A 29-year-old female client with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is resistant to eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) because she has heard that past traumas must be re-experienced. She said she avoids thinking about the trauma and does not want to re-live it. What is the most appropriate response?

Choice A reason: Threatening the patient with negative outcomes is not therapeutic and may increase avoidance behaviors, making it an inappropriate response. Choice B reason: Pressuring the patient to undergo EMDR can heighten anxiety and reduce engagement in therapy. It does not validate the patient’s concerns. Choice C reason: This response normalizes the patient’s symptoms, educates about the function of avoidance in maintaining PTSD, and encourages engagement in therapy without coercion. It is patient-centered and evidence-based. Choice D reason: Minimizing the patient’s emotional experience is not helpful and may be perceived as dismissive. EMDR requires acknowledging the patient’s distress while managing exposure gradually.