Final answer:
The therapist's focus on the patient's childhood as the root cause of anger towards the boss is indicative of a psychoanalytic approach, aligned with Freud's theory and the "talking cure" method.
Step-by-step explanation:
The therapist in the scenario, Theo, appears to be following a psychological approach grounded in psychoanalytic theory. This is evident in the emphasis on the patient's childhood experiences as the underlying cause of contemporary emotions and behaviors. The approach described is reflective of the work of Sigmund Freud, who developed the psychoanalytic theory and introduced the concept of the "talking cure", where the conversation between the patient and therapist could reveal the roots of psychological distress, which often traced back to earlier stages of development.
Freud believed that mental health issues often originate from unresolved conflicts or traumas in childhood, which can then manifest as psychological symptoms in adulthood. The notion that focusing on the patient's boss would "miss the point" aligns with the psychoanalytic perspective that current situations are often just triggers for deeper, unresolved issues. Hence, the therapist is likely employing psychoanalytic therapy to help the patient understand and resolve these childhood conflicts.