Integration is a coming together of different differentiated areas in a balanced whole.
In gestalt therapy there is a saying that we must separate in order to integrate, which simply means that sometimes we need to look at the separate elements of a situation, or feelings, in order to integrate and understand what is happening. This is why role-playing from different perspectives (sometimes over-the-top extreme perspectives) is so helpful – it helps us get in touch with the submerged pieces and then integrate them into a more holistic understanding.
From Dr. Dan Siegel’s site:
Integration: At the Core of Our Well-Being
Integration is at the heart of both interpersonal neurobiology and Dr. Siegel’s mindsight approach. Defined as the linkage of differentiated components of a system, integration is viewed as the core mechanism in the cultivation of well-being. In an individual’s mind, integration involves the linkage of separate aspects of mental processes to each other, such as thought with feeling, bodily sensation with logic. In a relationship, integration entails each person’s being respected for his or her autonomy and differentiated self while at the same time being linked to others in empathic communication.
What Does Integration Mean for the Brain?
For the brain, integration means that separated areas with their unique functions, in the skull and throughout the body, become linked to each other through synaptic connections. These integrated linkages enable more intricate functions to emerge—such as insight, empathy, intuition, and morality. A result of integration is kindness, resilience, and health. Terms for these three forms of integration are a coherent mind, empathic relationships, and an integrated brain.