Process-Based Therapy: A Personalized Paradigm in Psychotherapy

Process-Based Therapy (PBT) has emerged as a holistic and individualized psychotherapy model that addresses individuals’ psychosocial needs based on biopsychosocial processes, overcoming the limitations of traditional symptom-focused approaches. Its primary goal is to enhance psychological flexibility, enabling individuals to develop more adaptive responses to environmental challenges. In this context, PBT focuses on the core processes that shape individual functioning rather than specific symptom clusters and draws on theoretical frameworks such as the Extended Evolutionary Meta-Model (EEMM) to make sense of these processes. This review comprehensively examines the theoretical foundations, historical development, and clinical applications of PBT, while also exploring recent advancements and process-based assessment approaches in the literature. In particular, it highlights the role of assessment tools such as the Process-Based Assessment Tool (PBAT) in evaluating therapeutic processes and monitoring treatment effectiveness. Current research demonstrates that PBT is effective not only in treating psychopathological conditions such as anxiety and depression but also in various contexts including workplace conflicts, interpersonal relationships, and pandemic-related stress. Based on these findings, it is evaluated that PBT offers a significant paradigm shift in the field of psychotherapy and enables the development of process-based interventions that support individuals’ subjective well-being. This review aims to discuss the current status of PBT within the context of the existing literature and to provide guidance for future research directions.