A 22-year-old patient is in outpatient treatment for anxiety related to school performance. The patient comes from

A 22-year-old patient is in outpatient treatment for anxiety related to school performance. The patient comes from a strict family and was harshly criticized by their parents and punished if they did not make straight As. The patient is now reluctant to take upper-level college courses and is considering dropping out. This session is the seventh, and the patient has been progressing well. In the past two sessions, the patient has been less forthcoming with information, makes poor eye contact, and is hesitant today when asked to identify their next steps in finishing their education. What is the nurse practitioner’s best response to this patient? “Avoiding the questions does not help you address your problems” “Do you think it is time for us to try medication instead of therapy?” “What emotions are you feeling right now when you are talking to me?” “When patients are quiet, I feel like they are afraid to get well”