National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) Practice Exam

Which therapeutic approach emphasizes personal responsibility and choice?

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

2. Humanistic Therapy

3. Psychodynamic Therapy

4. Behavioral Therapy

The correct answer is: Humanistic Therapy

Humanistic therapy is centered on the belief that individuals possess the inherent ability to make choices that lead to personal growth and self-actualization. This approach emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility, suggesting that clients have the capacity to shape their own lives through their choices and actions. Key figures in humanistic therapy, such as Carl Rogers, focus on creating a supportive therapeutic environment that fosters acceptance, empathy, and genuineness. This environment encourages clients to explore their feelings and perspectives, ultimately empowering them to take control of their lives and make meaningful decisions. In contrast, cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on changing dysfunctional thought patterns to influence behavior. Psychodynamic therapy delves into unconscious processes and past experiences as they relate to current behavior, often emphasizing the influence of childhood experiences rather than personal agency. Behavioral therapy concentrates on modifying specific behaviors through reinforcement strategies and does not center on the individual's capacity for choice in the same way humanistic therapy does. Thus, humanistic therapy uniquely highlights the roles of personal responsibility and choice in the therapeutic process.