Which method is primarily used to help individuals modify their emotional responses through changing thought patterns?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is primarily focused on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This therapeutic approach is based on the premise that maladaptive thought patterns can lead to negative emotional responses and behaviors. By identifying and challenging irrational or distorted thoughts, individuals can learn to modify their emotional responses. CBT employs techniques such as cognitive restructuring, which helps therapy participants recognize and change negative thought patterns, thus leading to improved emotional regulation.

The other therapies mentioned, while beneficial in various ways, do not primarily center on the modification of emotional responses through changing thought patterns. Humanistic therapy emphasizes self-actualization and personal growth, focusing on the individual's experience rather than specifically targeting thought patterns. Gestalt therapy also revolves around awareness and present experiences rather than cognitive restructuring. Psychoanalytic therapy delves into unconscious processes and childhood experiences, which is quite different from the cognitive focus of CBT.