A client is angry when her husband comes home late from work. She ...

[Charlie]

A client is angry when her husband comes home late from work. She immediately fears that he has fallen in love with another woman and no longer wants her. This causes the client great distress.
 
  Her nurse psychotherapist suggests that she try to think of other explanations for her husband's tardiness as well as her current hypothesis. What technique is the nurse psychotherapist using?
  A) Examination of the evidence
  B) Decatastrophizing
  C) Generating alternatives
  D) Reattribution

Question 2

A widowed patient tells a nurse that the door should be left unlocked because her husband will be coming home soon. Which response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?
 
  a. You've forgotten that your husband's dead, haven't you?
  b. Just try to sleep. He won't be home for a very long time yet..
  c. You must miss him a lot. It almost seems he's here with you..
  d. Your husband died over 10 years ago. He won't be coming here..

[cegalasso]

Answer to Question 1

C

Answer to Question 2

C
An empathic response is always helpful, as is gentle, diplomatic reorientation. Abrupt confrontation with reality will increase anxiety, but implicitly agreeing that the spouse will come home fosters false hope.