A client says, 'My family won't let me come home if I cannot control my anger.' Which response best addresses this situation?

• A. Tell me about some changes you can make to control your anger.
• B. I understand your family's feelings regarding your anger.
• C. Why do you think your family feels that your anger is a concern?
• D. Do you feel that your medication is helping to control your anger?

Answer: (C)

Opening up the conversation to the client’s own view of why others are concerned is the key here. The best response invites the client to reflect on why the family sees anger as an issue, which helps you understand the meaning the client assigns to those concerns, how anger affects relationships, and any safety considerations. This builds rapport, reduces defensiveness, and gathers essential context for planning help with anger management and potential safety steps.

Telling the client about changes to make jumps ahead to solutions without understanding the family’s perspective. Simply validating the family’s feelings acknowledges them but doesn’t elicit the client’s side of the story. Asking whether the medication helps focuses on treatment without addressing the relational and safety dynamics at play.