Which treatment approach is known to have no side effects compared to medication?

Cognitive therapy is recognized for its emphasis on changing negative thought patterns to improve emotional well-being. Unlike medication therapies, which can have various side effects, cognitive therapy operates primarily through dialogue and cognitive exercises, making it a non-invasive approach. It focuses on helping individuals recognize and alter unhelpful cognitive distortions, which can lead to better mental health outcomes without the physiological effects associated with medications such as antidepressants or antipsychotics.

While other therapeutic methods, such as psychodynamic therapy and relaxation techniques, also aim to reduce psychological distress, they may involve more complex processes and interpersonal interactions that carry some risk of emotional discomfort or strain during the therapeutic process. Medications, as the answer choice suggests, inherently carry the risk of side effects due to their pharmacological nature. In contrast, cognitive therapy strictly uses mental techniques and strategies that do not involve any pharmacological interventions, thus being viewed as having no side effects in the conventional sense.