This study deals with the question of how therapists naturally develop an integrative perspective. A grounded theory analysis was conducted, based on retrospective interviews with seven experienced therapists (working together in the same training program). Adoption of an integrative perspective was found to be an unintended consequence of the development towards an autonomous personal therapeutic approach. This development is directed by two autonomous criteria (congruence and perceived efficacy) and results in intuitive integration. Complementary to this aspect is a heteronomous line of personal therapeutic approach development, characterized by two criteria (adherence and legitimization) and leading to identification. Autonomy and heteronomy are understood as general principles along which a therapist's development can be organized.

Department of Psychology Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

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