without psychotherapy, and ways to seamlessly integrate them into formal treatment. The chapter considers a variety of self-help (e.g., self-help books, websites, mobile apps, commercial films). The clinician’s behavior can significantly enhance the effectiveness of recommended self-help and can produce a broader integration of effective change methods.