A nurse is assessing a client with a phobia. Which non-pharmacological therapy should the nurse recommend to help the client cope with their fear?

Choice A rationale:

Genetic predisposition and neurochemical imbalances. While genetics and neurochemistry can contribute to the development of anxiety disorders, they are not the primary factors behind avoidance behaviors associated with specific phobias. Phobias are often learned responses.

Choice B rationale:

Traumatic experiences and learned associations. This choice is the correct answer. Avoidance behaviors seen in specific phobias are usually a result of traumatic experiences that lead to the formation of strong fear responses through learned associations. For instance, if someone had a traumatic experience with spiders, they might develop a phobia of spiders and actively avoid situations involving spiders to prevent the intense fear from reoccurring.

Choice C rationale:

Cultural influences and family dynamics. While cultural factors and family dynamics can impact a person's psychological development, they are not the primary drivers of avoidance behaviors in specific phobias. Phobias are more closely linked to personal experiences and learned responses.

Choice D rationale:

Negative self-beliefs and cognitive distortions. Negative self-beliefs and cognitive distortions are more characteristic of conditions like depression and anxiety disorders, but they are not the central factors driving avoidance behaviors in specific phobias. These behaviors are more strongly connected to learned fear responses.

Choice A rationale:

Specific Phobia. This is the correct answer. The client's symptoms of marked fear and anxiety about a specific object or situation that is out of proportion to the actual danger, along with resulting distress and impairment, are characteristic of a specific phobia. Specific phobias involve intense fear and avoidance behavior triggered by specific objects or situations, like heights, animals, or certain environments.

Choice B rationale:

Social Phobia. The client's symptoms do not align with social phobia, which centers around fears of social judgment and performance situations, not specific objects or situations.

Choice C rationale:

Agoraphobia. Agoraphobia involves fear of situations where escape may be difficult or embarrassing, such as crowded places. The client's fear does not seem related to this type of avoidance.

Choice D rationale:

Panic Disorder. While panic disorder involves recurrent panic attacks, it does not necessarily involve avoidance of specific objects or situations as the primary response. The client's avoidance behavior is more indicative of a specific phobia.