Relaxation & De-escalation Skills Flashcards
7 cards from real CART practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Relaxation & De-escalation Skills flashcards as text
Which relaxation technique involves systematically tensing and releasing muscle groups to reduce physical tension associated with anger?
Answer: Progressive muscle relaxation
Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) targets the somatic component of anger by alternately tensing and releasing muscle groups, reducing overall physiological arousal.
When de-escalating a client who is verbally aggressive, the therapist should prioritize which initial action?
Answer: Using a calm, low, steady voice and non-threatening posture
A calm voice and non-threatening body posture signal safety and help co-regulate the client's nervous system before cognitive interventions are attempted.
The '4-7-8' breathing technique involves inhaling for 4 counts, holding for 7 counts, and exhaling for 8 counts. Its primary physiological effect is to:
Answer: Activate the parasympathetic nervous system
The extended exhale in 4-7-8 breathing stimulates the vagus nerve, activating the parasympathetic system and countering the fight-or-flight stress response.
A client reports that visualization exercises make their anger worse because imagining peaceful scenes feels 'fake.' The best CART-aligned response is to:
Answer: Switch to a body-based technique like progressive muscle relaxation
When imagery-based techniques are ineffective or counterproductive, somatic approaches like PMR offer an alternative pathway to physiological de-escalation.
In the context of anger management, 'grounding techniques' primarily serve to:
Answer: Reconnect the client with the present moment to interrupt escalating anger
Grounding techniques anchor attention to present sensory experience, interrupting the rumination and escalating thought patterns that fuel anger.
Which of the following best describes the role of the 'time-out' strategy in anger de-escalation?
Answer: A structured withdrawal from a triggering situation to allow physiological arousal to subside
A therapeutic time-out is a planned, temporary disengagement from a provoking situation that allows heart rate and cortisol levels to return to baseline before problem-solving resumes.
Diaphragmatic (belly) breathing reduces anger arousal more effectively than chest breathing primarily because:
Answer: It engages the diaphragm, which triggers the vagal brake and slows heart rate
Deep diaphragmatic breathing activates the vagus nerve via diaphragm movement, engaging the parasympathetic 'vagal brake' that slows heart rate and reduces arousal.