Which therapeutic approach focuses on the interaction between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) specifically targets the interconnectedness of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, emphasizing how these elements influence one another. The core premise of CBT is that negative patterns of thought lead to maladaptive behaviors and emotional distress. By addressing and modifying irrational or harmful thoughts, individuals can alter their feelings and behaviors, leading to improved mental health outcomes.

This approach uses structured techniques and strategies, such as cognitive restructuring and behavioral experiments, which help clients identify and challenge their distorted thinking patterns. In contrast, other therapeutic approaches, such as psychoanalysis, focus more on unconscious processes and historical influences on behavior rather than the immediate interplay of thoughts and behaviors. Humanistic therapy centers on self-actualization and personal growth, often prioritizing subjective experience over cognitive patterns. Gestalt therapy emphasizes awareness and present experiences but does not systematically analyze the cognitive-behavioral cycle as CBT does.