One of the significant factors that contribute to healing in psychotherapy is when at the outset of therapy, the client unburdens the emotional problems being faced by her/him. This process of emotional unburdening is known as :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Catharsis
Option (1) Catharsis — Correct. At the outset of therapy, while the client is being interviewed in the initial sessions, s/he unburdens the emotional problems being faced. This process of emotional unburdening is known as catharsis, and it has healing properties.
Option (2) Resistance — Incorrect. In resistance the client opposes the progress of therapy to protect herself/himself from the recall of painful unconscious memories, for example by keeping silent or missing sessions. It holds the client back; it does not release feelings.
Option (3) Cognitive retraining — Incorrect. Cognitive retraining is part of rehabilitation: it is given to improve the basic cognitive functions of attention, memory and executive functions. It has nothing to do with unburdening emotions.
Option (4) Transference — Incorrect. In transference the client starts identifying the therapist with authority figures of the past, usually of childhood, and acts out the feelings once held towards them. It develops during psychoanalytic therapy, not at its outset, and it is directed at the therapist.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 27-05-2023 (Slot 1).
NCERT (2025-26): “Factors Contributing to Healing in Psychotherapy … 3. At the outset of therapy while the patient/client is being interviewed in the initial sessions to understand the nature of the problem, s/he unburdens the emotional problems being faced. This process of emotional unburdening is known as catharsis, and it has healing properties.…” “…Cognitive retraining is given to improve the basic cognitive functions of attention, memory and executive functions.…” |