Therapy deriving from the psychoanalytic tradition that views individuals as responding to unconscious forces and childhood experiences, and that seeks to enhance self-insight is called what?

• A. Psychodynamic therapy
• B. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• C. Humanistic therapy
• D. Gestalt therapy

Answer: (A)

This question is about therapies rooted in the psychoanalytic tradition that see behavior as influenced by unconscious forces and early life experiences, with the goal of increasing self-insight. The best fit is psychodynamic therapy, which includes psychoanalytic approaches and focuses on uncovering unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences to understand current symptoms and patterns. By bringing these thoughts and past experiences into conscious awareness, individuals can gain insight that leads to change in how they feel and behave.

In contrast, cognitive-behavioral therapy targets maladaptive thoughts and behaviors directly and is less oriented toward unconscious conflicts from the past. Humanistic therapy emphasizes present experience, personal growth, and self-actualization rather than digging into childhood determinants. Gestalt therapy focuses on present awareness and the integration of thoughts, feelings, and actions in the here and now.