Integrative psychotherapy models can be envisioned as tailored stepping-stones toward advancements in clinical effectiveness. An evolutionary view of psychology11 is relevant when considering integrative approaches. Like evolutionary psychology, integrative clinical approaches may be perceived “…with greater skepticism than more traditional psychological theories”4. Erskine and Moursund8 posit the need for integrative psychotherapy models is a natural outgrowth of the “shortcomings and limitations” of the traditional approaches across the board. However, does a “pure” application of traditional psychological theories and therapeutic application really exist (e.g.,17? Certainly, the application of psychological interventions is filtered through the lens of the therapist given their degree of experience and knowledge in concert with what is learned about the patient. Effective psychotherapy ought to mirror and account for the unique, fluid, and systemic patterns of life and symptoms that the patient subjectively experiences. Accordingly, integrative psychotherapy models ought to be able to effectively pinpoint and flow with the concerns and needs of the patient. To this end Erskine and Moursund8 wrote:

The term integrative refers to both the full synthesis of affective, behavioral, cognitive, and physiological theory and methods of psychotherapy – the integration or assimilation within the client of the fragmented or fixed aspects of the personality” (p8).

Historically, utilization of integrative or eclectic psychotherapy has been evident in clinical practice for many decades13;3;16. Such approaches utilize selected components from traditional theorists and practitioners, which are melded and applied in a fluid manner. Some examples of common elements might include the humanistic, client-centered work of Carl Rogers14 built upon active-listening, the genius of Milton Erickson's style of hypnosis to engage idiosyncratic individual resources (e.g., 1980 a, 1980 b), and Alfred Adler's prompt to understand patients in keeping with their phenomenological perspective within their social context12. Conceptually, and from an expanded perspective, elements from psychoanalysis, cognitive-behavioral therapies, Gestalt therapy, transpersonal psychotherapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Thought Field Therapy (TFT) and other energy psychology approaches (e.g., EvTFT, EFT), mindfulness practices, and current findings regarding the psychophysiological interactive nature of our physiology pertaining to heart, brain, and respiratory functioning together provide a wealth of resources in formulating fluid and integrative psychotherapy approaches.

A challenge for psychotherapists is to provide effective and compassionate ways to help all people recover from the aftermath of their disturbing experiences. The psychotherapy process is intended to provide this relief (American Psychological Association1, 2013). Interestingly, the APA concluded that, “Comparisons of different forms of psychotherapy most often result in relatively non-significant difference, and the contextual and relationship factors often mediate or moderate the outcomes”1, p 103). Additionally, Wampold17 reminds us that, “… all treatments for PTSD are approximately equally effective and that the evidence for the mechanisms of change underlying the various treatments is weak” (p 65). The APA's Guideline Development Panel2 published guidelines regarding the treatment of adults with PTSD. While this guideline afforded a conditional recommendation for using eclectic therapy, the Panel urged, that “emerging and novel” treatment modalities merit further study to add to the existing literature. For example, Feinstein9 provides a review of empirical support for meridian-based energy psychology approaches.

This paper describes and assesses an integrative, holistic, humanistic, mindfulness-enhancing, culture-free, and energy-science model of individual psychotherapy (Heart Assisted Therapy (HAT);5. More succinctly, the HAT psychotherapy model synthesizes and incorporates components of traditional therapies, and integrates specific innate psychophysiological mechanisms into a full mind-body-energy approach to healing.

Applying the four phases of clinical trials paradigm followed by NIH (https://www.nih.gov/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you/basics), this paper presents the findings of a Phase I clinical trials investigation. If positive findings are observed in Phase I clinical trials, then potential moderating factors such as placebo and expectancy are addressed in follow-up Phase II and III clinical trials.1

To explore the replicability of the findings, this Phase I trial were analyzed in two waves: (1) an initial, exploratory sample (n=13 patients), and (2) a larger, confirmatory sample (n=30 patients). In addition, two patients who received separate HAT treatments for multiple PTSD and stress related target events / foci were analyzed as within-case treatment replications. Finally, replicability across therapist, patient gender, and patient type (general population and VA) was examined.