Final answer:
A phobic client refusing to leave her home may be using ego defense mechanisms such as regression, avoidance, and rationalization to protect themselves from anxiety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phobic client who refuses to leave her home may be exhibiting several ego defense mechanisms. These mechanisms serve to protect the individual from feelings of anxiety and are employed by the unconscious mind. One possible defense mechanism at play is regression, where the individual returns to a more juvenile behavioural state, effectively retreating from the threatening situation or stressor.
Another potential mechanism is avoidance, where the person avoids the situation or stimulus that triggers anxiety, in this case, leaving the home. While not explicitly mentioned in Freud's original defense mechanisms, avoidance is often discussed in contemporary psychology as a common strategy for dealing with phobias.
Rationalization may also be observed if the client provides seemingly logical explanations for their refusal to leave the home, masking the underlying anxiety. It's important to note that defense mechanisms operate unconsciously and are not acts of deliberate evasion.