An adolescent started therapy a week back. Based on formulating the adolescent's problem, the therapist feels that the boy will be capable of arriving at solutions through a process of personal growth. The therapist's approach to therapy is in an accepting environment. Identify the type of therapy being provided:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Existential
Option (1) Cognitive — Incorrect. Cognitive therapy challenges the faulty thinking patterns of the client to help her or him overcome distress. The question describes an accepting setting in which the client finds his own solutions, not a therapist questioning his thoughts.
Option (2) Behavioral — Incorrect. Behaviour therapy identifies faulty conditioning patterns and sets up other behavioural contingencies to improve behaviour; the therapist decides the correct behaviour. There is no conditioning in the therapy described.
Option (3) Existential — Correct. Existential therapy provides a therapeutic environment which is positive, accepting and non-judgemental; the therapist acts as a facilitator and the client arrives at the solutions through a process of personal growth. Both points are in the question: the accepting environment and the boy finding solutions through personal growth.
Option (4) Psychodynamic — Incorrect. Psychodynamic therapy uses free association and the reporting of dreams, and the therapist interprets the client’s thoughts and feelings to her or him because the therapist is assumed to understand the conflicts better. Here the client, not the therapist, finds the way.
NCERT (2025-26): “Type of Therapies … Psychodynamic therapy uses the methods of free association and reporting of dreams to elicit the thoughts and feelings of the client. This material is interpreted to the client to help her/him to confront and resolve the conflicts and thus overcome problems. Behaviour therapy identifies the faulty conditioning patterns and sets up alternate behavioural contingencies to improve behaviour. The cognitive methods employed in this type of therapy challenge the faulty thinking patterns of the client to help her/him overcome psychological distress. The existential therapy provides a therapeutic environment which is positive, accepting, and nonjudgmental. The client is able to talk about the problems and the therapist acts as a facilitator. The client arrives at the solutions through a process of personal growth.…” |