Question

What is the most appropriate therapeutic intervention when helping a patient resolve their agoraphobia?

A. Have the client go outdoors alone.

B. Advise the client to use high intensity exercises.

C. Allow the client to stay in his room as long as desired

D. Discuss the client's fear of his/her feelings or sensations rather than the situation.

Answer 1

Option D, discussing the client's fear of feelings or sensations, is the most appropriate intervention for agoraphobia. It is part of cognitive-behavioral therapy which aims to modify the patient's thought patterns and improve coping with anxiety.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most appropriate therapeutic intervention for a patient with agoraphobia is option D: Discuss the client's fear of his/her feelings or sensations rather than the situation. This approach is often part of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which aims to help the patient understand and change their thought patterns that lead to the fear response. By focusing on the feelings or sensations, the patient learns to cope with the anxiety associated with agoraphobia rather than avoiding the situations that cause fear. In contrast, forcing the patient to go outdoors alone (A) or advising high intensity exercises (B) without any psychological support might increase the patient's anxiety, and allowing the patient to stay in his room (C) may reinforce avoidance behaviors.