Problem:
Erik is a military veteran whose goal is to reduce his anxiety so that he is comfortable in social situations. Having completed two tours of duty in Iraq, he is grateful to have returned home without a serious physical injury. Erik explained that "trouble" began shortly after he returned home, when friends invited him to social gatherings. Urged by his family, he initially accepted the invitations and looked forward to the various events. Eventually, however, his doing so caused him to become anxious, which intensified between the time he accepted an invitation and when he actually went. Erik described himself as never being much of a talker. When people talked to him, they mostly wanted him to describe his tours of duty, and he generally declined to do so, preferring instead to have a normal conversation. Because of his anxiety, Erik declined future invitations, believing that he did not fit in, even though he wanted the social contact. Erik's future goal is to return to school to obtain a degree, but his anxiety level has prevented him from moving forward. You ask Erik to reward himself each time he initiates a conversation with someone new. The purpose of this is: a. To give Erik reminders that you are proud of his growth and effort in therapy. b. To monitor Erik's behavioral changes in social situations. c. To have Erik begin using social factors as cues to change his behaviors. d. To encourage Erik to give himself incentives for successful coping efforts. Need Assignment Help?