A Client Living on the Beachfront Seeks Help with an Extreme

A client living on the beachfront seeks help with an extreme fear of crossing bridges, which interferes with daily life. A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner decides to try systematic desensitization. Which explanation of this therapy should the nurse convey to the client?

A) "Using your imagination, we will attempt to achieve a state of relaxation that you can replicate when faced with crossing a bridge."
B) "Because anxiety and relaxation are mutually exclusive states, we can attempt to substitute a relaxation response for the anxiety response."
C) "Through a series of increasingly anxiety-provoking steps, we will gradually increase your tolerance to anxiety."
D) "In one intense session, you will be exposed to a maximum level of anxiety that you will learn to tolerate."