Can One Therapist Really Do it All???
If the title of this section didn't give it away, I don't think so. But before I go into why, let me explain what "eclectic" means. Eclectic, in this sense, refers to a therapist who draws from many different approaches to therapy in order to find what works best with each individual client. Sounds great, right? Let me explain what it is not....
Why Therapists Try to Be All Things to All People
In my experience, there are four general reasons therapists identify themselves as eclectic: 1) somewhere in their training they were told they should be eclectic becuase it is the "in thing" (and it was, in the 80's, but even then, should we do something just because our friends do it?), 2) they really want to be able to help everyone (but good intentions aren't enough!), 3) insurance companies sometimes expect this (keep in mind, most insurance companies are thinking about money, not quality or fit of treatment), and 4) they need clients and this seems the best way to get many of them. I should add a quick fourth which I would grant a pardon on this issue. Some therapists who work in a rural area are the only option around. Thus, they try to be more adaptive, which is a justified reason for taking this approach.
You may have noticed that few of these issues really have to do with you! Rahter, they are about the therapist. And do you really want to work with a therapist who reason for seeing you is more about them than about you?
Advantages of Seeing a Therapist Who Specializes in an Approach
I heard a great illustration of why it may be best to work with a therapist who specializes in a differnet approach. It can in an odd context -- a discussion about adding a new specialty that "all psychologists should learn." One person is the discussion pointed out that currently, no one in the mental health field receives more training in what they primarily do (therapy and assessment) than psychologists. However, he also pointed out that if we kept adding new specializations for everyone to learn, the field would become so diluted that we would be 'familiar with everything but an expert in nothing.'
For health concerns, many people begin by going to a general practioner. However, few would stay with that practioner for heart surgery. They would want to find a specialist. Doesn't it make sense to give the same consideration to your mental health? Would you prefer to have someone who is really talented at a particular type of therapy than someone who can do okay with mahy different types of therapy?
Why it is Unrealistic to Be All Things to All People
Becoming a therapist is not an easy process. There is a lot to learn and it seems there is more to learn every day. Today, many psychologists may only have 2 or 3 courses in therapy in their graduate training. Most of the rest of their coursework is focused on assessment, biology, neurology (the brain), research, and other important issues. This is significantly less training in therapy than what therapists used to be required to have! However, while therapists often are receiving less training in therapy, they often think they can do much more -- including more types of therapy.
Personally, I have a great reverance for the process of psychotherapy and its importance. As such, it concerns me that so many people think it takes so little to practice therapy anymore! To really learn any specific approach to therapy well it takes several years of study, supervision, and practice. Any therapist can read a book on a different approach to therapy and try to apply it, but they probably won't apply it well. Just like you wouldn't want a doctor who read one book on heart transplants giving you a heart transplant or a business person who read one book on investments investing all your money, you probably don't want a therapist using an approach they read about the night before. Many eclectic therapists are integrating ideas of which they have little training.
Should I Worry if a Therapist Won't Tell Me Their Orientation?
Not necessarily. Therapists differ on this. Many will take the old technic of answering a question with a question, asking you why you want to know. This is a fair question. Many client's may want a particular type of therapy because they heard it on the news or Dr. Phil, so they think it must be best. If you explain to your therapist why you want to know and they are still resistant to share anything, then it may be justified to be a bit more concerned.
Getting a LIttle More Technical (for those still interested...)
In the 1980's, eclectic approaches to therapy were very popular. However, they have fallen into less favor recently. A healthier alternative is popular today: Integrative approaches. Unfortunately, integrative is often a wolf in sheep's clothing. In other words, some therapists have just changed terminiology and are not practicing eclectic therapy and calling it integrative because it sounds better.
So what's the difference? Integrative therapy functions from a base of one specific therapy approach and integrates some ideas from different theories. For example, an integrative therapist may practice psychodynamic therapy. They have been well-trained in this approach and know it well. However, they believe they can learn from other forms of therapy, so they are in regular dialogue with other therapy approaches. Where ideas from other schools of thought fit with their approach, they may integrate this idea. Eclectic therapists don't have the same rooting in particular approach, so they are not as consistent in how they approach therapy.