Which approach is most directly linked to the idea of self in therapy?

Which approach is most directly linked to the idea of self in therapy?

• A. Self-psychology
• B. CBT
• C. Existential therapy
• D. PCT

Answer: (A)

Self-psychology centers on the self as the central organizing principle of personality, focusing on how the self is structured, maintained, and defended. In therapy, this means attending to self-cohesion, self-esteem, and the experience of self-worth, using empathic attunement, mirroring, and support from the therapist to meet selfobject needs. When self-cohesion is disrupted, therapy aims to repair those self-structures so the person can feel more integrated and authentic. Because this approach explicitly foregrounds the self as the primary organizing force behind thoughts, feelings, and behavior, it aligns most directly with the idea of self in therapy. Other approaches—CBT targets thoughts and behaviors; existential therapy emphasizes meaning and choices; person-centered therapy focuses on growth and unconditional positive regard—do not center the self in the same way, even though they touch on related experiences.

Self-psychology centers on the self as the central organizing principle of personality, focusing on how the self is structured, maintained, and defended. In therapy, this means attending to self-cohesion, self-esteem, and the experience of self-worth, using empathic attunement, mirroring, and support from the therapist to meet selfobject needs. When self-cohesion is disrupted, therapy aims to repair those self-structures so the person can feel more integrated and authentic. Because this approach explicitly foregrounds the self as the primary organizing force behind thoughts, feelings, and behavior, it aligns most directly with the idea of self in therapy. Other approaches—CBT targets thoughts and behaviors; existential therapy emphasizes meaning and choices; person-centered therapy focuses on growth and unconditional positive regard—do not center the self in the same way, even though they touch on related experiences.