Integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Implications for Professional Identity. A Systematic Review

Jamie D. J. Elston-Short; Martin Benwell

doi:10.29333/ajqr/17188

Jamie D. J. Elston-Short ¹ ^* , Martin Benwell ¹

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AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 9, Issue 4, pp. 237-254

https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/17188

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Abstract

A systematic literature of thirty-nine full text publications ranging between 2000-2021 was conducted and analysed utilizing a narrative synthesis. The review was interested in the implications of bespoke psychological therapy for comorbid psychological and physical health conditions, particularly with NHS Talking Therapies in mind. The review sought to address research questions regarding the operationalisation of integrated therapy and the implication for professional identity of psychological therapists who work in collaborative settings. Findings were applied to NHS Talking Therapies who have publicly created a specialized pathway in primary care to treat clients with comorbid conditions. It was found that most healthcare providers were enthusiastic about integrated therapy but that semantic tangling impacted on deployment. Therapist training is often uniprofessional, helpful for professional identity formation but when entering interprofessional networks identity risks included blurred role boundaries and resorting to case management allocation rather than fostering creativity, thereby underusing the skills within the integrated network. Recommendations were made to provide frequent reflexive practice both within and between professionals with feedback.

Keywords: NHS Talking Therapies; interprofessional identity; integrated therapy; long-term health conditions; systematic review

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Citation

Elston-Short, J. D. J., & Benwell, M. (2025). Integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Implications for Professional Identity. A Systematic Review. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 9(4), 237-254. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/17188

Elston-Short, J. D. J., and Benwell, M. (2025). Integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Implications for Professional Identity. A Systematic Review. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 9(4), pp. 237-254. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/17188

Elston-Short JDJ, Benwell M. Integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Implications for Professional Identity. A Systematic Review. AM J QUALITATIVE RES. 2025;9(4), 237-254. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/17188

Elston-Short, Jamie D. J., and Martin Benwell. "Integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Implications for Professional Identity. A Systematic Review". American Journal of Qualitative Research 2025 9 no. 4 (2025): 237-254. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/17188

Elston-Short, Jamie D. J. et al. "Integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Implications for Professional Identity. A Systematic Review". American Journal of Qualitative Research, vol. 9, no. 4, 2025, pp. 237-254. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/17188

Elston-Short JDJ, Benwell M. Integrated Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Implications for Professional Identity. A Systematic Review. AM J QUALITATIVE RES. 2025;9(4):237-54. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/17188