The Integral Intake ─ A Guide to Comprehensive Idiographic Assessment in Integral Psychotherapy

Using formal assessment instruments in counseling and psychotherapy is an efficient and systematic way to obtain information about clients and to subsequently tailor a counseling approach most likely to serve clients optimally. The more information a counselor obtains during the initial interview and first sessions, the more likely the client will be deeply understood by the counselor, which in turn increases the likelihood that an appropriate course of counseling will be taken, and ultimately leading to a more successful outcome. The Integral Intake is an idiographic, biographical, multidimensional assessment instrument based upon the Integral Psychology pioneered by Ken Wilber. From the perspective of Integral theory, comprehensive and holistic conceptualization of clients seeking counseling and psychotherapy includes knowledge of four distinct perspectives (quadrants) of each client: the client’s experience (the individual viewed subjectively/from within), the client’s behavior (the client viewed objectively/from without), the client’s culture (the client’s system viewed subjectively/from within), and the client’s social system (the client’s system viewed objectively/from without). The intake form is designed to provide the practitioner with a range of background information that can then be used to more quickly and effectively formulate a counseling/treatment approach. The assessment form and accompanying materials will be included on a companion CD, formatted to be printed and reproduced for use with each new client. The book will provide an overview of the Integral Psychology model, describe the development of the assessment form and its use, and provide general guidelines for the evaluation of responses and planning for an appropriate counseling approach. A series of case examples, based on actual completed intake forms, will provide insight into the use of the Integral Intake.

Andre Marquis, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor, Counseling and Human Development Margaret Warner Graduate School of Ecation and Human Development, University of Rochester. He is co-author of Theoretical Models of Counseling and Psychotherapy (Brunner-Routledge, 2004), as well as numerous articles in such publications as Constructivism in the Human Sciences, Psychoanalytic Inquiry, Counseling and Values, Journal of Humanistic Psychology, and Journal of Psychotherapy Integration.

Introduction. Some General Assessment Foundations. The Theory Behind the Integral Intake. Quadratic Assessment. The Spectrum of Development, Pathology, Defenses and Treatment. Assessing Lines of Development and the Integral Psychograph. Assessing States and Types. Putting it all Together: Case Examples. Interpreting Clients’ Responses, Treatment Planning and Differential Assessment. Research: Past, Present and Future Developments. Conclusion. Appendix A: The Integral Intake. References. Index.