Question

if a therapist were using counterconditioning techniques to alleviate a patient’s intense fear of heights, they would need to do which of the following? a make sure the patient does not experience any stress during therapy. b ensure that the patient is informed of the therapeutic procedures that will be utilized. c have an irb review their plan for therapy. d involve the patient’s family in discussing the progress made during the therapy sessions.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Counterconditioning (e.g., systematic desensitization for fear of heights) involves gradually exposing the patient to the feared stimulus (heights) while pairing it with a relaxed state. To do this, the therapist needs to ensure the patient doesn't experience excessive stress during therapy, as the goal is to replace the fear response with a calm one.
• Option B: Informing the patient about procedures is important in general therapy but is not specific to counterconditioning techniques for fear reduction.
• Option C: IRB review is for research studies, not typical therapeutic interventions.
• Option D: Involving the family in discussing progress is not a core part of counterconditioning techniques for alleviating a specific phobia like fear of heights.

Answer:

A. Make sure the patient does not experience any stress during therapy.