Which therapeutic approach focuses on understanding the thoughts and feelings influencing behaviors?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) emphasizes the interplay between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In this approach, it is understood that our thoughts directly influence our emotions and subsequently shape our actions. CBT aims to identify and modify distorted thinking patterns that contribute to negative emotional states and maladaptive behaviors. This process involves cognitive restructuring, where individuals learn to challenge and change unhelpful beliefs, thereby altering their emotional and behavioral responses.

CBT is grounded in the idea that by changing the way we think about situations, we can change how we feel and act, leading to more positive outcomes. This focus on the cognitive processes that underlie emotional and behavioral patterns is what sets CBT apart as the appropriate answer.

In contrast, other therapeutic approaches like humanistic therapy prioritize self-actualization and personal growth, psychoanalysis delves into unconscious processes and childhood experiences, and existential therapy explores issues related to meaning and existence, without the direct focus on the cognitive-emotional-behavioral link that characterizes CBT. Thus, the distinction lies in CBT's explicit focus on the cognitive processes that influence emotions and behaviors, making it the correct choice.