Ronald is a 37-year-old man,presenting in counseling for what he labels as stress.He is a first-year graduate student in a counseling program who left his previous career because of a downfall in the economy resulting in the loss of his job.Ronald reports that he gets very sweaty,nauseous,and tense when going to school.Ronald has missed 1 class this semester due to his symptoms,and cannot afford to miss anymore.Choose the best example of an initial phase psychodynamic goal for this client.

A) Decrease client's attempts to avoid existential angst and responsibility to reduce anxiety.
B) Increase empowerment and feelings of "mattering" to reduce anxiety.
C) Decrease emotional reactivity to perceived threats to self to reduce anxiety.
D) Increase coping skills necessary to reduce symptoms of anxiety.

Question

Arevalo Botchok · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : C, Explanation :  The best initial phase psychodynamic goal for this client would be to decrease emotional reactivity to perceived threats to self in order to reduce anxiety. This goal would focus on helping Ronald explore the underlying emotional and psychological factors contributing to his physical symptoms and work to reduce their intensity. By decreasing emotional reactivity to perceived threats, Ronald may be able to better manage his feelings of stress and anxiety in school, and ultimately improve his ability to attend class regularly. The other options listed may also be important goals to work on with this client, but decreasing emotional reactivity would be the most appropriate starting point for addressing his current symptoms.

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