The client-centered therapy developed by Carl Rogers is based on:

The correct answer is Option (4) → Humanistic approach

Option (1) Psychodynamic approach — Incorrect. Psychodynamic therapy traces distress to unconscious conflicts from childhood and brings them to awareness through free association and dream analysis. Rogers did not dig into the unconscious.

Option (2) Cognitive approach — Incorrect. Cognitive therapies of Ellis and Beck locate distress in irrational beliefs and faulty thinking, which the therapist questions and changes.

Option (3) Behavioural approach — Incorrect. Behaviour therapy treats distress as faulty learned behaviour and changes it through techniques based on conditioning, such as token economy or systematic desensitisation.

Option (4) Humanistic approach — Correct. Client-centred therapy, given by Carl Rogers, is one of the humanistic-existential therapies, which hold that distress arises when the need for personal growth and self-actualisation is curbed. Rogers brought into therapy the concept of self, with freedom and choice as the core of one’s being; the therapist offers a warm relationship with empathy and unconditional positive regard.