What is the primary focus of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) primarily focuses on changing maladaptive thought patterns to affect behavior and emotion. This approach operates on the premise that our thoughts significantly influence our feelings and behaviors. By identifying and restructuring negative or inaccurate thought processes, clients can alter their emotional responses and behaviors, leading to improved mental health outcomes.

The core techniques of CBT include cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, exposure therapy, and skills training, all aimed at empowering clients to become aware of and modify their thought patterns. This active involvement helps individuals recognize the links between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, ultimately fostering healthier coping strategies and perspectives.

In contrast, the other options focus on different therapeutic approaches. For instance, exploring unconscious motivations and conflicts aligns more closely with psychodynamic therapy, which delves into how past experiences impact current behavior. Understanding the client's past experiences fits more into a narrative or humanistic approach, emphasizing the individual's life story and how it shapes their identity. Lastly, enhancing emotional support through peer group interventions is typically associated with group therapy models rather than the individual-focused techniques prevalent in CBT.