Self-Working Psychotherapy (SWP): An Integrative Multidimensional Psychotherapy
Downloads
This conceptual paper introduces Self-Working Psychotherapy (SWP) as a multilevel, multidimensional, and circular integrative framework for understanding psychological functioning, self-development, and mental health. Rather than proposing a new school of psychotherapy, SWP aims to provide an overarching conceptual architecture that organizes complementary therapeutic principles within a unified systems-oriented model. SWP conceptualizes psychological functioning through six reciprocally interacting dimensions: Body-Working, Emotion-Working, Perception-Working, Attention-Working, Future-Working, and Life-Working. Psychological change is understood as a process of continuous circular self-reconstruction, in which each dimension dynamically influences and is influenced by the others. The model emphasizes flexible therapeutic entry, reciprocal regulation, and the integration of past experiences, future aspirations, and meaningful everyday living. By integrating systems thinking, psychodynamic, humanistic-existential, cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness-based, and embodied perspectives, SWP offers a coherent framework for psychotherapy, psychoeducation, and personal development. The model may also facilitate dialogue among diverse therapeutic traditions by emphasizing multidimensional psychological organization rather than allegiance to a single theoretical orientation. SWP is presented as a theoretical and conceptual framework that requires further empirical evaluation. Future research should examine its psychometric foundations, mechanisms of change, clinical feasibility, and effectiveness through randomized controlled trials, longitudinal studies, and cross-cultural investigations.
Downloads
Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F., & Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression. Guilford Press. https://www.guilford.com/books/Cognitive-Therapy-of-Depression/Beck-Rush-Shaw-Emery/9781572305823
Craig, A. D. (2009). How do you feel—now? The anterior insula and human awareness. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(1), 59–70. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2555
Damasio, A. (1999). The feeling of what happens: Body and emotion in the making of consciousness. Harcourt. https://books.google.com/books?id=RSOPDHP9QekC
Frankl, V. E. (1985). Man’s search for meaning. Washington Square Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=PXgRidut6eUC
Goli, F. (2025). Embracing complexity: The embedded wisdom of “AND”. International Journal of Body, Mind and Culture, 12(3), 6–15. https://doi.org/10.61838/ijbmc.v12i3.988
Gray, J. A. (2007). Consciousness: Creeping up on the hard problem. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198520917.001.0001
Gross, J. J. (2015). Emotion regulation: Current status and future prospects. Psychological Inquiry, 26(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2014.940781
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd ed.). Guilford Press. https://www.guilford.com/books/Acceptance-and-Commitment-Therapy/Hayes-Strosahl-Wilson/9781462528943
Johari Fard, R. (2024). Psychotherapeutic techniques based on approaches and methods (6th ed.). Dehkadeh Salamat Publications. https://www.selfworking.org/reza-johari-fard/
Johari Fard, R. (2024). Self-working therapeutic educational program. Danjeh Publications. https://www.selfworking.org/reza-johari-fard/
Johari Fard, R. (2024). Self-working therapeutic educational program (workbook). Ravanshani and Honar Publications. https://www.selfworking.org/reza-johari-fard/
Johari Fard, R. (2025). Self-working: A novel integrative approach to psychotherapy. IV International British Congress on Interdisciplinary Scientific Research & Practices, London. https://www.selfworking.org/product/self-working-psychotherapy-swp-an-integrative-approach-in-mental-health/
Johari Fard, R. (2025). Self-working: A novel integrative approach to psychotherapy. Kidsocado International Publishing. https://www.kidsocado.com/shop/p2536130293-self-working-367
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Full catastrophe living (Rev. ed.). Bantam. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/89149/full-catastrophe-living-revised-edition-by-jon-kabat-zinn/
Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1999). Philosophy in the flesh: The embodied mind and its challenge to Western thought. Basic Books. https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/george-lakoff/philosophy-in-the-flesh/9780465056743/
Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT skills training manual (2nd ed.). Guilford Press. https://www.guilford.com/books/DBT-Skills-Training-Manual/Marsha-Linehan/9781462556359
MacLean, P. D. (1990). The triune brain in evolution: Role in paleocerebral functions. Springer. https://link.springer.com/book/9780306431685
Merleau-Ponty, M. (2012). Phenomenology of perception (D. A. Landes, Trans.). Routledge. (Original work published 1945). https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203720714
Norcross, J. C., & Goldfried, M. R. (Eds.). (2019). Handbook of psychotherapy integration (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/med-psych/9780190690465.001.0001
Ogden, P., Minton, K., & Pain, C. (2006). Trauma and the body: A sensorimotor approach to psychotherapy. W. W. Norton & Company. https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393704570
Panksepp, J. (1998). Affective neuroscience: The foundations of human and animal emotions. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195096736.001.0001
Payne, P., Levine, P. A., & Crane-Godreau, M. A. (2015). Somatic experiencing: Using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, Article 93. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00093
Pessoa, L. (2008). On the relationship between emotion and cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9(2), 148–158. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2317
Rogers, C. R. (1961). On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. Houghton Mifflin. https://books.google.com/books?q=On+Becoming+a+Person+Carl+Rogers+1961
Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2018). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression (2nd ed.). Guilford Press. https://www.guilford.com/books/Mindfulness-Based-Cognitive-Therapy-for-Depression/Segal-Williams-Teasdale/9781462537037
Shapiro, S. L., Carlson, L. E., Astin, J. A., & Freedman, B. (2006). Mechanisms of mindfulness. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(3), 373–386. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20237
Siegel, D. J. (2012). The developing mind: How relationships and the brain interact to shape who we are (2nd ed.). Guilford Press. https://www.guilford.com/books/The-Developing-Mind/Daniel-Siegel/9781462520671
Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/313183/the-body-keeps-the-score-by-bessel-van-der-kolk-md/
Wampold, B. E., & Imel, Z. E. (2015). The great psychotherapy debate: The evidence for what makes psychotherapy work (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203582015
Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential psychotherapy. Basic Books. https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/irvin-d-yalom/existential-psychotherapy/9780465021475/
Young, J. E., Klosko, J. S., & Weishaar, M. E. (2003). Schema therapy: A practitioner’s guide. Guilford Press. https://www.guilford.com/books/Schema-Therapy/Young-Klosko-Weishaar/9781593853723
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Body, Mind and Culture
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
