Which statement best differentiates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from psychodynamic therapy?

• A. CBT targets maladaptive thoughts/behaviors with structured techniques; psychodynamic explores unconscious processes, early experiences, and insight; CBT often time-limited and skills-based; psychodynamic aims for self-awareness.
• B. CBT is only for children, psychodynamic only for adults.
• C. CBT ignores affect; psychodynamic uses behavior modification.
• D. CBT is unstructured; psychodynamic has a fixed manual.

Answer: (A)

Difference lies in how each therapy approaches problems: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and changing maladaptive thoughts and associated behaviors using structured, skill-based techniques that are often applied in a present-focused, time-limited format. Psychodynamic therapy, in contrast, centers on uncovering unconscious processes, early-life experiences, and defense mechanisms to gain insight and self-understanding, typically with a more exploratory, longer-term approach.

This option correctly reflects that CBT uses concrete techniques to modify thoughts and actions, while psychodynamic therapy aims for deeper insight into how past experiences shape current functioning. It also notes the practical contrasts in duration and emphasis: CBT tends to be time-limited and skills-based, whereas psychodynamic therapy is more about self-awareness and exploration.

The other statements mischaracterize these approaches: CBT is not limited to children, and psychodynamic work is not restricted to adults. CBT considers affect and emotion as part of thought-behavior patterns, not ignores them, and psychodynamic therapy does not primarily rely on behavior modification. CBT is typically structured and often manualized, while psychodynamic therapy is less about fixed manuals.