What does cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) primarily focus on?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) primarily focuses on changing unhelpful cognitive distortions and behaviors. This therapeutic approach operates on the premise that our thoughts, behaviors, and feelings are interconnected and that altering negative thought patterns can lead to changes in emotional well-being and behavior.

CBT involves identifying and challenging irrational or distorted thinking, which often contributes to a person’s emotional distress or dysfunctional behaviors. By developing healthier thought processes and promoting positive behavior change, individuals can learn to manage their symptoms more effectively and improve their overall mental health.

The other options involve different therapeutic aims or methodologies that are not central to CBT. Exploring unconscious motives and desires relates more to psychodynamic approaches, while free association is a technique commonly used in psychoanalysis. Encouraging reflection on past experiences is typically a focus in therapies addressing historical context, rather than the immediate thought-behavior connection emphasized in CBT.