What would be the most helpful response when Jason says the voices are yelling at him?

What would be the most helpful response when Jason says the voices are yelling at him?

• A. "I don't hear the voices that you hear."
• B. "What are the voices yelling at you?"
• C. "You realize there are really no voices yelling at you."
• D. "Why do you think you are hearing voices?"],

Answer: (A)

When a patient reports hearing voices, respond in a way that validates their experience and keeps the conversation open. The best choice is to acknowledge the distress by saying, “I don’t hear the voices that you hear.” This confirms you’re with them in their experience, showing empathy without arguing about the reality of the voices. It invites the patient to share more about what the voices are saying, how often they occur, and how they affect them, which helps you assess safety and plan care. It also avoids dismissing the experience or challenging the patient with questions about why they think they’re hearing them, which can lead to defensiveness and shut down communication.

When a patient reports hearing voices, respond in a way that validates their experience and keeps the conversation open. The best choice is to acknowledge the distress by saying, “I don’t hear the voices that you hear.” This confirms you’re with them in their experience, showing empathy without arguing about the reality of the voices. It invites the patient to share more about what the voices are saying, how often they occur, and how they affect them, which helps you assess safety and plan care. It also avoids dismissing the experience or challenging the patient with questions about why they think they’re hearing them, which can lead to defensiveness and shut down communication.