In an outpatient setting, which frame of reference is suggested by teaching breathing techniques to a client with an anxiety disorder?

Teaching breathing techniques to a client with an anxiety disorder aligns with the behavioral frame of reference, which focuses on observable behaviors and how they can be changed through various interventions. Breathing techniques are often used in behavioral therapy to help clients manage symptoms of anxiety by promoting relaxation and reducing physiological arousal associated with anxiety.

This approach is rooted in the understanding that behaviors, including stress responses, can be modified. By practicing specific strategies like deep breathing, clients learn to control their physiological reactions to stressors, thus improving their overall emotional regulation and coping skills. The emphasis is on achieving practical changes in behavior that lead to improved mental health outcomes.

The other frames of reference do not focus on the immediate behavioral changes that can be achieved through techniques like breathing exercises. Cognitive-behavioral approaches do involve addressing thoughts and beliefs that contribute to anxiety, but the direct intervention of teaching breathing techniques is more aligned with behavioral principles. Psychodynamic approaches explore unconscious processes and past experiences, which are not the focus when specifically teaching relaxation methods. The cognitive disability frame would apply to clients with cognitive impairments, which is not relevant in this context.